Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-05-02
ROASTED HORSE FLESH.
n. e. Fales' Livery Barn Destroyed by Fire
Tuesday Night with Nearly
All Gnntanfs

Tuesday Night with Nearly
ali Contents.
One OF the hottest fires in the city's
history occurred last Tuesday night,
burning the Fales' livery barn to the
tground and cremating II horses. 1t
was the largest fire that has occurred
In the city since the burning OF Rutan
& Co.'S grist mill, and large crowd
4 gathered to watch its progress. IL was
in the neighborhood OF 1880 p. m.
when it was first discovered, original
ing in the west hay loft. The alarm
was turned in promptly and all pos
sible haste made, but such was the in
fiammability OF the material it had TO
feed upon, that in almost increditable
short time the whole thing was q roar
ing furnace. The night man Clyde
Pixley was asleep In his bed and was
awakened by some OF the first arrivals.
The fire department labored hard and
done all that men could do, having
four good streams playing upon the
flames, but it was impossible to stay
their progress.
One OF the Underwood Bros was one
OF the first arrivals, and succeeded in
getting out their horse and grocery
delivery wagon, kept there, also Fales'
big black span. Two new rubber tired
buggies which had just been added
were run out with the paint blistered
a little, an old three seated canopy
top, a few robes, etc, secured, and
everything else was burned. Twelve
horses were burned, all belonging to
Fales excepting one. Included in the
number was the two ponies of Mr..
Fales sons, Palmer and Hugo.
The main central building was the
old farm barn built for and by the Bel
dings when they had farm of what is
now the center of the city. 1t was
still owned by the Beldings and they
had $500 insurance upon it. Mr.. Fales
had built all the additions surround
falls upon him. He had been engaged
in the business here fifteen years this
month and has always taken great
pride in his business and in conducting
the leading livery. He states that at
no time since he started has he had so
much invested or so good an outfit on
hand as he had at the time of the fire.
Five or six new rigs had been added
this season, all fine rubber tired rigs
of the best make. He estimates his
loss DIT S., 900 with only 800 insurance.
| Guy ID. Weter lost his fine horse,
rubber tired buggy, cutter, harness,
saddle, etc, valued at $500, with no in
surance. Fortunately for him, b. F..
Halls horse was out at the race track
but he lost his pneumatic rubber tire
buggy, also the old buggy. Wilson &
Friedly lost hearse which cost $3.50
and no insurance. They have one left
however which was at w. j. Wilson's
residence.
The origin OF the fire is a mystery.
There are many theories advanced but
they are all guess work. A heavy
freight train had passed through but
short time previous to its discovery
which leads many TO think it might
have been a hot cinder which some
way found Judgement among the hay
and straw. Others think it more likely
that the electric light wires somehow
were the cause. Possibly neither one
of these theories are correct.
Chief Of the fire department, Robt.
PEBBLES, requests us to say that the
members of the department appreciate
the way citizens took hold and helped
them in their hard task in every way
possible.
Mr.. Fales says he has been unable to
form any plans as yet, and may not be
able to for a week or two. 1t has come
upon him so suddenly and Unexpectedly
that he is unable to decide upon any
thing just at present. This morning
he sold his street sprinkler business,
wagon, and the black team to o. F..
Webster who will continue it as soon
as in running order. 1t was burned
somewhat so that its beauty is marred,
but it is considered that with some
repairs it will be disable.
1t Is a severe setback for Mr. Fales
and he has the sympathy of the public
but he has plenty OF energy and deter
mination and it will take more than
one such blow, of even that size to
knock him out.
Mr.. and Mrs. M. A. Chapman and