Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1908 — Big Fire in McCoysburg Monday Night. [ARTICLE]

Big Fire in McCoysburg Monday Night.

Mrs. Orlando McDonald not! ed m unusual light shining into t- e wi d w Monday night which caused ler to get up to locate the origin; It soon developed that the town was on fire. She called the rest of the fmily and they immedia’ely hastened to tie scene, and found J. P. Gwin’s hardware store in flames. R. C. McDonald ran.on up the street giving the alarm, and it was only a few minutes till the whole town w.‘s > p fighting fire. In all tie while e storage m nd grainery near the Monon track c ivg t fire and the flames threatened th» whole business section. Nothing could be saved fom the burning buildings, for the heat was so intense that 50 feet was as clou as one could approach. It took heroic efforts -to save the other buildings. McCoy's store was scorched in front and one glass was cracked. Had the wind not been in a southerly direction, everything would ba e been swept clean. The cause of. the fir* is laid to a defective flue. As the day was quite chilly a big tire was made and was probably the frst f.re in the stove since spring. The old storage room contained seme c al, feed, barrels, boxes and Chas. Saldle's soft drinks, probably 15 or 20 cases. He only saved 4 eases. Mr. Gwin had some insurance, but it will hardly cover his loss. Telephone service was ent o'ff by the fire, but when the fire eeaed a phone was attached to the bell line out In the road, and thus the news war reported to central and the depot This is the third fire of this chanter for Hanging Grove in a short time. Mr. Gwin’s stock of goods was insured for only $600; the policy being carried In the Ohio Farmers Co., of which J. C. Porter to the local agent The building was insured for S7OO in another company. The loss was vastly more than the insurance.