The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-18
Seven Business Houses E.
stroyed and the Town It.
self Saved by a Rain and
Lack of Breeze.
RINGING OF BELLS
CALLS IN FARMERS,
Who Helped the Citizens of
the Bucket Brigade in
Fighting Flames 1t Was
a Night of Terror.

A drenching rain early Wednesday
evening and the fact that there was
not the slightest breeze throughout
the night saved the little town OF
Greensboro from complete destruction,
early this morning, by a blaze which
destroyed all but one of a block of
eight business houses on the north
side of Pearl street between Main and
Green streets. The only structure to
escape was the Gaylor building occu-
pied by the George Mosey general
store. The origin of the fire is not
known.
So menacing were the flames a few
minutes after the fire had been dis
covered that the alarmed citizens tele-
phoned to the mayor of Richmond and
to the fire department headquarters
asking for prompt assistance AS soon
as possible the No. hose and chemi-
cal company and the fire engine were
rushed TO Greensboro on a special
| train. arriving there at O'Clock. BY
that time seven buildings in the block
We're in ruins, but the town out or
danger of destruction. The Richmond
fire laddies stretched 400 feet of
hose from the creek, the fire engine
supplying the pressure and the stream
played on the smouldering ruins had.
within an hour. absolutely extinguish-
ed all brands and small isolated blazes
The total estimated value of build
ings and stocks destroyed was s13,250
and the total insurance. so far as could
be ascertained, amounted to only $3.-
600, making the total estimated loss
s10.250. The total loss may be a lit
tie less than the above sum as some
of the stock and furnishings in the var
ious stores were saved.
Victims Of the Blaze.
In the Rheinhamer building was 10
Gated the Stevenson barber shop and
five and ten cent store. Nearly all
equipment of the barber shop. except
one BARRIERS chair, was lost No insur-
ance was carried. Some of the stock of
the five and ten cent store was saved.
This store was owned by Tom Dean.
He places his loss at $500. He carried
no insurance. Stevenson lost about
800.
One of Greensfork's most pretenti-
Gus buildings was among those burn
ed down. This was the I. o. o. r.
building. The lodge lost about $500.
II carried no insurance. being unable
to secure policies because of the pres
ence of gasoline tank in front of
the building. This was also the reason
why other stocks and buildings were
not better insured.
The Rheinhamer building was valued
at $4,000 and there was $1,000 insur-
ance on IL.
The millinery establishment of Mrs.
Dean was burned out with a loss Of
$50 and no insurance.
The w. L. Hatfield store had a stock
valued at $500 with $500 insurance. On
ly small per cent of the stock was
saved.
crump Heavy Loser.
The two buildings owned by DIR. c.
T. Crump were valued at 81 800 with
5000 insurance. In one of the build
ings was located the J. w. Wills drug
store. No insurance was carried by Mr..
Wills and his loss is estimated at 81
500. About three years ago his phar-
macy at Indianapolis was burned
down. In the other Crump building
was the ]. E Clawson restaurant. In
the rear of which 1t is believed the
fire originated. Clawson carried no in
surance- His loss will reach $4,000.
Another building destroyed was
that occupied by the office of DR. Kerr.
He carried $1,000 insurance. but he
estimated his loss at $500. The loss
sustained by the Harry Corey restau.
rant is estimated at 800.
About 1:25 this morning Mrs. w s.
Hatfield looked from her bedroom win.
dow and saw a blaze in the rear Of
the Clawson restaurant She cried
fire" and Al Bailey then spread the
alarm. The flames spread so rapidly
that the entire block. except the Gay.
lor building. a sheetiron structure. was
soon a sheet of fire. Greensboro has