The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-11-07

the most destructive Oskaloosa has
suffered since the burning of the Fitch
harness house and the Stull & Nc
Gregor furniture store about three
years ago.
The Insurance.
While the loss is quite heavy, it is
partially covered by insurance, car
ried with the several agencies in the
city, as follows:
On the Building.
Buffalo German, $500.
German Fire of Pittsburg, S1,500.
Milwaukee Mechanics, $500.
Milwaukee Fire, $500.
Rochester German, $500.
On the Stock.
Fire Association of Philadelphia
81, 600.
German of Rochester, $1,000.
New York Underwriters, $4,000.
German American, $1,000.
National of Hartford, $4,000.
Philadelphia Underwriters, $1,000.
North American, $1,000.
Fireran's Fund of San Francisco,
81, 900.
The McNeill Building.
The Mcneil building, or the oska-
loosa Livery and Transfer Co. barn,
as it was known for years, was one of
the older of the more. modern business
buildings of the city. 1t was con-
structed for the purposes of livery
and transfer business, which was con-
Quoted by the Mcneil interests until
recently, when the business was pur-
chased by Mr.. George A. Morrow. The
building was substantially and strong
ly built and was sixty feet front by
one hundred and twenty in length, two
full stories and basement. At the
time of its erection it was one of the
largest buildings in the city. 1t was
erected during the year 1881, on the
east side of the old .Greenough place"
The building has always been main
tanned in a splendid state of repair
and was quite slightly structure.
Aside from the loss of the building,
Mr.. W. A. Mcneil suffers the loss of
considerable personal property which
ne had in his offices in the building,
aot the least of which was a much
priced banjo. These losses cannot be
replaced.
The safe that was a part of the Of
fee equipment fell through the floors
to the basement and was covered with
tons Of brick and plastering as the
walls came upon it A force of men
were engaged in recovering the prop
erty as soon as the ruins were cool
enough to be worked. The property
contained in the safe was found to be
all right, though somewhat wet and
soiled by the intense heat and smoke.
Has Close Call.
Colonel J. F. Mcneil, one of the
members of the firm of Mcneil Broth
ers, attempted to get into the burning
Offices to secure important property
that was unprotected. He entered
the rooms when they were filed with
the dense hot fumes. He was over
come by the heat and smoke which
blinded and choked him. He was rem
dered helpless and but for the pres
ence and assistance of Night Police
man Silas Bennett, who answered his
call for assistance and went into the
building after him, the man might
have been lost. Mr.. Bennett went in
to the room reached in the direction
of McNeilTs choking voice and happen
ed to touch him with his hand. 1t was
impossible to see thing in the room.
Mr.. Mcneil was pulled into the open
air just in time. He could not have
endured the fumes longer and remain.
ed conscious. Quickly recovering him
self the gentleman made another at
tempt to get into the room but gave
up as he saw the fruitlessness of such
effort, a
In Business Again.
With characteristic enterprise and
energy Mr.. Morrow announces that he
is ready for business again in a tenn
porary way and that he win take care
Of all orders that come his way. I'm
mediately following and while the fire
was still burning he secured quarters
for his stock and the vehicles that
were saved from the flames. His tenn
porary Office is located in the Mace
Hagan livery barn on North Fourth
street, while part of his equipment
is sheltered in the Walthall feed sta
bles and at the Don Mcclure automo
bile garage. These accommodations
are only temporary, however, and as
soon as Mr.. Morrow can secure suit
able quarters for his business he will
"restock7 and be in business again
with as fully equipped an establish
ment as he had before the fire.
Rebuilding Uncertain.
just what steps will be taken by w.
A. McNeiIl toward the rebuilding OF
the property cannot be stated at this
time. Mr.. Morrow has solicited the
rebuilding OF the place, but this could
not be accomplished this winter. No
definite statements are obtalnable at
this time with reference TO the re
building OF the place. In the mean
time Mr.. Morrow win make the best OF
the means at hand and Will handle all
classes OF business at the places men