The Mena weekly star., 1913-09-04
ASHDOWN SUFFERS
 $65,OOO F|RELOSS
Supposed to Have Been Caused by Cigarette Smokers = Property Owners Recently Defeated Prop
 OsitiOn for WaterwOrks System

Ashdown, Sept. 1.-Yesterday noon a fire was started here in the heart of the business section, and when it finally was conquered by heroic efforts of citizens with buckets the total loss was close to $65 000 and some of the best business establishments of the city were in ashes. Cigarette smokers are sup posed to have been responsible for the flames.
 Cigarettes the Cause.
 It is stated several men were seen standing at a point near the Poland X Co. warehouse, where the fire originated, just few minutes before the flames were discovered. They were seen, it is alleged, to light bit of paper, then light sev- eral cigarettes. It is stated the lighted paper, carried by whiff of wind, was blown under the ware house, thus igniting the building, and when the oil stored therein caught fire the flames spread with lightning rapidily. Another story is that several young boys were seen standing near the scene of the fires origin, lighted some cigar retles and carelessly threw the lighted match under the warehouse.
 All the material in the various bt1ill inng ir,f fl ia m n, al Iolo onA fed by the oil in the warehouse, the flames quickly spread, envelop- ing the warehouse and the general store of Poland X Company and damaged greatly the adjoining buildings.
 Only through the heroic efforts of citizens, including young boys, women and girls, was the entire business district saved from de- struction These workers toiled increasingly with barrels, tubs, buckets and pans, conveying water from the Frisco water tank.
 During the fire thieves attempt ed to ply their nefarious work. One was arrested and a search is being made for others who are supposed to have goods concealed.
 Plans to Rebuild.
 Those business men who lost their stocks of goods in the flames are already laying their plans for rebuilding and re-establishlng their businesses.
 The following is a list of the damages:
 Total damage, s65,OO0; total in surance, S32,500.
 Little River County Bank, dam age to building, S3,000; damage to fixtures, $500: insurance, S4,000.
 H. L. Poland X Co., general mer- chandise, loss of stock, $27,000; in- surance on stock, St3,00o; damage to building, $8,000; insurance un- known.
 Model Drug Store; building owned by C. c. Harris; damage to build ing, S5,000, with S2,000 insurance; damage to drug store, $i0,000; in- surance, S6000.
 Sanderson building, damaged to the probable extent of S3,000, con- lilltu lu tut SouJl Wall, lOul lOOllo on the second floor and the roof. Insurance to the amount of Si0,000 was carried on this building.
 Fred ThrOckmOrton, dry goods. 5000 stock which was damaged possibly 50 per cent in being car ried from the store.
 Rosenzweig Bros, dry goods; stock valued at 5000, was dam aged probably 90 per cent by being carried into the street. Insurance S6,000.
 Owl Drug Store, stock valued at S4,000, was damaged probably 25 per cent by being carried into the street.
 The Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company suffered dam ages to the probable extent of $500 confined to wires, cables and poles The fire did not get within half block of the telephone exchange building.
 A Costly Lesson. The fire was costly object les son to the residents of Ashdown. Only a few weeks ago the question of putting in a complete water works system was agitated, but the large property owners, combined with few of the smaller ones, de- feated the movement and the cam paign was lost. Now, however, since the disastrous fire, showing only too plainly the absolute need of an adequate water system, it is probable the second campaign will not fail and that within a few months Ashdown will have a con- plete waterworks system and vol unteer fire department.