The Bossier banner., 1922-07-20
WISE RESIDENCE BURNS
Origin of Fire Not Known; Nothing
Saved; Insurance of $1,000.

THE Wise residence was destroyed by
fire between eight and nine o'clock
Monday evening, total loss being sus-
tanned, as all members Of the family
circle were away from home when
the fire originated Insurance In the
amount Of 5000 was carried-which
amount, however, hardly covered the
cost of repairs made during the past
sixty days.
The fire was first discovered by Mr..
A. NJ. Wallace, who was returning to
Benton from short drive on the Ben
tom -BOssier City public road. He ran
to the home and burst in the back hall
dool and called, thinking the occupants
Of the home were within. Mr.. A. ii.
Montgomery, at whose home the unfOr
tunate ones had just called, then gave
the usual alarm, his attention being
called to the fire by his children. Many
others then soon reached the premises,
but by that time the whole Of the inte-
riOr of the residence was in flames and
nothing could be done in the way of
saving household effects or checking
the flames. The residence was under
way OF being remOdeled and new paint
on some portions of its interior and
building materials scattered around
seemed to quicken the fire, as the
flames spread SO rapidly that even
when Mr.. Wallace ran MP he found 1t
unsafe to venture within.
The residence was erected by the
lamented Dr. Braxton Wise during the
summer and fall Of 1891, the contractor
| being Mr. III. n. Sibley, now of Shreve-
| port DR.. and Mrs. Wise and the other
| members Of the family moved In dur
| ing the early part of the following jan
uary. There the Doctor passed away
December q, 1910, and there the others
have continued to reside. Their loss is
keenly felt, as the old residence had
been home" for SO many years. and
friends and neighbors have freely ex-
pressed commiseratiOn. 1t Is with a
sense Of pride and general satisfaction
that they have learned that 1t Is the In
tention of Mrs. Wise to have q new
home erected on the site where the old
one stood.
K.K.'S HER BENEFACTORS.
The day following the disaster there
came to Mrs. Wise neatly typed note
written on plain paper, and signed
Benton Members of Shreveport Klal
No. 2, Realm of Louisiana, Knights 01
the Ku Klux Klan.' The note is quite
brief. its Introductory reading: . En-
closed You will find small contribu
ton and we ask that you kindly accep
same" In acknowledgment of the gra
ciOlls act above reported and of numer
ons kindnesses and attentions bestowed
upon her and the other members of tn
family circle by many friends, Mrs
Wise has requested that space be givel
the following card of thanks:
To the local members Of Shrevel,0r
Klan No. 2, Knights of the Ku Klu
Klan, wish to say that your note an
beneficent gift have reached me. 1t
!, with feeling of genuine gratitude. nc
. unmixed with pride. that this note
addressed to you. May You be hlesse
{ and your worthy cause flourish In til
. same measure as YOU are sensible z
r the misfOrtunes of others and admin.
4 ter to their needs Of the moment. Men
Ory of your kindly attention will Ion
be cherished III heart.
Also, Benton friends, and those n
siding elsewhere, have shOwerel upO
me and mine many attentions. NJ
niece, Miss Grace I.arkin, joins me
!. this acknowledgment, and we joint
: assure all that their gifts are Of bl
= passing value when measured by I'll
!, degree Of esteem iii which we value Il
kindness Of heart that prompted Il
deed. May You, tOO--One and ALL
blessed in life, as token from Heavt
that you value a friend and live trl
to ennobling pr0mptings of the heal
= BELLE H. WISE.
Benton, I.a., July 10, 1922.