Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-06
Five Business Houses Destroyed
and Two Lives Lost at
Early Hour Today
TOTAL PROPERTY LOSS $4,000
Blaze Started in the City Hotel and
a. w. and w. E. Hobbs, Prominent
Citizens of GIidden, Were cremated,
Their charred Remains Being Found
in the Ruins-Details of Loss.
Special to Times-Republican,

| Special to Times Republican,
/ Glidden, Aug. 6.---Glidden has again
been visited by disastrous fire. The
blaze was first discovered by Agent
Flansburg at o'clock this morning.
Looking north from the depot window
he saw flames creeping over the roof
of the City Hotel on Main street. He
at once gave the alarm but before the
fire company and citizens could reach
the scene the whole structure, which
was frame and dry as tinder. was COM
pletely enveloped and the flames had
spread to the adjacent buildings.
w. c. Harvey, the proprietor. and his
wife and hired girl all occupying rooms
on the lower floor. barely had time to
save themselves. A. w. and W. T..
Hobbs occupied one of the upstairs bed
rooms. They failed for some unac-
countable reason to make their escape
and were burned TO death. Their
charred remains were taken from the
ruins after the fire had burned itself
out.
The fire spread rapidly and entire
ly consumed five buildings as follows:
City Hotel, owned by l.. NJ. Lyons;
loss $500; contents owned by w. c..
Harvey; total loss about $500.
John Il. Grace, implement building
and stock, total loss, $4,000.
Theodore Fort, egg and poultry ware
house and contents; total lose 3 s.sa
w. r. Waldron, blacksmith shop and
contents; loss $1,000.
Elias Loffer. blacksmith shop and
Thomas Burdick wagon shop in con-
injection; loss $4,000.
In addition to these losses the opera
house block and the Farmers Bank
building on the opposite side of the
street were seriously damaged.
The origin OF tfI fire is unknown. as
well as the starting point, for it had
made considerable progress before 1t
water works and most excellent work
on the part of firemen and citizens
alone prevented the entire destruction
of the entire business portion of the
town. The buildings consumed were
all frame structures and burned like
tinder. At one time the Green Bay
lumber sheds were on fire in dozen
places. The depot also caught fire in
several places and for long time it
seemed as tho it would be impossible
to save the livery barn on the east and
the opera house block on the west side
Of the street. besides other frame 9TH
er frame structures to the north in the
same row, making four points OF dam
ger at the same time.
Carroll was called on for help, and
they responded quickly with large
CORPS of firemen, reaching here on
special train provided by the north
western almost before many OF our own
citizens were on the scene. The fre
was under control, however, when they
arrived, so 1t was not necessary TO un-
load their fire apparatus. Their readl-
ness to help is highly appreciated
The saddest part of the occurrence,
however, is the loss OF two estimable
led man about 40 years of age and a
former by occupation. His brother. A.
w. Hobbs, leaves most estimable
family. consisting of wife and five
children. He had been engaged this
season on the Armstrong ranch soNth
Of town, but at the present time was
running a threshing machine and dur
ing the day had been at work half
mile south of town on the krayZer
farm. In the evening he and his bro
ther had come to town where his wife
had also come with their youngest
child which was ILL., The wife was
stopping at the Armstrong home whlie
Mr.. Hobbs ana ms DrotheF loon iooiti
at the hotel in order to get UP early
and return to their machine. Their |
room faced the street and their bed |
was located only a few feet from an
open window with board awning ex-
tending up almost to it's base. Why |
they did not awake and save them
selves is a mystery. Doubtless they |
were overcome with the heat and |
smoke before being aroused sufficiently |
to realize their danger. 1t Is one o.
the saddest incidents in the history OF
the community and orr people are
shocked beyond expression.
Arrangements for the funeral cere
monies have not yet been completed.