Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-03-03
DISASTROUS FIRE
AT PLYMOUTH


disastrous fire that has visited Ply
mouth in years broke out this morn
ing at II O'Clock on GaloTd Ave, en-
failing a loss of $40, $50 The Peoples
Theatre, the double house OF f. b.
Walton, the barn of Daniel Frantz and
the lunch house of J. +. w. Jones
were totally consumed. The alarm
was sent in from box % at II 10
O'Clock. The three teams OF the Ply
mouth fire department were at the
time engaged in filling in the mine
cave on Walnut street and as a con-
sequence the fire had gained consider
able headway before the department
reached the scene of the conhagration.
The firemen were confronted with the
most adverse difficulties and when the
water was turned on the streams lack
ed force superintendent Davenport
of the Water Company sent word to
| the Woodward and other mines in the
vicinity to shut of their pumps and
other means were taken to increase the
force of water i'll the mains.
The situation looked serious for a
I time and it seemed that portion OF
the town would be wiped out.
| Word was sent to Willie sbarrc for
assistance aud it was but short time
when No l. Engine and Hose wagon
responded, but were unable to assist
owing to the different size of the wat
er plugs The WiIkesbarre tiremen
backed their engine to Browns Greek,
but despite their efforts the apparatus
| failed to work sue. essfully.
The fire started in the lunch house
| of j. +. ". Jones, and was caused by
the Overturning of gas stove in the
front room of the building. The flames
quickly communicated to the People 5
Theatre skating rink, which Is an
ancient wooden structure and burned
| like finder a shifting Of the wind
| caused the flames to envelQp the double
dwelling of f. d. Walton located on
the left side of the building, where the
| fire started and despite the gallant
efforts of the firemen the building and
| its contents were doomed to destruC-
tion.
The livery stable of A. E. Williams
adjoining the Peoples Theatre was
the next building that caught. The
firemen with outside assistance saved
the horses and carriages in tine build
| ing.
Two streams were turned on the
stable and as the other buildings were
| doomed to destruction the efforts OF
! the fremen we're turned to saving the
livery building After hard fight
the flames that communicated to the
livery stable were under control.
A barn owned by Daniel Frantz in
the rear of the People Theatre ignit-
ed and was soon a roaring mass OF
| flames. The attention Of the tiremeu
was then turned in saving the sur
rounding buildings, the streams OF
water being used to Confine the flames
to the burning building. After two
hours of efficient work on the part of
the fire Iaddies the seething flames
were under control.
The buildings consumed are: Peo-
pies Theatre, valued at 81, 500, owned
by Joseph Schwartz, 81, 900 insurance.
Mr.. Schwartz just last week reduced
the insurance on the building $500.
4. f. Williams, livery stable, par
TALLY destroyed, $500.
f. B. Walton, double dwelling. s.,
600, partially insured.
j. f. W. Jones, loss $50, insurance
| $3.50.
Barn of Daniel Frantz, loss 500.
+. B. Walton, who occupied the
double dwelling lost nearly all of his
household effects, including number
of valuable papers, estimated TO be
worth in the neighborhood of II 900,
thereby making his loss $4,000. He
was by far the heaviest loser. The
building which he owned was new, be.
ing recently erected. 1t was fitted
with all the modern improvement of Q
dwelling house.
The firemen hampered as they were
with poor water supply, accomplish
cd good work by getting the fire un
der control in so short time.