The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1902-12-12
BIG FIRE.
LOuisa's Heaviest Loss from
Flames in Half a Century.

Early Wednesday morning Louisa
suffered the heaviest loss from fire
that has occurred for fifty years or
more, and the remarkable part Of
it is that all the loss falls upon one
man, Mr.. John +. Hackworth. His
store building, stock OF goods, ac-
count books, wearing apparel and
personal effects, valued at between
$4,000 and $4,000, We're swept.
away. There was not a dollar Of
insurance on anything. Mr. Hack
worth barely escaped with his life,
being rescued through window
by means OF a ladder brought by
neighbors.
At $3.50 a. M, Mrs. Billie Rife
was awakened by cries OF distress.
a hurried Investigation showed
her that MIR. Hackworth's store
was on fire and that he was im-
plisoned in the second story. He
was at a window calling for help,
clad only In trousers and shirt.
The smoke was so dense that he
could not 90 back TO get his cloth
ing, Mrs. Rifle gave the alarm and
the town was soon aroused by the
iringof guns and ringing OF church
bells. But 1t was too late to do
more than save Mr.. Hackworth
and surrounding buildings. The
flames had too much Of a start.
The town fire ladders were Sc
cured from the city building by
breaking through a window, and
Mr.. Hackworth escaped not any
too soon,
He ha been sleeping on the see,
ond floor OF his store ever since
this building was erected. We'd
ncsday morning he was awakened
by the strong smell OF smoke and
went to the window and looked
out, but could see no evidence OF
fire. He then opened the door
leading TO the stairway, and was
met by such volume OF dense
smoke and heat that hewas stunned
aud stihed. Making his way to a
window, he accidently got hold OF
an old pair OF trousers, which he
put ON while calling for help.
The origin OF the fire is unknown.
1t started near the stairway. Mr..
Haekworth has a distinct recollec-
tion OF turning out the gas very
carefully in the stove near that
place.
The safe sat near rear window,
and as soon as it could be done,
water was poured on it constantly.
1t contained money, government
bonds and notes to the value OF
many thousands Of dollars, The
safe was opened Wednesday even
Ing, and all the yaluables were
found unframed.
During the excitement, j. II.
Vaughan, the merchant, was pain.
fully injured by a spike OH the foot
of ladder piercing his thigh. lie
has suffered severely from it, and
is not yet able to be out.
hoplate glass windows In the
front OF &. w. Gunuelps store were
broken by the heat. The walls OF
the burning building stood until
late in the evening. The fro was
thus confined SO that other build
ings we're saved without much diff
liculty.
The burned building was one oil
the most substantial in town, and
one OF tho last that would have
been expected to burn. 1t was a
two story brick, butt by Hack
worth & Burns. NIr. Hackwortt
has not yet decided whether or not
he will rebuild. He came here from
Floyd county in the early sixties
aud soon after the close OF the civ
II war embarked in the merchan
dislng business with Mr.. X. I
Burns. The business prospereC
and the partnership existed unit
a few years ago, Mr., Hackwortl
has done steady, prosperous bust
ness, and iSone OF our most sub
stantial citizens. In his loss h
has the sympathy of all.