Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1918 — FIRE THREATENS MONON BUSINESS SECTION [ARTICLE]

FIRE THREATENS MONON BUSINESS SECTION

Monticello Journal: Yesterday evening about 7:30 Mrs. Richter, wife of the proprietor of the Richter Pharmacy, while in the store alone noticed that there was smoke coming from around the chimney in some manner. About that time her husband came ihto the store and had noticed smoke coming from the basement window. He opened the dobr going down into the basement and was met with a volume of smoke and gas and blaze that almost overcame him before he could close the door. The fire alarm was given at once and it responded quickly. An entrance to the basement was effected by a rear window and with difficulty the firemen made their way to the fire, which was in. the center of the room where a quantity of goods were stored. The fire was only a smoldering one because it had no draft. It was soon extinguished. The damage was about S2OO. Fortunately for the pharmacy and for other buildings and businesses the fire did not get away. The building in which the fire was is located on the northeast corner of the principal street intersection in the town’, and among the best buildings in the city. Much excitement was created and to get the population of the town would have only , required the count of the attendance at the fire.