Once More! Shortly before 2 o’clock Tuesday morning, fire was discovered between the clothing store of F.M. Westbrook and the grocery store of E Hocks. It was under considerable headway when discovered and was gaining rapidly, so very rapidly that its headway could not be checked by the means at hand.
The night was intensely cold, the thermometer standing below zero, and many who heard the alarm looked out to see that it was not over their own heads and laid back in the embrace of Morpheus. And those who came were so chilled by the bitter cold that they could do but little fighting the fire with only a bucket brigade.
The flames soon enveloped the stairway and cut off that means of escape of the families of Dr. Casey and Chas. Gent, who lived in the second stories of the doomed buildings. These families were almost suffocated when they awoke and as they could not escape by way of the stairway, they were forced to let themselves down from the window. They all escaped without injury, but saved nothing except what they had on as clothing.
Soon the Westbrook and Casey building was falling in, carrying to destruction the Egyptian Press office and the residences of Dr. Casey and Chas. Gent.
The flames had communicated to Ed Gallagher’s store and residence and were lapping at the woodwork of H.M. Parks building or the Gallagher building and equally as hopeless was the salvation of Judge Young’s steel building the IOOF hall.
Attention was now turned to save W.G. Cochran & Co.’s lumber yard on the south and Goodall livery barn on the west. Gallant work, with a zero breeze on one side and a blistering blaze on the other, saved these buildings and confined the blaze to the one block. The origin of the fire is a mystery to everyone, as there was no fire kept, where this one originated, not even a match for a cold and benighted rodent to accidentally gnaw, and get even with a cold and heartless insurance company.
It is claimed that the stairway was saturated by coal oil but we are sure that even if a coal barrel had busted by freezing it would not have thrown the oil in that manner and place but it might there is no telling even, you know, but where did the match come from! But it is spilled milk now, what’s the use to theorize.
This was by far the most destructive fire this city ever experienced, and the losses are heavy for both the citizens and the insurance companies. Among the losses are the following estimates with insurance where it could be ascertained: F.M. Westbrook & Co.’s building was worth at least $4,500 and they carried a large stock estimated at $10,000. They carried $3,000 insurance on the building and $10,000 on the stock making a net loss to this firm of $5,000 besides the loss of the business.
Dr. Casey’s loss on the building was $3,000, on furniture $750. His insurance was $2,500 on the building and $500 on household goods. Gallagher & Co., lost on building $3,500, stock $3,000 and held insurance on building to amount to $2,500 and on stock $1,800. E.T. Gallagher’s building was valued at $3,000 and his stock at $1,400. Insurance on building $1,800 and on stock $800. The Egyptian Press plant, owned by Casey Washburn was a loss of $1,000 covered by insurance. H.M. Parks loss on building $4,500, stock $4,000, insurance on building $3,000 and stock $3,000.
D.A. Davis lost his bakery, insurance unknown. Ingersoll & Sheppard’s stock of school books and jewelry was only partly saved; extent of loss not yet ascertained. Col. Geo. W. Young’s steel business block burned at a loss, including fixtures of $1,800, insurance $1,400. Dr. J.L. McIntosh lost his office furniture valued at $100, no insurance.
There were no fatal accidents, but Mr. Will Gallagher, in trying to save some uninsured property in the shed at the back of his store came near being caught in a death trap. An explosion blew the wall above the shed down upon it while Gallagher was in there. The top of the shed crashed in but Will happened to be standing just under the sky light and the heavy roof and wall came tumbling all about him. He was rescued slightly hurt and badly frightened.
Our square now presents a sad appearance with eight of its best business rooms in ruin; but already Mr. Frank Goodall has begun to rebuild, and it is hoped all the others will follow his example. It took good work to save the Goodall livery stables but willing workers were ready to respond to duty’s call. Ingersoll & Sheppard saved only a few books and a little jewelry.
The popping of cartridges in the hardware stock of H.M. Parks made it interesting for those standing on the square nearby and one might be excused for thinking of San Juan Hill as he looked into that well of flames and heard the constant popping of exploding cartridges.
Chas. Gent’s family was cut off from escape by way of the stairway and had to let down by means of a rope. They lost a large lot of fine furniture upon which there was no insurance. It was rather cold to come up on the square at 2 o’clock, but there was a warm reception awaiting everyone who came. We have experienced another need of water works and fire engines. The taxes for one on the property that has been burned in Marion in the last 60 days would pay for a good fire fighting apparatus for Marion.
Extracted from the Egyptian Press and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted at http://www.marionfire.us/ )