Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1893 — THIS FIRE BURNED SOMETHING. [ARTICLE]

THIS FIRE BURNED SOMETHING.

Mike Halloran’s Saloon Building Goes up in Smoke and Down n Ashes. It Was the Most Prominent 4< ol<l Landmark’’Left.

Late last Saturday night, or rather early Sunday morning, it being about 12:20 a. m. fire was noticed on the inside of the old Halloran saloon building, on the corner of Washington and Van Rensselaer streets. The cry of “fire” was raised, and the fire bell was rung. When first noticed the fire was confined to the inside of the building, but before the fire company or many citizens reached the scene it had broken through the roof and gained such headway that any attempt to save the building would have been labor wasted—whether it saved it or not. The building was occupied as a saloon by Thomas Geer. Some little effort was made to save the few contents, and the cigars &c ., but if much of value was saved, the savers took it for their trouble. A penny-in-the-slot weighing machine was saved, tut pretty nearly a peck of pennies weie progged by prowling pilferers. „ ? The firemen, and scores of willing citizens, devoted their efforts to saving the adjoining buildings. Ten feet to the north was Iliff’s frame livery barn. The north part of the burning saloon was a one-story addition. This the hook and ladder men pulled down, while the chemical engine put one stream to playing on the outside of the endangered livery stable, and another upon the inside. It was a terribly hot job for Elden Hopkins who held the nozzle for the outside stream, but he manfully stood his grounds, even until his hands were blistered by the heat. As soon as the most pressing danger to the liveiy stable was passed, Chief Honan divided his forces and put part of his men to the work of saving the Makeever brick block, which joined the saloon on the east. The fireman and citizens did grand work on this building as well as on the livery stable, and by dint of their exertions, both buildings were saved, and with very little damage. But it was a mighty m rrow escape for both buildings. The building was large and its old oaken frames were massive and therefore it was long in burning down. The firemen were in full activity for a good hour. The new fire cistern by the court house well, and which had hardly been filled more than a day or two, was a great service, and it is extremely doubtful if the fire could have been

held in check, had it not been for the abundant supply this new cistern afforded. The fire cistern back of LaRue’s store also proved very useful. The “little dinkey” chemical also nobly vindicated itself. Without its services, it is extremely doubtful if Iliff’s barn could have been saved. And had the barn burned, Dexter <fc Cox’s mill would have gone likewise, an I probably all the buildings On Washington street, up to the Wil-liams-Stockton building. The front upstairs rooms in Makeever’s building are occupied by the law offices of M. F. Chilcote and R. W. Marshall. Their books were carried out, as a measure of precaution. Down stairs is Forsythe’s Chicago Bargain Store, and the Farmer's Bank. Mr. Forsythe wisely refused to remove any of his goods, until the danger became more pressing. His goods suffered some from water and smoke. .

The burned building was old and dry as charcoal. What little wind there was, came from the north. Had there been a brisk south or west wind the livery stable would certainly have gone, and no one knows how much besides. Fire Chief Honan is a most able fire fighter. He was everywhere directing and leading his men, and where he could not be himself, his fog-horn voice ably represented him. Most of those who saw the fire early thought it was confined to the upper floor, and therefore had started there, but Night Watch McColly who entered the burning building

says the whisky storage room was i burning clear to the ground, snd m thinks there is where the fire originated—or was originated. I ‘ There was not much <m hand. Of whisky only part of a two gallon jug ful, the proprietor having been buying hr jug-toad (or jag-load) lots from one of the town drug stores. This jug wi rescued and deposited near the court house well. A thirsty drugstore total abstainer was observed to pull the cork and smell the conteuta of this jug, with much solicitude, but detecting the old drug store savor, he replaced the cork and walked sadly away. He wanted a change of liquor, and was greviously disappointed.

How the fire originated is « mystery. The residence rooms m the building had long been unocunpied, and Mr. Geer says there had been no fire in the building for two months. It may have been “spontaneous combustion,” or it may nave been of incendiary origin—wnicn 1* the much more probable uypvthcah. The building, which belonged to M. O. Halloran, was insured with C. B. Steward, for $l3O0 —all that it was worth surely. Mr. Geer’s stoak and fixtures were insured with J. E. Spitler’s agency, for 1500. Mr. Geer had been running only since June and the loss of h s hcense ire* will be quite a large item. Two new Empire binders, back of the saloon, were destroyed. Mr. Geer was the agent for these ma-

ph in pg . A small safe stood in one of the front corners of the saloon, wluch Mr. Halloran kept his valuable papeM in. He opened the s&feTuesday, and f ound. the contents Unharmed. There were 48 horses in the Ilfff barn, many of them the property of F. M. Hanley, the horse buyer. The horses were all turned loose, and tney scattered all over the town and adjoining country. The last of these were found late Sunday afternoon, clear out to George Brown s pitrne, in Barkley township. Post-Master Rhoades, knowing that the post-office building would probably go, if the fire spread beyond the saloon, removed aS Ms letter mail, and all stamps, books Ac over to the auditor’s office, in the court bouse. S' The burned building was one of the oldest of the “Old LandwavlMf* of the town. It was built in 1849, and the only surviving older buildings in the town, is a part of Goffs

restaurant and the old brick one stoiy house on Van Rensselaer street southwest of the public square. It was built by A. G. Denton, and occupied by him as a general store. He was detected in passing - oogus Island” fiat money, and left the slate. After him it was used as a hotel for many years. By Mrs. EiizaimjUi Warner, now Bedford; by Pres. Dunlap, by H. W. Babb, and perhaps still others. M. O. Halloran has owned it many years. Under him ft got and maintained the reputation <tf bewg a pretty “toueb joint.” He made extensive repairs a year or two ago, adding more to its height than to its beauty, however. It has been felt to have been a dangerous fire trap, for years, and now that it has burned without taking any more valuable property with it, people are relieved that it is gore.