The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-16
STAFF Special.

hmpVitan DuiiuiuSS anu q iidihS uouoC
in the center of the town were de.
stroyed The estimated loss was
placed at $4,000 or $6 900. The fire
originated in a gasoline stove explo-
sion and a few moments afterward
the entire village was threatened with
destruction. Fortunately there was
not the slightest wind stirring or the
town would have been completely
wiped out. There was not the slight
est fire protection in North Lawrence,
Messages were sent to Massillon, Can
ton and Orrville fire departments for
help. The Canton fire department re.
sponded but did not arrive until after
the buildings were burned to the
ground The engine was not unload
ed. Orrville3 engine and hose cart
got here an hour after the fire started
but were unable to get water to the
buildings. Massillon was unable to
respond owing to the fact that the en-
ghe was disabled at the Canal Fulton
fire.
GASOLINE STARTED 1T.
At o'clock Tuesday evening a gas.
oline stove in the upper portion of O.
Farmers grocery and meat market
used by his family as dwelling apart
ments exploded. In few minutes the
building was in flames. The fire i'm
mediately jumped to the adjoining
buildings on the north and south. The
citizens organized a bucket brigade
but soon found that their efforts were
useless save to protect the remaining
buildings. They began to throw water
upon the buildings near enough to be
endangered by the fire.
The large dance hall to the north
of the Farmer building was soon in
mass of flames. The building and its
contents were owned by the Johnsons,
father and sons. The top floor was
used as a dance hall, the second foor
was occupied by clothing store and
barber shop and the basement by a
saloon. The building on the south
was story and a half dwelling house
occupied by Dennis Mylan, and that in
short time was afire. The efforts
made by the citizens to get out the
goods in the burning building and to
save
ADJOINING BUILDINGS
were heroic. Some of them staid upon
the livery barn opposite the dance hall
until their clothes caught fire and they
threw one bucket of water upon the
building and another upon themselves.
The livery barn caught fire several
times but the flames were quickly
dashed out. The frame building on
the north of the burning buildings was
only saved because of a thick line of
trees in front of it.
Appeals were sent to the fire depart
ments of the nearest towns. An hour
after the fire had started Orrville's
department arrived. The engine was
run down across the railroad track to
the creek and an attempt was made to
get water to the buildings. The creek
is at the base of hill, about $50 yards
from the scene of the fire. For some
reason the water could not be forced
uD the hill and it was not until 10
O'Clock, after the buildings were en-
tirely destroyed, that stream of water
was forced through the hose.
The message from North Lawrence
was sent to Canton shortly after 8
o'clock. At 9:02, which was 81 min
utes after leaving Canton, the Canton
department arrived in North Law
renee. The expedition was in charge
of John Reno. Councilman Good ac-
companied the department Upon
their arrival it was found that the
fire had practically burned itself out
SO the engine and cart were not even
unloaded. The firemen lent what as.
sistance ana advice they could to the
Orrville men. The Canton men say
that the Orrville engine should have
had water on the fire long before 1t
did but that the fellows didn't know
how to run the engine. One man
STOOD IN THE CREEK
holding the suction hose under the
water. He would cry out to the en-
gincer ito give her sand" meaning the
engine, and then would pull the hose
out of the water and look at 1t to see
IL 1t was wc:king. The Canton men
nay that he did not leave the hose
under water long enough to get any
water. Reno told them how to run
the engine and II was not long until the
water was being forced through the
pipe.
Only a rough estimate can be gotten
Of the ioss. The Johnson building and
oonlsntG wsre valued at $4,000. There
Wns some fpsurenco but not nearly
eu1psh 70 cpres the loss. Much Of tho
n \ 4. ~ .ly 4. III. X. 4. 1 ~ III. N. N. n