The evening times., 1899-03-03
BUSINESS SECTION
WRECKED BY FIRE
Caroline County Seats Suffers
a Loss of $4,000.
Two Stores and Nine Dwelling
Houses Burned.
Many Families Rendered Homeless
by the Blaze-Talk of Intro
ducing WaterworLs.

Denton, Nd, March 3-A fire which
began at 2 o'clock yesterday morning de-
stroyed large part of the business section
of Denton, the county seat of Caroline
county. Two stores and nine dwelling
houses were burned and nine families were
| rendered homeless. The total valuation OF
property destroyed was about $13,0 in
large part insured.
The fire started in the centre of the town
in the large dry goods store of Robert NJ.
Collins, on the south side of Main Street,
between Third and Fourth Streets. Be
fore it was discovered it had made con-
siderable headway, as the structure was
frame When the first engine arrived it
| was plain that the building could not be
| saved. nor was it possible to save any of
the stock. The blaze spread on each
side and then went across the street, TAX
ing in in its course on the north side of
| Main Street three dwellings
large brick building, which checked
the progress of a fire in 1864 did a like
service for that of last night and stopped
its ravages from two large livery stables
located in the centre Of the town. The
brick building is known as the Nicholson
property, and is now owned and occupied
by Druggist William z. Brown, who re-
Gently built large drug and paint store
adjoining. This property was saved and
kept secure the block west of 1t, which is
made up entirely OF wooden buildings so
compactly built that had one ignited all in
the block would have been destroyed, and
possibly the block opposite, which was re-
Gently rebuilt.
The fire was checked on the east side at
Fourth Street near the Methodist Episco-
pal Church and parsonage.
On the opposite side it burned three
dwellings belonging 10 Mrs. Nicholson, Be
niah Kinnamon, and w. Frank Towers
These houses were west of the Denton Ma
tional Bank, which, being practically fire
proof, was easily saved. Nine families are
without homes because of the fire, and
much furniture has been destroyed.
The following are the losses: r. VI. Collins,
store stock 50 800 with an insurance of 81 600.
John ". Clark two dwelling houses. 5000;
insurance. Robert g. Stewart, dwelling hOuse.
$1,000, with an insurance OF 5000 and 5000 on
furniture. Mrs. Annie II. Downes, two store
buildings and three dwellings. insured for So
GD0 which covers loss. Joseph Spence, stock
OF groceries and household goods worth $500;
insurance. K. Kent Williams. furniture, $500.
William b. Gootee, $500; insurance. Beniah
knnamon. dwelling, 81 900; no insurance.; fur
niture mostly saved Mrs. Nicholson. $500; in
surcd, but amount not known. W. Frank Tow
ers, dwelling, $1,000; insured for $1,000. Total
valuation, SIS
Apart from the loss to those not fully
insured, it is believed that the burned dis
trict paves the way for a better class of
buildings in the main part of the town.
Several old fire boxes escaped. which, had
they been destroyed would have relieved
much anxiety and rendered another fire
improbable. 1t is believed that represen-
ta;ive citizens and taxpayers will urge the
town commissioners TO condemn two or
three old buildings which are left
1t took heroic effort and wise manage
ment to confine the fire TO the buildings
burned, and many surprises are expressed
that other buildings were not destroyed
Just what effect this fire will have on the
movement for water works cannot be
foretold but the advocates of the enter
prise contend that it will hasten the most
practical device against destruction by
fire
Three years ago fire broke out on
Main Street and destroyed the larger part
of a block of stores between Second and
Third Streets, on the north side of Main
Street. Steps were at once taken to guard
against such a recurrence. and large wells
were sunk and additional fire apparatus
provided. Apprehension was centered on
Main Street. where the buildings are old
and compact and the street is narrow.