Amador ledger., 1906-11-30
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN PLYMOUTH:
LeYaggi's General Store Quilted
and Stock Ruined.

|
year ago. He has been gradually
moving his stock therein, fixing up
the store In manner superior to any
other store in the county. Only q
few weeks back he finished this work,
and had got nicely established in bis
new, and more commodious quarters,
when the fire tend took hand, and
spoiled the work of months of labor,
and thousands of dollars of cost.
How or exactly when the fire
started is not known. There was a
dance in Plymouth Saturday night,
and patrons returning therefrom,
and passing the large brick store,
smeiled the odor of burning clothing.
The store was tightly closed, and no
smoke was visible. There was no
draught, and consequently no out
ward manifestation of the destructive
work that was going on inside. How
ever, the suspicious odors led to in
vestigatlon. The proprietor was
apprlsed of the suspicion, and about
half past five O'Clock it was found
that serioCs fire was raging inside.
Realizing that the fire would be
greatly stimulated by opening the
doors before there we're any means
at hand to Fight the flames, it was
wisely determined to keep the store
closed for a time. There was no
water supply available. Somehow,
the town water works is not kept in
shape to fight fire at all hours.
Furthermore, there were no other
apparatus for fire fighting, in the
shape of chemical FIRE extinguishers
to be had in town. In this dilemma,
messengers we're dispatched to the
Fremont mine, three miles away,
for several chemical extinguishers
kept there. AS soon as these were
secured, the store was entered. The
smoke and heat was something
terrible. But the extinguishers did
excellent work, and the fire was got
under control in brief time, with
the aid of water, that was turned on
after a while.
About the entire stock in the large
store was destroyed or ruined; except
the hardware portion and other goods
The fire was principally in the dry
goods and clothing department.
Everything in these lines was either
total or partially ruined. And the
entire inside was black with smoke,
imparting a grimness and forbidding
aspect to the fixings and entire es-
adjustment that had only just been
placed in such natty and business
like shape. The stock was valued at
about $50, 900. Probably the heaviest
merchandise stock in the county.
There was an insurance of only $4,000.
Levaggi is a very heavy loser. He
was in no way discouraged by the
stroke of hard luck. He had been in
San Francisco on business, and only
reached home the evening prior to
the tire--ju in time, as he expressed
it, to see it burn. He has another
store building some distance north
on Main street, and in this, his old
store, he was prepared to do business
in snort time. How the fire started
is mystery. Some incline to the
theory that it was the work of an
incendiary. Still there was little
evidence to support this view. 1t
started in the cellar. There was no
doubt on that point. And the most
generally accepted explanation Is that
it was case OF spontaneous combus-
tion. A barrel or so of waste was IN
the cellar, and per haps oily or fatty
rags we're thoughtlessly placed there
in, which generated the fire.
Sunday was gala time at the skating
rink. There were estimated to be
fully 300 persons there in the evening.
All the skates that could be mustered
up in town we're in use, and more
would have been hired if they were
to be had. Some 60 or 10 skaters
were gliding over the polished floor
at one time. 1t was quite a sight.
A number of patrons from outside
places were present, as the jackson
rink is conceded to be the finest place
for this sort of amusement that ANA
dor comfy has ever seen. Not a few
ugly tumbIes we're experienced, and
in two or three cases the services OF
doctor we're called for. But these
little mishaps serve not to damp the
ardor in the least. The tumblers are
generally on their feet again and
spinning around as lively as if moth
ing had happened. Skating is the
rage just now. 1t has taken Jackson
by storm.
All kinds of Christmas goods on
the way, at the jackson Shoe Store.
Louis Piccardo returned this week
from San francisco. He has been
doing teaming work there from soon
after the fire. He brought back one
team. He will remain home for some
time, probably through the winter.
The Bates Banks dramatic company
furnished a weeks series uf plays 10
jackson Saturday night. There was
a good house the last night, and the
play was enjoyed by all. This is
really one of the best troupes that
has visited this city for long time.