The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-05-05

store were also damaged by the heat.
Mr., Fl. R. Baltzer had some house,
hold furnishings rugs, carpets, bed
ding, linens, etc.-stored in packing
cases ia the rear Of the Masonic hall
on the third floor, which he valued
at $4,000 and had 81 800 insurance.
Not thing was saved from the en-
tire building.
The CoYington Supply Company,
which is the heaviest loser in the fire,
was organized April q. 1889, and has
just passed its 32nd birthday. The
business location was originally where
W. H. Bailey is now located, but the
firm soon outgrew the capacity Of
the house space, and in 1897 built the
four-story building that was de-
stroyed Monday morning. It was the
laraest mercantile establishment in
Upton county. The name was
household word, not only in Upton,
but in many adjoining counties.
and its reputation for honesty and
fair dealing and progressive business
methods had extended far beyond
the borders Of Upton county. Uni
versal regret has been expressed III
Covington and throughout the coun-
tv at the loss occasioned BY the most
disastrous fire which has visited the
business section of our town since
1882, when rs stores were burned
1t is understood that the company
will rebuild on the same lot Just as
soon as ARRANGEMENTS can be made,
though no definite plans have been
given out
The officers of the company are
as follows. W L. Shelton, presi-
dent; S. r Shelton, Jr., vice-presi-
dent: w v. MeFadden. secretary and
treasurer The directors are: W.
"A. Owen. J. A. Shelton, i. r Mar
shall, j q. Camubell, G. s. McQuis-
ton and II D McGaughey.
All those who suffered loss ex4
pressed appreciation for the efficient
manner in which the fire department
handlpd the situation. which looked at
one time as It the whole west side
of the square would be swept away
and everyone who witnessed the fire
expressed themselves as highly
pleased with the results given by the
American-La France fire engine
which the city recently purchased.
Special mention must be made Of
the work Of Mrs. M. L. Shoffner, who
was on the local telephone board the
Of the fire. Mrs. Shoffner
was the only one Of the operators who
remained at her post of duty ana
answered the many calls which came
in. She states that the Supply Com
pany's drop tb the telephone fell on
the board at 4:30, which probably is
accounted for By the intense heat
severinp the telephone wires and
causing the bell to ring.
Mr. ]. P. Roshers, the assistant
night marshal, states that he made
his rounds as usual and passed
through the alley between the Sun
ply Company building and Shelton's
garage at 4:10 and that he saw no
sign Of fire.
The origin Of the fire is as vet I'M
known, and various theories are IT.
fered. 1t is thoupht BY some to be
the work Of burglars, who set fire
TO cover IN anv traces which they
rright have left. while other opinions
are that the building was struck by
lightning, as there had been a rain
storm about midnieht. How the fire
started viii probably always remain
a mystery.
The total damage done BY the con
flaeration is estimated to be over
while the insurance carried
On the property is something over
100000.
For temporary quarters, the offices
Of the Covington Supply Company
and Attorney w. L. Owen are in
the Hotel Lirdo building. Attorney
W. ". Bringle is in the office Of |
Judge r. b Baptist and DIR. L. j.
Lindsey is in the Exchange building. |
The Tennessee Hardware Company
il in its own building at the south |
west corner Of the square.