The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-04-30
MARIENvILLE'S GREAT FIRE.
The Thriving Town is Swept by Fire
Taking Nearly Every Business House
aud Scores of Private Residen-
ces.-LOss Will beach Near
lY S3OO.OO

by far the most disastrous fire that has
ever visited our county occurred on We'd
nesday of last week, wiping out practi-
cally all of the business portion OF the
bustling town of Marienvllle, and nearly
half OF its private residences.
The fire broke out in Mrs. J. T. Smiths
residence, two doors below John Hoov-
er's livery barn, on the east side of Cher
ry street. What caused the fire is not
known. Although prompt action was
taken to subdue the flames every effort
failed, and with the wind blowing a 60
mile gale from the southwest and every
thing AS dry as tinder, the fire not only
spread with greatest rapidity but the
flames leaped from building to building.
and great patches Of burning embers
were carried for rods and ignited houses
that were located several blocks away.
Almost within twinkling, and before
people could realize it, the block of
buildings in the triangular space in which
were located Hoover's barn, several store
Buildings, the opera house and the fine
Keystone hotel was mass Of flames,
from which, famed by the terrific wind.
the fire spread with fearful rapidly. The
entire c,rclo Of business places extending
from Mensch & Co.'s hardware store up
to the corner, including the postoilice aud
several business places, ana on around,
taking Carringer's store, Neely 4 Co.'S,
Chas. Wilton's, David Mintz's, DR.. Beck's
building, Hotel Watson, Hines meat
market and on down to and including
the r. X. depot, was burned out. The
wind being from the southwest the fire
was swept in northeasterly course from
the main portion OF the town, and moth
ing was saved in its path. All the build
ings, dwellings, etc, on East Spruce street
running nearly parallel with the railroad
track, as wei as every building IN North
Cherry street, running up townrd By
romtown, on which was located some of
the finest homes in Marienvile, were
swept away as in a twinkling. The Pres
byterian church was in this district, aud
buildings beyond this structure were
fired before it caught.
The fire broke out about 10 o'clock in
the forenoon, and in less than four hours,
or about half past l o'clock it was all
over with.
People were powerless to stay the fury
of such fire, and would have been had
the town possessed the best possible
means of lighting fire. While the win
was the cause of so reat Obstruction OF
property, it was also the means of saving
others, because it blew the flames away
from them. And yet, as if in mockery
of the efforts OF the laborers it would oc.
casoually sweep about and driving the
rescuers from their post lick up build
ing as if 1t were mere straw stack. The
area burned over would cover almost 20
acres ofground, of which nothing but
ashes is left and the sight is sad one TO
behold. Fortunate indeed thai no casu-
allies occurred, and beyond tie burning
of two or three of the citizens about the
face and hands no one was seriously in
jured. Among those seriously burned
was Samuel Pickens, editor of the Ex-
press, and B. f. Kendall of the A. d.
NELL drug store.
OF the contents of the buildings very
little was saved, goods carried out were
soon burned up in the streets. House
hold goods were consumed in almost
eyery instance, and in nearly all cases
people saved only what they had on their
backs.
Scores of people are left without home
and have thus far been furnished with
the creature comforts by good neighbors
who were more fortunate. The more
able of the people have responded nobly
to the needs of their unfortunate towns
people, aud many who lost heavily are
still doing much to alleviate the disti ess OF
others. Other towns, Clarion, Kane, and
places along the B. B. Il X. Ry. are re-
spending to the call for help. Tionesta
has raised purse, aud will do more il
needed. Hon. J. c. Sibley telegraphed
tie relief committee to draw on him for
will require much to bridge the unlortu-
nate ones over till they can find shelter.
and again make stgrt, and people who
are able should not wait To be called
upon. In so great a calamity all the dis
tress cannot be told, aud much of TIE
suffering will never be known outside
the family circle.
Information as to the individual losses
is difficult to procure, but III the aggl a
gate will foot up close to 100000 The
insurance carried will probably not
amount to more than Cne.third that
amount, or about 100000. Following is
a list ia which the insurance alone is
mentioned, except where an estimate Of
the loss can be formed. This list may
not bo entirely correct, but it is obtained
from reliable sources, and will be found
pretty near the right mark;
BUSINESS PLACES.
Austin Smith, two buildings. Insur-
ance on stock $1,000.
Mrs. j. T. Smith, insurance on build
ing $1,000.
John Hover, livery stable and con-
tents. No insurance.
j. M. Roreigh, harnes shop, insurance
S225.
Baughman Bros, meat market, ins.
S225.
Keystone Hotel, j. It. Powers, pro-
prietor, insurance 5000.
j. p. Keyser's barber shop, no insur-
ance.
f. G.. Engles, grocery stock, no insur-
ance.
Mrs. NJ. Levy, dry gooda and clothing
stock, insurance $500.
A. d. Neil, drug store, insurance S3,-
500.
Neill n Stonecipher, opera house, in
surance $1,000.
Mensch q Co, hardware. bnilding aud