People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1893 — A BIG BLAZE. [ARTICLE]

A BIG BLAZE.

Haiioran’*; Old Saloon Building Gone *Up In §moke. Last Sunday morning between I twelve and one o’clock the peoj pie of our quiet town were i aroused from their slumbers by the riuging of the fire boll aud j the blowing of the whistle at the electric light station, which j every one knew meant that there was something serious on hafid. It was found that the okl build- . ing owned by Mike Haiioran and occupied by Thos. Gear was in flames. As to the origin of the affair, there is nothing definite, Some say it was the work of an incendiary. ‘ Mr, Gear states that there had been no fire in the building for several months'. The loss is about cowvou by tbe insurance, which amounts to about 81,500. entire loss of that building, Uncle John MakeeveFs building on the east, occupied by the Chicago Bargain Store, came* near being “in it,” aloha' (frith the corner. Well protected windows saved the building, but tilings got pretty warm. * ) The livery barn of Frank Lift, just adjoining on Grc north, was in luelu Had the wind been coming from the south or SouthVest, instead of fyom the northwest, that building would have gone up into smoke. By hard: work of volunteers, it was saved! and a few dollars will cover the; The new fire Cistern Was tried.' for the first time and proved a ; great benefit in preventing the! spread of the fire, ■ The rife company cild some good wevk ‘.s well as many of our Citizens. At a fire it requires the combined work of 'all and Fire Chief Honan was at his place and the Work was well clone under his supervision. Mr. Haiioran opened the safe Monday which was in the building when it burned and to the’ surprise of all Us contents were) found to be well preserved. The 5 building is one of the old landmarks of ReiTsselaer and has; been an eve sore for many years to those who believe in improve- j ment. It is not known whether any improvement Will be made; on the gredfiu soon or not. We hope so at least. A nice two or; three story building would be a great addition to * the corner, a help to the tdWn, and would increase the capacity for business * here. __ «