The Republican journal., 1898-03-03
Disastrous Fire.
The Fine Residence of the late Capt. r. H
CoOmbs Destroyed, Together with the
Family's Favorite Horses and Dogs.

The Fine Residence of the late Capt. r. II.
CoOmbs Destroyed, Together with the
Fami1y's Favorite Horses and Dogs.
The fine residence of the late Capt. Robert
H. Coombs on Northport avenue was burn
ed early last Sunday morning The fire
was discovered about 4.45 o'clock and was
in the back part of the L, next to the stable.
Mr.. Jordan W. Coombs who lives next door
saw light and supposed some one was up,
but on looking again concluded it was fire
and gave the alarm He succeeded in rous-
ing the inmates, with the exception of Chas
r. Coombs, whose room was in the over
| the kitchen, and who was nearly suffocated
when rescued by his niece, Miss Hattie
Coombs His dog Victor was in the room
with him and was choking and coughing
when his master was aroused. Mr. Coombs
| first thought was for his horses and dogs
and he started at once for the stables in
hopes to save them, but was unable to do So
and nearly perished in the attempt. He
was almost suffocated when rescued
While his property loss is heavy Mr..
| Coombs grieves most over the loss of his fa-
| vorites the horses |. G. and Bob Withers
and dogs Spot and Rex, all of which held
| high place in the affections of the entire
family and their friends, and We're Charles
| spec al pets. [. G. was the family carriage
hors of his parents, and it was their wish
that she should never go ont of the family.
| Bob Withers was a high blooded carriage
horse and very intelligent. Two other
horses were also burned. They were val
| III.
Mr.. James Taliferro of Jacksonville, Fla,
and the work horse used at the store. The
favorite coach dog Spot, a pet Of Capt.
Coombs', and the young Irish setter Rex,
remarkably intelligent animal whose educa-
| tion and training Charles has carefully at
tended to, We're burned. Rex was general
| favorite, and Spot, though not having so
large an acquaintance, was scarcely less so,
| and many expressions of regret were heard
when their loss became known. Two cats,
pets of the household, also pershed.
| Owing to the bad travelling it was some
time before the alarm could be given and
the hose companies arrive. The L, two
| stables and carriage house were totally
destroyed, but the fire was stopped in the
| the roof badly charred, and marks of the
fire are seen in every room. The house is
| practically total loss, as it would cost
| more to repair than to build new. The
stables were fully equipped with every thing
| that goes to make up complete outfit for
family driving, racing or sporting, with a
large variety of vehicles, both on wheels
| and robaS
| etc All is total loss.
! MT. CoomDs lost all his wearing apparel,
| but the other inmates of the house saved
the greater part Of theirs. Mr.. Coombs had
$50 III bills and gold watch in vest in
| his room, but the watch and money We're
! found. The watch was but little injured.
! The bills We're somewhat charred, but were
all redeemable, although the wallet in which
they were kept was ruined. The greater
part OF the furniture in the main house was
saved, much of it il a damaged condition
but there was a considerable loss on the
household goods in the L. Capt. and Mrs,
Coombs left large amount of bric-a- brac,
| relics from foreign lands and family heir
looms Some We're saved in damaged CON
dltlon, some intact, and some We're lost.
Mr.. Coombs estimates his loss at about
$4,000, on which he had total insurance of
So 600
The municipal officers held fire inquest
Monday. Charles r. and Jordan W Coombs
We're examined, giving the particulars of
the fire substantially as above printed. The
municipal officers decided that the fire orig-
mated from causes unknown.