Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1901 — The Leopold Fire, at Kentland. [ARTICLE]

The Leopold Fire, at Kentland.

Kentland Enterprise:— The dry goods and clothing store of Simon Leopoyl was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning, the entiye stock being almost a total loss. The fire was first discovered by James White, who was closihg his restaurant on the opposite side of the street about ten or fifteen minutes after twelve o’olock. Mr. White ran across the street and found the fire located in the clothing department in the rear of the center. Being a member of the fire company he gave a hasty alarm and then ran for the hose cart. The time intervening was not in excess of ten minutes, but on his return found the entire room enveloped in flames and sheets of fire breaking through the front. The spread of the flames was phenomenal, and appeared to be beyond control by the time the fire company commenced throwing water. In an equally remarkable short time the fire was subdued, but not until after a $10,000.00 stock of goods had been laid waste by the two contending elements. The origin of the fire is shrouded in mystery. Mr. Leopold was in the store shortly after eleven o’clock Nightwatohman Ashby passed by on his beat a few min utes thereafter, and others are known to have passed the store as late as 11:50 and saw no trace of fire, yet within twenty minutes of that time half the store was in solid flames. The most plausible theory advanced is that a match or lighted cigar had late in the evening been carelessly thrown among the loose papers around the stove or under the clothing counter, and had smouldered until about midnight. Mr, Leopold’s last invoice shows a’slo,ooo.oo stock, which, he claims had been materially increased sinoe the inventory was taken, and was covered by insurance amounting to $7,400.