The copper era and Morenci leader., 1916-10-13

Other Buildings Burned to Ground
 -Loss Estimated at Close to $4o,-
 ooo.oo.
 DUNCAN, Oct. 12.-(SpeciaD Fire on Thursday morning destroyed the general merchandise store of B. F. Bfllingsley, the confectionery and news stand of Ebert Mclaughlin and a residence belonging to Wm. Sand ers The fire was discovered at about 12:4O o'clock at which time clouds of smoke were to be seen is suing from the rear of the Billings ley store Shots were fired to bring assistance in an effort to save the structure, but the fire had gained such headway that the efforts of the volun- teer fire fighters were without avail. Small fire extinguishers were brought to the burning store but they could do but little to check the flames.
 The flames soon spread from the rear of the Billingsley store to a dwelling owned by Wm. T. Sanders, occupied by Jess Hill, but fortunately most of the household effects were carried to place of safety before the flames reached the house. The build ing was totally destroyed.
 About ten minutes after the Sanders house caught fire the store of Ebert Mclaughlin began to blaze. This building was constructed of corrugat- ed iron, with frame front, and lasted but short time after the flames be- gan their work. Fortunately the en- tire stock was removed to place of h0f fl11iI MT. Mclaughlin carried no insurance.
 The local station of the A. & N. M. railroad had narrow escape from de- struction, and had it not been for number of men keeping the roof and side exposed to the fire soaked with water, it too would have been de stroyed At one time it looked as if the station was certain to be destroy ed and most of the books, express packages, etc., were removed to place of safety. A number of barrels; of oil and gasoline standing on the freight platform were rolled out of the danger zone and a freight car loaded with merchandise was showed away from the station The roof and wall of the station exposed to the fire were considerably blistered by the intense heat.
 When the fire was first discovered in the Billingsley store some effort was made to eXtinguish the flames but without any success. The attention of the volunteers was then turned to- wards saving some of the stock, and some articles of value were carried from an adjoining building. Two hundred pounds of dynamite was car ried to a place of safety, which prob ably saved the town from possible destruction, for had it exploded burn ing embers would have been thrown all over the town. Several boxes of illuminate caps, which are used in the handling of dynamite,were left in the building and they exploded with a ter rife detonation, frightening the hun dreds of people who were attracted to the scene of the fire. However, no one was injured which is considered very fortunate.
 Mr. Billingsley figures that his stock in the store and the ware-room adjoining was worth about $35, ,000 On this stock he carried 5000 insurance, and S3,000 insurance was carried on the building. The buIIuIug occupied by MT. Mclaughlin was also the prop erty of MT. Billingsley and was unin- sured. In the warehouse adjoining the store there were thousands of dol lars worth of merchandise, including 60,000 pounds of flour, which is a to- tai loss.
 Mr. Billingsley had been receiving his fall merchandise shipments re- gently and had just about received all his winter goods when the fire oc- cured.
 The fire was probably the most dis astrous ever occurring in Duncan con- sidering it's damage and scope The losses as far as can be estimated at present will total about as follows: B. F. Billingsley, merchandise and buildings, 37,000; W. T. Sanders, house, $500; A. & N. M. railroad damage to depot, s250: E. W Nc Laughlin, damage to stock $175; total, s3S,925.
 The insurance carried by those los ing through the fire is as follows: B. F. Billingsley, on stock $9,000: on building, $2,0O0; w. T. Sanders, none; E. w. Mclaughlin, none; Jess Hill, none; A. & N. M. loss covered by insurance.
 The fire was discovered by Jess Hill who was sleeping in the house at the rear of the Billingsley store. He gave the alarm by firing a number of shots and soon many people were hurrying to the place.
 Had Duncan possessed any means of fire protection, it is almost certain that the flames could have been eX- tinguished soon after they were dis covered. It is to be hoped that some steps will be taken by the property owners of the town to prevent a repe- tition of Thursday mornings confia- grafton.
 MT. Billingsley has made no plans for the future as yet, but it is hoped by his many friends that he will be able to seon again resume his busi- ness.
 E. w. Mclaughlin has occupied the old school house helOW the postoffice.