Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1883 — Kentland’s Catastrophe! [ARTICLE]

Kentland’s Catastrophe!

ThebavineM parties of the tow* In ashes. On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, of last week, our neighboring town of Kentland was visited by a very destructive fire. A block and a half, comprising 21 buildings and 35 firms were burned. The loss on buildings is estimated at $40,000, and on other property $50,000. The origin of the fire is stated to be unknown. The Kentland Gazette gives the following list of burned out firms. Discount and Deposit Bank. Weida & Goffman, restaurant. Gilbert Goff, general merchandise, residence and barn. Chris. Eettinger, boots and shoes. D. P. Parks, harness. Jno. Hubertz, residence and saloon. —Hetzener, shoe shop. N. Kirsch, saloon and residence. Capt. Warren, barn. ' Fred Devoe, tinware etc.Chria. Arnedt, boots shoes, and People’s Press, in building upstairs; George Myers, barber. Jas. Gauthier, family groceries. Keefe & Bro., groceries and hardware and John Ash, attorney. S. M. Noble, jeweler, Jim Clure, tailor and Hattie Alexander, dressmaker. Mrs. Hull, milliner and ladies furnisher. The travelers Insurance building containing the following firms: A. C. Van Derwater, dry goods and groceries Mrs. J. D. Ganders, milliner, W. S. McCullough & Co., druggists, Graham & Jones, attorneys and real estate, Armory Hall, G. A. 8., Masonic Order and Newton County News. Harnish, Photographer. Drs. Beckner, office and H. T. Brigham, dentist. Poole & Bro., hardware. P. H. Ward, attorney at law. John Peacock, real estate and collection agent.

From the Goodland Herald of Saturday, we clip the following later and additional notea in regard to the fire: “At about 1 o’clock Thursday morning, a fire broke out in Kentland, and between ninety and one hundred thousand dollars worth of property, including the greater part of the business portion of the town, was entirely destroyed. Comparatively little was saved from the burning buildings, and what was rescued from the flames was badly damaged by the rain. In company, with a number of Goodland citizens we went down Thursday morning to view the ruins. The main street presented a picture of desolation. Crowds of people were hovering around the smouldering rums, discussing the origin and incidents of the great conflagration. Never did we see such work of destruction in a small town, and the damage to Kentland in this great tire can never be estimated in Dollars and cents. During the fire a heavy wind was blowing from the south, and the most strenuous efforts o 2 the citizens could not check its rajjid march. Heroic work was done, but availed nothing.

The loan and deposit bank of Ade & Me Crary was destroyed, but the vault was, opened Thursday and its contents found intact. A rough estimate of the insTfrance’places it at $30,000 —leaving a dead loss of between $60,000 and $70,000. The fire is said to have originated in a harness shop, on the west side of the street. It is supposed that the proprietor of the shop left a big tire in his stove that and that by some means the buildcaught from it. Who ever heard of a fire without a printing office being in it? The News and Press were both burned. Fortunately the Gazette is at the extreme north end of the* west side and so escaped the flames. However, Brother Conner informs us that they ha . their material all packed, ready skip in case of an emergency. Three of the buildings destroyed were substantial bricks. Paxjs

of the walls were still standing Thursday. They were twelve inch walls, and evidently would have decked the fire, had it not been for the heavy wind which lapped the flames around and over the buildings, in such a manner as to defy all protection.”