Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1908 — McCOYSBURG [ARTICLE]

McCOYSBURG

Visited By Disastrous Fire Monday Night. USUAL DEFECTIVE &UE THE CAUSE J. P. G win's Hardware Store and the Storage Room By the MoTracks Burned to the Ground. Special to The Democrat: About 10:15 or 10:80 o’clock Monday night the people of McCoysburg were awoke by the cries of R. C. McDonald of fire, followed by a loud report caused by the explosion of a keg of power in J. P. Gwin’s hardware store, where the fire started. The cause of the fire is attributed to a defective flue. During the day a big fire was built as the day was cool. The hardware store and storage room near the tracks were burned to the ground. There was coal, feed, boxes, barrels and Chris Saidla’s soft drinks stored the latter building. Reed McCoy’s store, postoffice. etc., had the next close call as it is just across the street fTom Gwin’s hardawre. Mrs. Lon McDonald noticed the fire first and woke her family and it was long until the whole town was on the scene Water was kept dashing on the side of the other close by buildings, but the heat was so intense that window glass was cracked nearby. Telephone communciatlon was also cut off but after the fire R. O. Johns attached his phone on the Bell line and “called in.” Mr. Gwin probably had Insurance but how much we have not learned at this writing. The wind being mostly in a southern direction was the only salvation for the other buildings otherwise the whole town would have been swept away.