Corydon Fire 1872

PHILLIPS, KAHLER, HAYS, HURST, SELBY, HARLAN, BRACEWELL, BLAKELY, BRANT, LOVE, FREELAND, CLARK, TEDFORD, SMINK, HERBERT, CHAPMAN, CASAD, VEST, CHESTER, GIVEN, FOSTER

Posted By: Polly
Date: 1/4/2007 at 14:47:22

The Corydon Fire.

The most destructive fire ever suffered by our town occurred on last Wednesday evening at about 10 o’clock. The large three story building known as the "Hurst Building," together with a building adjoining, owned by P. M. Phillips and occupied by W. H. Kahler as a shoe shop, and Wm. V. Hay's grocery were entirely consumed.

The origin of the fire is involved in some mystery, as it emanated from the wareroom in the rear of Hurst's store, which for some months remained unoccupied except for the temporary storage of wool, feathers and other produce belonging to Lloyd Selby, Harlan & Bracewell, and other dealers. No one is known to have entered the room after three o’clock of the afternoon before, and no fire or lights of any kind had been used in either room as far as can be ascertained.

The alarm was first given by Dr. Blakely, whose office and sleeping room was on the second floor, immediately over the room where the fire originated. The Dr., who was sitting in his office conversing with a friend, detected smoke and heat issuing from the floor, and upon running down stairs discovered the inside of the lower room to be in flames. He immediately gave the cry of fire, and with his friend rushed up stairs for the purpose of saving the property of this office, and succeeded in carrying down an armful each, but such was the rapid progress of the fire, that upon attempting to return, they found it impossible to do so, on account of the intense heat and stifling smoke.

The alarm by this time had become general. The cry of "fire !" resounded from one end of the town to the other. The rapid ringing of the church bells, the hurrying tread of people rushing to the scene, the cries of frightened women and children, the roar of the flames which now had burst from the roof and sides of the doomed building, combined to form a period of the utmost tumult and excitement. It was evident at once that nothing could be done to save the row of buildings, and the efforts of the crowd was directed to the removal of the goods and the protection of houses upon the opposite side of the street.

Brant & Bro., grocers, who occupied the west room of the large building, were unable to save but a small portion of their stock, and in this respect, are no doubt the heaviest losers by the fire. Their estimated loss is $2,000, insurance $1,000. The most of their accounts and notes were saved.

The Dr. Blakely, who as before stated occupied rooms on the second floor, lost everything in the office, with the exception of a few medical books, including all of their notes, and accounts, amounting to $4,000 or $5,000. The west rooms on the second floor were occupied by Freeland & Clark, and W. H. Tedford, as law offices, and the entire contents of both rooms were burned. The large and valuable libraries belonging to these gentlemen, is a loss most serious and irreparable.

In addition to the destruction of the books and papers of his office, Mr. Tedford sustains the loss of his entire wardrobe as he occupied as sleeping room an apartment adjoining his office. His loss is $800. Freeland and Clark estimate their loss at $1,000, no insurance. The third floor was fitted up and used by the Masonic Society as a lodge room, and the contents was a total loss, valued, at $800.

The one story building adjoining belonged to P. M. Phillips and was occupied by W. H. Kahler as a shoe shop. The loss of Mr. Kahler was trifling as everything was carried out before the fire was communicated to the building. Mr. Phillips' loss is probably $500, no insurance. In the meantime Wm V. Hays' room had been emptied of its entire contents, and as its destruction was inevitable it was deemed advisable to pull it down, with a view to lessen the chances of the flames being communicated to the buildings on the opposite side of the street.—This was successfully accomplished and the wind being favorable the flames were subdued without further damage—Wm. V. Hays' loss is between $1,200 and $2,000; fully insured.

Mr. Selby sustained a loss of about $1,000 partly on wool stored in the building where the fire originated, and in damage to goods in their removal from the store; fully insured. Harlan & Bracewell are losers to the amount of $600 worth of wool, no insurance. The loss of S. J. Hurst and J. H. Love, joint proprietors of the building, is about $2,000 each; no insurance. The aggregate loss to all parties is over $12,000.

We should be glad had we space to mention the numerous acts of personal daring, accomplished by the many who put forth their fullest efforts to subdue the fire and save the endangered property. Prominent among those who earned the thanks of the parties suffering by the fire, and the admiration of all for their cool, brave, and well directed efforts, was Al. Smink, Briggs Herbert, J. H. Chapman, Thomas Casad, Albert Selby, S. L. Vest, V. L. Chester, Dixon Given, T. T. Foster and a host of others—all worked nobly and well.—Wayne County Republican.

source: The Centerville Citizen, Appanoose County, Iowa, Saturday, September 21, 1872