The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-01-12
OMINOUS CONFEDERATION
That Was Kept Within Bonds by the
Work Of Firsmen,
HEFFNRRs SHOE STORE GUTTED
And DurbIn and wright's stock Consider
ably Damaged by Fire That Oc-
Cured About Midnight and
Tested the Ingenuity
of Firemen.

The HeHner shoe store at log SouSh
Market street, was burned out Sunday
night. The large stock Of shoes was
practically destroyed and considerable
damage was done to the building. The
Ere was discovered at IL 80 when dense
volumes Of smoke were seen pouring
from the windows Of the Commercial
block, corner of Seventh and Mlrset
streets, in the north end of which the
shoe store is loo ated. Box 35 was seat in
and the entire fire department was soon
on hand. 1t was difficult Gre to locate.
Smoke pouring from the windows over
the Durbin-wright drug store, which i'm
m ediately adjoins the shoe store, led the
fireulen to believe that the fire was in
that portion Of the building, 1t was not
long, however, until the blaze was located
in the Heffner store, and deluge Of
water was poured into the big store room.
The FIRE was kept within the limits Of
the Heffuer store, and after hard fight
the big gong in the city hall tower sound
ed fire out.
It wns q narrow and decidedly lucky
escape for the Durbin- Wright Co. The
fire was so hot that goods on the shelves
along the north side of the store, next to
the Heffner store, were scorched and
blaokeued by FIRE and smoke. Had not
stro ng and steady streams Of water been
directed against this wall the drug store
W ould have gone up In smoke and the
loss reached large sum, IS the old drug
firm carries an immense stock. AS 1t is,
the stock is damaged considerably by
smoke, and the cellar, which is used as a
warehouse for patent medicines and
other goods, is filed with water to q
depth Of several feet. 1t was fortunate
escape for the drug house, whose loss
could not be given by the managers.
The George Deuble jewelry store on
the north side of the Heffner store was
filled with smoke and some damage will
result. Mr.. Double was not prepared tc
esti N ate the amount. A strong, thick
fire wall saved the Double store.
Mr.. ". K. Beffner, manager of the
shoe store, escorted a News-Democrai
reporter through the wrecked store this
morning. A large hole burned through
the floor Immediately over the furnace
shows conclusively where the fire origina
ted. The fire burned the floor from under
shelves upon which were placed stack
of rubosr shoes. The shelving gave way
and covered the hole while the burning
rubhers sent forth thick, heavy clouds o
smoke which found it's way out of ever!
crevice and crack in the building. 1t Wa
this state of things that fooled the fire
men and kept them busy locating tn
81 at of the trouble. Mr.. HeffHer, VIII
is manager for Mrs. s. A. Heffner, state
that an examination Of his books Shove,
that the stock on hand yesterda
amounted to So, 900, He said he and hi
wife had stopped at the store Sunda
evening after church and everything
was all right at that time. He left
lighted lamp burning and when told {
the fire be concluded the lamp had ez
ploied This, however, was found to
n wrong conclusion, as the lamp was pei
fectly intact and had not been re move
from the rear of the stlre, while the fiji
from all appearances started In tn
middle of the north side of the room
Mr.. Heffner stated that he carried IS, OF
insurance, distributed among seyerl
local agencies. Hs was about to plaC
more insurance and had made partii
arrangement but had not received h
policies.
The building is owned by the Lou
Rooms estate and Is damaged to Il
extent of several hundred dollars. I'll
woodwork in the Heffner store Is burn'
out and the big plate glass windows a
shattered. Beyond the hole In the flo
the fire did not burn heavy timbe
; although the plaster is all down. II
work of the flremen was bsyond oriticis
and nothing but praise Is heard upon 3
! sides for their splendid fight which WI
I carried on with fearlessness and an /
telligence which saved thousands
dollars worth Of property and probab
diverted q oonhagration.
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