Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-04-19
Ho 81, PostOfioe, Store and Two Frame
Structures All Disappear,
LOSS WILL REACH NEARLY $4,000
Owners Garry Barely half Enough 1nsur-
anos to ReCOup Them.
BUCKET BRIGADE ALONE SAVES TOWN
deans of Fighting Holocaust made
quRte to Meet sudden Emergency,
Consequently whole Block
Has to he Sacrificed.

BROWNVlLLE, Neb., April 1s.-(Special
Telegram. )-The most disastrous fire which
ever visited this city started about 1
o'clock this morning and before It burned
itself out had consumed Ave buildings, en-
failing loss OF between $4,000 and $75, 900.
No one Is able to state just how IL started,
but when discovered It had gained such
headway in the second story Of the Marsh
hotel that there was no stopping Il with
the limited means OF lighting fire at the
command OF the citizens. The only FIRE
protection the city has is a bucket brigade
and a hook and ladder company. The
members of the fire company, assisted by
the citizens, worked as hard as possible to
save buildings and property. but were un-
able to do much until the flames reached
the end Of the row. The buildings burned
were the best and most substantial in the
city. Fortunately there was no wind blow
ing or 1t would have been impossible to
save any portion of the town.
The fire, as stated, was first noticed in
the second story of the hotel building. This
was a large three-story brick structure
containing besides the hotei the opera house
and three store rooms. one OF which was
vacant at the time. 1t was known as the
Marsh block and was owned by Lewellen
& Davis, who conducted the hotel and
their loss on the building and contents OF
the hotel will be upwards of $40 900, about
half covered by Insurance.
One OF the store rooms was occupied by
J. w. Ritchey with q stock Of general mer-
chandise and his loss will be fully $4,000
with $4,000 insurance.
Another Of the store rooms was occupied
by the Biograph printing ofice, on which
the loss will be about $500.
The third store room was vacant.
Next to the Marsh block was a three
story brick owned by M. w. Kaufman and
occupied by him with a stock OF general
merchandise. This was also an entire
loss. amounting to in the neighborhood Of
! $10, ,000
POstOfice Goes, too.
| The next to go was a swo-story brick
bAIlding eadioining 1ceuptdd by The post
affse and he4sirdertaking establishment
OF Lewellen & Davis. The mail matter was
all saved from the postoffice. but the
building is a total loss amounting to 50, 900.
The loss in the undertaking establishment
will amount to about 81 900. Loss about
half covered by insurance. This building
was owned by the county and was used as
a court house when Brownville was the
county seat Of Nemaha county.
Adjoining this building we're two frame
structures occupied BY Joseph Baker as a
blacksmith shop and these were consumed
entailing a loss of about $500. Here the
flames stopped for lack of more material
to feed upon in the block and the work
OF the bucket brigade kept them from
spreading across the street This would
not have been possible, however, had there
been any wind
The Marsh block, containing the hotel
cost originally between $4,000 and $50. .OOt
and had but recently been repaired and re.
constructed at heavy expense.
The loss Of these buildings, the best II
the city together with the business enter
prises contained In them, will be a sever,
one to Brownville as well as the actua
owners of the property