The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-04-01
Greater Part of Six Blocks in Bust
ness Section Burned.
Property Loss Approximates $780, Partly In
sured. Work of Rebuilding Already
Under Way

offices we're in flames, the fire was
communicated to Dautel's livery barn
across the street to the east The
barn and feed we're the losses here, as
the horses and buggies, together with
other movable property, had been re-
moved before the barn was ignited.
The fire now swept rapidly to the
north and east, consuming everything
on this entire block, including the
three buildings belonging to Mr..
Dautel, the Welsh Carriage g. Imple-
ment Co.'S. buildings, and large
part of their stock, and two cottages
on the north side of the block, one
belonging to Mr.. John ROuntree and
the other to Mr.. Dupre Hebert. So
tierece we're the flames and showers of
sparks here, that the Catholic church
roof in the next block north, was fired
in number of places, and but for the
daring Of a number of young men of
the city, who went onto the roof
through the belfry and cut out the
burning places with axes, it being i'm
possible to get water to them, this
beautiful structure would have been
consumed also. From the Southern
Mercantile building the fire extended
east, burning two buildings on the
corner of the next block, one of which
was occupied by Mrs. J. L. Mcintyre
as millinery store,
In respOnce to q request for aid,
CAPTAIN Sudduth of the Lake Charles
fire department hurried two OF his
firemen with all available hose to the
depot, where the Southern Pacific
generously had special train in
waiting, which made q record run in
bringing theassistance. Although the
fire was under control before assist
lance arrived the hose was immediate
ly laid and attached to the S. P.
Pumping station and heavy stream
of water was kept playing upon the
burning debris until late In the after
noon in order that the danger of any
further conhagration might be AVOID
ed. Mr.. Rankin, one of the fire
fighters OF Jennings also came over
, and rendered willing service. The
people of Welsh are grateful to both
these towns for their willing assist
ance.
Fortunately there we're no lives lost
as result of the fire, although little
Hebert Ranguet died while being car
ried from his burning home, but he
had sustained so serious injuries a
few days previous as to leave no hope
of recovery.
In all there we're something oyer
thirty buildings destroyed, and about
the same number of business firms
effected. The total loss can only be
appropriated but will not fall far
from $3.50. 10000.
The amount Of insurance carried
was small as compared to the value
of the property destroyed. This is
accounted for, In q large measure, by
the fact that the rate OF insurance was
so high ~ to be practically prohibit
i've in many instances. The following
list OF losses and insurance is only
an approximation, but will give a
general idea of the extent OF the dam
ages.
Signal Hotel building and furniture
and three other buildings owned by
IL. A. Arceneaux, $4,000, insurance
$500.
Southern Mercantile Co., building
and contents, $42, 900, insured for slS,
600.
Martin Brothers, dry goods and
clothing stock $4,000, insurance sl6,
600.
r. Smith. clothing stock, $1,000, no
insurance.
A. B. Hall, pool hall and shooting
|gailery, two establishments. loss
about 1900, no insurance.
| Roy Davis, ice cream parlor, loss
81, 900, no insurance.
Roy Barbee. grocery, loss 1880
insurance $500.
r. S. Greer, jewelry stock, partly
saved, loss $4,000, no insurance.
| u. S. Post Office, stamps, etc. saved
fixtures belonging to Postmaster Ter
ry, loss $500.
Anthony Hebert, barber shop, part
ly saved, loss $500.
L. R. Barbee, fruit stand. small
loss.
| T.. E. Robinson, real estate Office
building and fixtures, loss $1,000.
Cumberland Telephone Co., Loss
$4,000.
! Chas. Dautel, livery barn and feed
loss ZOO. stock and buggies saved
Mrs. E. L. Welsh, three buildings,
loss &c.
Mrs. J. L. Mcintyre, millinery, Loss
$500; building belonging to Martin
Bros, loss 81, 900.
Alex. Verrett, building occupied b!
| Welsh Carriage and Implement Co.
loss 81, 900.
Welsh Carriage and Implement Co.
| SIS, 900, we'll insured.
| John Rountree, dwelling, $3.50.
! Dupre Hebert, Dwelling, $3.50.
w. T. McAffrey, two buildings
Sd, 500, no insurance.
! Layne & Bowler Co., $4,000.
W. r. McAffrey, soft drinks ant
pool room. fixtures ~, 500. .
/ Isaac Fontenot, two buildings, "a
500. ;,
| Star Restaurant. Arthur Kimball
$500.
/ Chinese Laundry, $3.50.
| A. e. Bourgeois, store building
So, 900.
New i, residence $1,000.