The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-15
The NAUvOO FIRE
WAS SPECTACULAR
Additional Details of the Blaze and
Explosion Which Caused the
Death Of Lizzie
Girl.
JARED THE EARTH
During the Big Blaze, Second Fire
Started at Home a Half
Mile Away From the
Scene.

NAUFOO, III, Sept. 15.--One of
the most disastrous fires occurred in
Nauvoo. starting about 1:45 o'clock
and few minutes before that the
alarm Of the city fire bell and Cath
Ole and Lutheran church bells rang
, vigorously. warning our people that a
fierce fire was raging in the first ward
OF the city. Your reporter was out
and on his way 10 the scene immed-
lately after the first alarm and while
on his way a terrific explosion occur
red, Earring the earth about Nauyoo
, Tor various distances. Everybody or
nearly everybody was out of bed and
out On the streets investigating the
cause OF the explosion Going to the
direction of the fire, which was the ].
Richtman store in the first ward. a
typical country general merchandise
store, all found out that dynamite and
other explosives stored there, was the
the cause of the terrific explosion
The store and its adjoining buildings
was literally stacked with oils, pow
{ der and this dynamite. also fire works,
the latter which made beautiful dis
play, rags. junk, and all kinds of
general merchandise and country
produce. The Richtman store and
buildings connected with it were a
mass of flames and after the explos-
Ion, Mrs. Mary Newbrecht's residence.
occupied by Ed. Dachroth and family,
and the Aug. Thomas old place and
1,.fo l.
all in a row on Main street near
Farley and all consumed The explos-
sion shattered and damaged proper.
ties of all living in the vicinity and
some quite distance in different
parts Of the city Ed Dachroth and
wife who lived in the Thomas place,
near the store, barely escaped with
their lives and with but little cloth
Ing. Mr.. Ketchum, who purchased
the Thomas place, just north of the
store, met with the saddest misfor-
tune. Mr.. and Mrs. Ketchum lost their
little girl, aged years. who was
killed. She was rescued from her
home in almost a dying condition.
carried by loving hands from the al
most demolished building and died
before reaching neighbours house
Tuesday morning the scene in the i'm
mediate neighborhood presented a
desolate one. About twenty buildings
were badly damaged, and more dam
aged by broken glass quite distance
from the scene of the fire. Several
more were injured, but only slightly,
all caused by the explosion, which
could be felt for several milc..
While all this was going on. anoth-
er cry of fire was heard and it was
found that the Louis Thomas resi-
dence was on fire. which was over
one-half mile from the scene and
seems of mysterious origin The
house was occupied by f. Blocker and
family, but all were away on visit.
The building and contents were Who'll
ly destroyed.
Notes.
Walter Schenck and Mr.. J. RIGHT
man occupied room in the store
building, and the former was a trav-
cling salesman and claims to have lost
$25 in money and gold watch and
chain and escaped from the building
with but little clothing and his life.
He was assisted from the building by
Geo. Harsch, neighbor in the near
vicinity.
There are all kinds of suggestions as
to how the fire originated. Some say
1t may have been caused by lightning
and others say 1t may have been
spontaneous combustion Again il
may have been lighted match
and thrown carelessly away
where in1amable material was ac
cessable
1t was one of the saddest and most
Manageable fires every occurring in
Nauvoo.
No insurance was carried on the