Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1885 — A Fall Acconut of the Kentland [ARTICLE]

A Fall Acconut of the Kentland

Kentlanil Gazette. z *> Only a year and nine months ago, lventland suffered from a big fire and again we have to record another tri umphal march of the flames through half a square of business houses, on the east side of Third street, being a part of the ground burned over: in April, 1882‘. ’A part of tne business men who were through ’ that fire fire again burned, viz: W. S. McCullough, Terrence Cunningham, J. H. Gauthier, S. M. Nobje and Mrs. A. Hull, and the Masonic Order. Itoccuredon Sunday morning last, Dec. 28th, and was first noticed at about 20 minutes after 4 o’clock, when it was r&gmg fiercely within the building and beyond control. Its origin is by some attributed to lessness, and by others, to be of incendiary origin. The Gazette p ref ere the opinion that it was accidental. It appears to be a matter of doubt as to whether the fire started in the grocery store of Mr. Gauthier or in the room over it up stairs occupied as a milliner}- establishment by Mrs. Hull. But it evidently, had its origin in one of those rooms, but which will probably never be known. From this south side of the building, the flames spread rapidly northward through the hrick block, into Jasper Guy's drug store, thence into the room of the new clothing store of Seneca Gilbert and Jas. M. Castle. All these firms being located in the Cunningham brick block, then came the . Masonic building—a frame structure two stories, in which on the ground floor was located W. S. McCullough’s drug store, while in the second story was the Masonic Lodge rooms. This building caught at the rear southeast corner. The flames were here stopped by good work in placing snow on the root of the Peacock oftioe, which is located a few feet east of the corner of Third and Graham streets. This again Saved Wm. Perry’s, and probably the entire square of residences on the south side of the Court House square on Graham street. During the early stages of the fire

there were three explosions of powder in quick succession in the Gauthier room of the briok block, which awoke many of the people and give them the first knowledge of the raging flames. it is probable that an hour or perhaps two or more hours had elapsed from its origin to its discovery. It done its work as effectually and as cleanly as the fire of 1882, thdugh covering less territory. The sufferers are: J. H. Gauthier, grocer and furniture, estimates his loss at $5,000; insured for $2,009. , S. M. Noble, jewelry, building crush-, ed by falling wail, breakage and damage by removal of stock, estimates his loss at SSOO, No insurance. Jasper Guy, druggist, puts his loss at $3,000. No insurance. Gilbert & Castle, clothing, loss about $2,700, Insured for $2,500. Mrs. Alice Hull, millinery and ladies furnishings, estimated loss S3,WO. Insured for $2,000. Masonic Lodge building loss $1,700. Insured for SI,OOO. Loss on Lodge property $350. No insurance. W. 8. McCullough's stock was removed, but was largely damaged by removal. Estimates stock at $3,300, Insurance $2,000. Will Cunningham lost roller skates in the Hall to the amount of about $90.00 John Brokaw lost restaurant fixtures stored away in the cellar of the Cunningham block, worth $l5O. The heat broke the glass pretty badly in several on the opposite of the street.