The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-05-07
Wednesday Morning, May S-Rntire
Business Section Threatcued at
One Time but Checked.
WELLSvILLE SENDS HELP HERE
Total Loss Estimated SIS ,OOO--Partial.
ly Ensured--C County Records May
Be Ruined-Will be Re-
built.

it looked as though the entire
block, perhaps the whole business
section of town, would go up in
flames.
The fire originated in the little
alcove just under the opera hoG3e
stairway, and which the Cason
brothers utilized as a sort of ware
room, having a barrel of wood al
cohol, turpentine, carbolic acid,
and other material stored back
there.
When Hugh Cason had occasion
to visit this little alcove about
o'clock Wednesday morning, he
found the wood alcohol in flames.
How il BECAME ignited remains a
mystery. Hugh Immediately re-
allied the situation and seizing the
barrel he endeavored to roll it
out in the areaway leading to the
street, but the heat and smoke
stifled him and he grabbed buck
ct of water and threw on the
blaze. In an instant the flames
flared up, rolled back and en-
quilted him. His hands and arms
were badly blistered and he was
lucky to escape with no more Sc
rious injuries. He rushed 80 the
street and gave the alarm.
Within five minutes, Jack Chad
wick and some others were around
at the back entrance of Cason'o
with the hose cart, but several
] precious moments were wasted in
| making hose connections, and by
| the time the hose was ready and
| the water turned on, the fire had
| gained such headway that Jack
| was unable to force his way thru
| the deathly fumes that filled the
passageway leading 20 the fire.
l AS there was no oth2.' mode OF
! ingress, the flames had to be
fought from the outside, which
of course proved to be futile work.
Practically the entire popula-
ton of the city turned out, and
willing hands contributed all that
human ingenuity could devise to-
ward checking the conflagration.
But, with the exception OF a
couple of sections OF hose, We
were totally without fire-fighting
facilities, and the fire greedily
ate its way into the vitals of the
building.
When il was seen that the build
ing must go, it was then too late
to save anything from Cason's.
Arthur did manage to get his
books out, but everything else, in
| cluding his money drawer with
about $50 in silver, was destroyed.
| A strong wind was blowing in a
northeasterly direction, and as the
flames mounted higher and high
er, licking their fiery way through
the roof of the opera house, the
entire block seemed doomed, and
the business men all along the
western side of Sturgeon street,
from Cason's to the alley, began
moving their goods and fixtures.
All of the office furniture in Cup
toms abstract office, located in
the opera house building, with the
J entrance just west of stairway,
was carried out, with the excep-
ton of the big fire-proof safe
which contained the only set OF
abstract books in the county. The
safe went through the fire appar-
emily unscathed, and Mr.. Gupton
thinks the books were not harmed
in any way.
Reid & Reed, the BARRIERS located
next door to Cason's, managed to
save their more important fix
/ lures. They had about 5000 in
surance, which will cover theiI
loss.
c. j. Locke, whose dry goods ano
clothing store was next to the
barber shop, had his goods all re-
, moved to the street, and he i.
now temporarily occupying the
store room across the street il
the johnson building. He had $1,000
insurance, and a $11,500 stock. Hs
has not estimated his losses a!
yet.
: Drs. Nuns and Tinsley, upstairs
3 over Locke's, removed most o
their office furniture. They has
a small insurance.
The next building, which wa
occupied by Frank Knofler's shoe
:, shop and the country telephone
+. exchange, was quickly shorn o
Z all furniture.
Next was Martins Grocery. AL
of his goods and fixtures We're re
moved to the street, and takel
back in the. afternoon. Mr.. Mar
o tin estimates his losses at close t
' 1000. He had $4,000 insurance.
Barnes & Torbett'a photograph
!, gallery, over Martins, was ais
= dismantied, as was Eugene's con
fectionery. next door. Eugen