Phoenix weekly herald. [volume] (Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz. Territory) 1896-1899, 1898-11-24
A MORNING BLAZE.
Two Houses AMI Their Contents a
Total Loss: Two Others Badly
Scorched

At o'clock this morning the fire
bell startled the community With its
doleful tones. and few moments later
the electric light whistle Joined the
chorus which was punctrhted by the
double discharge of shotgun in
Montgomery addition.
1t was soon ascertained that a big
fire was in progress on South First
avenue. efaving started at No. 423 in
a building occupied by Lee Garrett and
owned by Mr.. Hardwick.
The fire company responded as soon
as possible. but ors'ing to- the scarcity
of horses on the streets at tflat hour
they were slower than usual in getting
the apparatus to the scene. One back
man went To the rescue. but his team
mot being used to a fire engine could
not he STOPPED in front of the big
putting steamer. and 1t was therefore
necessary to proceed slowly till pas
sing milk wagon was pressed into
service.
Arriving on the ground it was as
certained that not only was the house
at 423 beyond hope of salvation, hut
the adjoining house occupied by Mr.
and Mrs Fred B. MISSY. No. 419. was
also in flames. and its contents doom
ed. Before the work of the firemen
could produce much effect it was prac
".
chlIred skeleton remainfng, and the
third house to tlle north No. .415. occu-
pied by A w. Howe and family, had
caught fire through q window in the
Dgable The attention of the firemen
Twas directed to this property and the
4 building was saved, with a loss Of
prol-alsy hundred on hundred and
fifty dollars
Mr.. and Mrs. Howe. having some lit
tie notice. had during The burning of
the Mussey house removed their eff
fects. and suffer only through incon-
venience and the natural breakage of
removal
The next house TO tlle north occupied
by the family of Mr.. Hardwick who
is now in Mexico. was untouched b,
the flames. but the contents were re-
moved TO the street and there being
consideralle heavy furn ture there was
same damage by breakage.
To the southward the nearest build
ing was the Pcrley residence and
tssousgl probably q hundred feet awa-
came very near burning as it was
,.~ezaIred in the gab'e ard. cOrn:ce worl,
The origin of the fire is supposed T.
nave been either from an electri.
wire CT a lighted candle. hut nofhin
definite is known. except that the fir
started in the rear of the f9Flse an
when discovered seemed to be bui-nin
pretty high UP from the ground.
The entire row of houses along tn
street north of Mr.. Perley's. includin'
the two that burned. belonged TO Nj
Hardwick The horse occupied h.
9Ir. Garrett was rented partly furni IL
ed. Ii Is said chat Mr.. Garrett wa.
making arrangements for a matrimon
ial venture and in the course of hi;
preparations Fad finished the furnish
ing of the building at considerable ex
pense. All he saved from ruin wa
a dresser
The loss of Mr. and Mrs Musse,
was practically complete. as they es
capped Only in their night robes ant
slippers. not having time to even TAX
their Clothing with them Some on.
rescued small centre ia BILE and lii
tie box from the room beforeft becam,
impenetrable. In fact it may be salt
that they were fortunate to oscar,
with their lives. as the houses We're $.
close to~ether that their dwelling wa
practically burned up before the ALARM
was given and went almt st simultane
ously with sthe Garrett houSSn
AR Howe l0zt "A