Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-24
BAD FIRE At FREMONT
Three.ioufths al the Business
Portion Of the Town
Destroyed.
Seven Store Buildings and
Stocks of Merchandise Con-
sumed by Flames.
Total Loss Estimated at $4,000
Probably Of Incendiary
Origin.
pecial to mes-Republican.


Oskaloosa, April 24.-Three-fo urths
OF. the business portion of Fremont,
about fifteen miles southeast of here,
was destroyed by a fire which started
early this morning. At noon today the
fire was still burning, but was under
control, after having burned everything
in the building line in that part of the
city. The total loss is estimated at be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. Seven build
ings We're destroyed and half as many
stocks of merchandise were consumed,
while all the contents of the burned
stores were damaged by the smoke and
water. The fire is thought to have been
Of incendiary origin. 1t was discovered
about o'clock this morning by L. H.
Hibler, who lived above his restaurant,
which was located in the burned dis
trict- He was awakened by smoke and
on investigation found the fire was be-
tween his restaurant building and the
Cannon & Gum building on the corner.
The fire was soon beyond all control, as
the fire apparatus was wholly made
quate. The blaze soon spread to adj
joining buildings and, famed by the
light wind, burned furiously until Moth
ing was left in its; path to consume. BY
hard work Of citizens with what small
fire apparatus the city possesses the
flames were prevented from crossing
the street and the north side of Main
street saved. The entire south side Of
Main street east of the Masonic build
ing was burned. The burned district
includes fully three fourths of the bus
mess houses. The losses are as fol-
lows:
Cannon & Gum. building occupied
by Frank Gordon, meat market. Loss
on building. $1,000; insurance, $500.
Loss on meat market stock and fix
lures, $1,000: insurance, 5000.
II. N. Hamilton, building occupied by
insurance, 5000. Hibler restaurant ST.
500; insurance, $500.
John r. Dale g. Co. drug store, build
ing and stock. Loss on building $1,000,
on stock $4,000. Insurance partial.
j. N. Endicott, general store; loss s4,-
600; insurance, $1,700.
N. B. Lee s. Son. furniture, $4,000;
insurance, $1,000. Stock mostly saved.
]. T. Fox & Co., hardware. Loss on
stock and building, $4,000: insurance,
$4,000. Part of the implement stock
was saved
Scion Helm, building occupied by
Charles M. Holdberg as a restaurant
and lodging house. Loss on building.
$4,000. Insured for $4,000. Restaurant
stock loss. $1,000; no insurance.
Charlotte McFall. building, $3.50.
Other minor losses were: S. n. Nc
Kinney, $3.50; Aldridge & Reeves, $3.50;
Masonic temple. damaged, $3.50
A run1or that has not been confirmed
and which strengthens the belief that
the fire was of incendiary origin is that
L. n. Hibler, whose restaurant was one
of the first to burn, recently received
threatening letter from an unknown
party. The writer warned Hibler to
move out Of the building and stated
that unless he did so he would come to
harm. Hibler paid no attention to the
letter at the time. 1t would seem i'm
possible for the fire to have caught
where 1t did unless purposely started.
Everything points toward incendiar-
ism.
Fremont has gasoline fire engine Of
small capacity, but 1t was utterly in
adequate to check the flames. The fire
was first discovered about 2 o'clock
and had everything its own way up till
o'clock this morning, when 1t had
burned everything on the south side in
the direction OF, the wind. On the OPP
pcsite side Of the street buildings were
several times en- fire, but the work Of
the bucket brieades saved that part of
the town. The greater number of the
burned buildings will be replaced and
contractors from this city and Ottum-
wa have already been asked to figure
on new structures. The fire is the worst
in the history Of Fremont. The stores
destroyed were mostly wo-story
frames and burned like kindling wood.
The fire was plainly visible. from this
place and Ottumwa.