Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1884 — A BIG BLAZE! [ARTICLE]

A BIG BLAZE!

The only serious fire in Rensselaer since the burning of Alfred Thompson’s residence some six or seven years ago, occured at an early hour this (Thursday) morning, and destroyed Leopold’s large frame building, at the corner of Washington and Van Rensselaer streets, and Mrs. Hemphill’s small frame building on Washington street, adjoining the Leopold building. The fire was first discovered by Mr. David J. Thortlpson, at about 15 minutes before 1 o’clock a. m. The whole interior portion of the room occupied by Eugene O’Niell as a saloon, but had not broken through the wall or roof of the building. Mr. Thompson immediately gave the alarm and in a very brief period of time several hundred people were gathered at the scene of the fire. From the very first it was very evident that any attempt to save either of the two buildings would be a waste of labor, and consequently the attention of the citizens was directed to saving what they could of the buildings, aud to prevent the fire from spreading any farther. In the large building were the saloon, already mentioned, J. C. Morgan’s barber shop, and M. L. Spitler’s drug store. In the small building was Joseph Hardman’s jewelry store. As it fortunately happened the upper story of the Leopold building was unoccupied. No attempt was made to save anything from the saloon or the barber shop, and from the drug store not more than SIOO. worth was saved. Hardman succeeded in saving everything except his stove aud a ton or two of deal. The most exoifcing and interesting feature of the tire was the struggle to save Hemphill’s brick building, adjoining the wooden one, and occupied below by Hemphill <fc Honan’s millinery store and above by The Republican office, but the lateness of the hour prevents our giving a detailed account of the contest at this time. The citizens rallied to the work with noble zeal, and their efforts were crowned with success. Two bucket brigades, one leading from the large cistern back of F, B. Meyer’s drug store, across the street and up a ladder into a front window, the other from a cistern near the endangered building, into p rear window, together with a force pump from Kauual’s well, kept the fire in check and saved the building. Rad the wind, however, been in a southerly or easterly direction, there is scarce ! a possibility but that it would have been destroyed. Losses and Insurance. Leopold, on building $3,000, insurance $1,500. Mrs. S. A. Hemphill, on building $600., no insurance. Eugene O’Neill, stock, fixtures and cash in drawer $700., insurance SOOO. J. C. Morgan, tools and fixtures $225., no insurance. M. L. Spitler, stock aiid fixtures i 52,900. Insurance SI,OOO. 1 Hardman’s loss was but nomi- ; nal. The large plate gloss windows jin Kami cl's drug store and Me i Coy’s building occupied by Tutuer Bios., across the street, were all broken by the heat and will cause a loss of several hundred dollars, in both cases. ISome Additional Observations. “Misfortunes never come singly”. Let us take warning, and provide some adequate meaus for : fighting fire. Our citizens strive valiently aud intelligently at a fire but they don’t holler worth a cent. Not half the people in town knew there had been a fire until morning. Let us make more noise next time. Dr. Washburn knows what the ! most, valuable article in a newspaper office is. and by his direction our subscription list had been carried t > a place of safety } before we reached tire tire. ttwfts the most destructive five that ever visited tlie town. Hardman has moved into a pori tion of HeuiiJkiH’s brick building. It is doiibtf al if Spitler resumes ; the drug tffisiuess. • O’Neill will have to get a new | license before he can open again. It wilha close call for Th® ReU’UBLIcAn: