LeMars Sentinel ; 1 Jun 1882

DEATH-BURIAL: Obituary of Josephine Knowlton Freeman; 1882;

"Seney Items"
It is with great sorrow that we chron-
icle the death of Mrs. W.S. Freeman of
Fredonia, who died Wednesday night
the 24th [May]. Mrs. Freeman was a kind
and a gentle and affectionate
wife and mother and just in the prime
of womanhood, being 26 years old. Her
death brings a great sorrow on our com-
munity. While we extend our deep sym-
pathy to the bereaved husband, we feel
that they afford but small comfort and
we point to Him who can comfort in our
greatest trials. Mrs. Freeman leaves
two small boys one a baby about two
weeks old. The funeral took place at
the M. E. Church, Friday at 2 o'clock
and the remains were interred in the
Seney cemetery. Rev. Edgar conduct-
ed the service and a very large con-
course of friends were present.

Le Mars Daily Liberal, June 3, 1882

The city ought to buy Foster's grove and fix it up for a park. The grove
occupies a block of ground and could be made a very pleasant place.

Le Mars Daily Liberal, June 12, 1882

WANTED--A FIRE ENGINE.

A CALAMITOUS CONFLAGRATION
Sweeps Like a Beacon of Destruction Through the Business Center of Our
Flourishing City.

Almost an Entire Block of Stores and Residences Wiped Out by Sunday
Morning's Blaze

THE ALARM.

The immunity from anything like a conflagration which this city has enjoyed
for years past was ruthlessly broken in upon about half past two o'clock
yesterday morning, when the dread clanging of the fire-bell and the cry of
"Fire! Fire!!" broke upon the still night air, arousing our citizens from
their beds of slumber and bringing them into the streets in great numbers.
Almost at the same instant that the alarm was sounded a sheet of livid flame
shot upward into the darkness of the night, only too plainly revealing the
fact that the business center of the city was on fire, and that the flames
were rapidly gaining headway, albeit there was but little air stirring at
the time. The fire company responded promptly and with the entirely
inadequate means at its disposal made desperate efforts to subdue the
rapidly increasing flames. Meantime the citizens generally had assembled at
the scene of the conflagration and were working valiantly trying to check
the fire and save property.

The fire started between Frank Revell's harness shop and P. Peebles'
building, and was first discovered by Dave Edmunds, who is now acting as
night watchman. Mr. Edmunds was
walking up Main street, and when near the corner of Seventh he noticed a
bright light suddenly flash up under the stairway between the two buildings
above mentioned. Rushing across the street he discovered that the stairs
were all in a blaze and that the flames were rapidly extending to the
buildings themselves. Indeed so rapid was the spread of the flames that it
seemed almost certain that kerosene or some other inflammable material had
been freely distributed about the premises. Mr. Edmunds immediately gave the
alarm and fired his revolver in the air to awaken the slumbering inmates of
the burning buildings. Meantime Deputy-Marshall Engalls, who discovered the
fire about the same time, rushed to the engine house and sounded the alarm
upon the fire-bell. Large crowds of anxious and excited citizens soon
assembled at the scene of the conflagration, but the work of destruction was
being carried on with such irresistible fury that all their efforts to check
the rapidly advancing flames seemed futile, and for a time it was feared the
entire business portion of the town would go down in the seething flames
which were whirled with inconceivable rapidity from one building to another.
It was but a few moments from the time the first alarm was given until the
two buildings where the fire started were completely wrapped in a roaring,
seething, crackling mass of flames, from which huge embers were whirled high
into the air and showered upon adjoining buildings in one continuous shower.
The flames, fed by the combustible material of which the buildings were
composed and the inflammable contents, shot up to a great height or were
whirled over the roofs and against the sides of adjoining buildings. From
Peebles’ building the flames spread rapidly to D. Edmunds’ building,
occupied by Moon & Watkins as a hardware store, and almost at the same
instant the building just south of Revell’s harness shop, occupied by T.
Dodson as a grocery store, took fire, and they, too, were soon completely
enshrouded in flames. It now seemed almost certain that all the frame
buildings in the block must go, and great fears were entertained for the
fine buildings on the opposite side of the street from the fire were kept
saturated with water, while on the roofs were spread blankets and carpets
over which water were continually poured. Numerous drays
and wagons were kept busy hauling water from wells and cisterns, and as fast
as this was received it was dashed upon the flames, which, despite those
efforts, spread, rapidly from one building to another until nearly the
entire block was one roaring mass of fire from which the sparks and burning
embers were scattered all over town, many of them being carried for blocks
in the draught which, the fierce heat created. Huge billows of fire
occasionally swept across the street blistering the faces and hands of the
noble men who were working so desperately to save the property on that side
of the street. The large fire-brands that were being continually carried
upon these buildings were extinguished as soon as they fell, and whenever a
fire was started a dozen hands quickly smothered it. Ever and anon a sheet
of flames, seemingly more fierce than its predecessor, would dash across the
street blistering the paint and breaking the huge plate glass windows in
much less time than it takes to write it. It was a desperate struggle in
which the defenders of these buildings were engaged, and many times it seemed that all
their labors must prove futile.

Perceiving their inability to save the frame buildings that were already on
fire the crowd turned their attention to the fine brick structure at the
comer of Main and Seventh streets which had so far withstood the terrible
heat to which it had been subjected. A frame building owned and occupied by
Jacob Metz was all that stood between the seething cauldron of fire and the
brick above mentioned, and even this was on fire in several places. Efforts
were made to tear down this frame structure, but the solidarity of the frame
and the extreme, heat in which the men were obliged to work prevented this
being successfully done, and it was but a few moments until this building,
too, was completely enveloped in flames. The cornice on the brick, just over
the doors and windows caught fire several times, but was as quickly
extinguished with buckets of water. Suddenly the large plate-glass window,
yielded to the immense heat, and came down with a
crash. The window was filled with hats, fans and other exceedingly
combustible material, but these were quickly removed and the fire prevented
from entering the building. It was about 4 o'clock when the fire was at its
height, at which time the scene presented was indescribably
grand. The fierce flames that shot high in air were mirrored against the
dark sky, innumerable sparks and cinders filled the air, men and women were
rushing to and fro trying to save something from the general wreck, what
household and other goods had been taken from the burning buildings were
piled about the street in the greatest confusion, while above the shouts of
the men and the crash of falling buildings, the steady roar of the
conflagration could be heard us the insatiate flames swept steadily on in
their work of destruction. For a long time it was thought
the fine, brick building of Kilburg & Nemmers' would withstand the terrible
heat and prove an effectual barrier to further devastation. The flames from
O. P. Woodard's building reached an exposed window of the brick structure,
however, and soon found its way to the interior, and then it seemed almost
certain that the other brick buildings, at the corner of Main and Sixth
streets must also go. Orders were now issued for tearing down the meat
market of J. Dietrich, adjoining the brick on the north and this structure
was soon, leveled to the ground. Fortunately the fire caught on the roof of
the brick and consequently burned much slower than it would have done had
the flames caught down stairs. The walls, which were of solid brick, stood
until the fronts supports were, pulled out thus confining the fire within
them.

Meantime the fire was raging with great fury almost the entire length of the
block, and still threatening the surrounding buildings and it was decided to
send abroad for help. Shortly after 4 o’clock a telegram was sent to the
Sioux City Fire Department requesting that their engine and hose cart be
sent to our assistance, providing the request was not withdrawn in half an
hour. The last clause in the telegram rather confused the Sioux City
authorities and several telegrams were exchanged before the engine was
started to our relief. When once the necessity of their presence here was
understood, the Sioux City firemen were not long in getting under way, and
the run between Sioux City and this place – twenty-five miles – was made in
thirty minutes. They arrived here about half-past six o’clock, but too late
to do much good as by that them the fire had run its course and was
gradually dying out. However, they played upon the ruins until one cistern
had been exhausted, and it is probable that had they been telegraphed for
when the fire started, or even after it had gained considerable headway,
many buildings might have been saved.

The lower story of Frank Revell’s building under the stairs of which the
fire was first discovered, was occupied by that gentleman himself as a
harness shop, and at the time of the fire contained a large stock of goods
in that line, as well as all the tools used in the business. The books and
one or two sets of harness were taken out, but other than this everything was
burned. Mr. Revell had gone to Spirit Lake a few days before and had not
returned at the time of the fire.

The upper story of the building was occupied by E. Bedell and family as a
residence. They did not awake until the flames were almost about them, and
Mrs. Bedell and babe, and Miss Lena Larson, a young lady who was staying
with the family, barely escaped with their lives. They did not even have
time to dress, so closely were they hemmed in by the flames. With the
exception of a very little furniture all of Mr. Bedell's household effects
were destroyed, as was also the clothing of the entire family. Miss Larson
not only lost all of her clothing, but fifty dollars in
money as well, a loss that, seems particularly severe, as it was her all.

The lower story of P. Peebles building which took fire simultaneously with
that of Mr. Revells' and was occupied by W. Weigel as a harness shop, and at
the time of the fire contained a, good stock, of which but very little was
saved, the flames, as at Mr. Revells' place, souring to spread all over the
building in an instant. One room up-stairs, was occupied by four Hollanders,
who lost everything except the clothing in which they escaped. E. Redmond
also occupied a room up-stairs, and did not awake, until entirely surrounded
by the flames. He hastily put on a few clothes, and then jumped from the
window, the only possible means of escaping a horrible death. He escaped
without personal injury, but all his clothing, bedding and furniture, were
consumed.

The next building was owned by D. Edmunds and occupied by Moon & Watkins as
a hardware store and the firm bad just received a heavy invoice of goods.
The entire stock was probably worth $7,000, on which there was an insurance
of $1,200 and nothing of value was saved. These gentlemen started in
business here but a short time ago and are among the heaviest losers. We
understand they will resume business as soon as a building can be secured
and goods procured. Mr. Edmunds' loss, on the building, is about $600,
covered by insurance.

From this building the fire spread to P. McManis' meat market, which, being
a small frame structure was soon reduced to ashes, together with its entire
contents. The building was owned by McNally brothers, of Sioux County. This little building burned
with terrible fury, and from it the flames soon communicated to Jacob Metzs’ building, the
lower part, of which was occupied by that gentleman as a restaurant, and
confectionary, and the second story by himself and family as a residence. A
considerable quantity of goods were taken from the
house and restaurant, but the larger proportion of the household effects
were badly damaged or entirely consumed.

The seething flames now dashed against the fine, large brick building, the
lower part of which is occupied by S. Greenwald and in the second story is
the Owl Club rooms, and for a time it was feared that that too would be
swept away. Several times the cornice caught fire and more than once the
flames leaped through the opening made by the breaking of the large
plate-glass window. The goods had been removed from exposed positions,
however, and by hard and long-continued exertion the fierce flames were at
last driven back and finally settled down at the base of the solid wall in
smoldering ruins, while, save the partially burned cornice and the broken
window, the fire building stood unscathed by the fiery ordeal through which
it has passed.

Going south from Frank Revell’s building the fire swept with inconceivable
rapidity through Mrs. Bastian’s millinery establishment, which stood next
door, and but a remnant of the fine stock was saved. Indeed the work of
destruction was carried on with such fury that but a few moments elapsed
from the time these buildings took fire until the flames had extended to
every part rendering it impossible to save much of their contents. The
second story of this building was occupied as a residence by Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Ireland, who escaped safely but save but little of their household
goods.

The next in order was the building owned by Mr. Strouck and occupied as a
grocery by T. Dodson. Here, as in the other buildings, the fire rushed
through the structure like a whirl-wind, and good and building were soon a
mass of flames. The very air seemed heated to such a degree that when a
building took fire the flames seemed to seek out every part of the structure
in an instant. A small portion of Mr. Dodson’s stock was saved, but the
bulk of it was consumed with the building. Over this store was Dr. Lee’s
office and residence from which considerable was saved, but in which
considerable more was burned. Both Mr. Dodson and Dr. Lee lost heavily, the
former of his stock and the latter in household goods and office furniture.

C.P. Woodard’s large agricultural ware-house was the next establishment to
succumb to the devouring element which swept through the vast structure with
terrible fury. Mr. Woodard carried a large and very fine stock nearly all
of which was burned. The speed with which the flames was carried through
this building gave but little opportunity for getting out stock. The
building was a long one and back of the main structure was a large warehouse
in which was stored considerable quantity of farm machinery. From this
exceedingly combustible material the flames shot high up into the air every
minute or two playing around the window located in the upper part of the
large brick building owned and occupied by Kilburg and Nemmers, with
fiend-like persistence. It had been supposed that this solid brick
structure would prove an effectual barrier to the farther advance of the
flames in that direction and hundreds of eyes were centered on that exposed
window; and as the flames would circle around its casing and then for a
moment or two, sweep off to some other part of the compass, hope, and fear
alternately held possession of the breasts of the lookers-on. Finally a
more persistent sheet of flame than any that had yet assailed it curled
around the window on which so much depended, the casing took fire – the
glass crumbled beneath the intense heat to which it was subjected, the
flames sent its forked tongues darting through the sash, and in a few
moments this building which all had fondly hoped would prove an effectual
bulwark in this dire calamity, was sending its fiery billows heavenward,
telling only too plainly that its doom was sealed. When it was know that
this building had yielded to the embrace of the fierce billows of flames, it
was feared by all that the entire business part of the city must go. As
previously remarked, however, this building took fire at the top first and
consequently burned less fiercely than was expected. The entire first floor
was occupied as a general store by Kilburg & Nemmers and at the time of the
fire their stock was very heavy. With the assistance of numerous willing
hands they succeeded in getting out a large amount of goods but the bulk of
their stock was burned up. As will be seen by the annexed list of losses
this firm lost heavily.

The front rooms over this store was occupied by Mrs. H. Beck as a millinery
establishment, and though the loss was quite heavy a large amount of goods
were saved. Just at the rear of Mrs. Beck’s store were the photograph rooms
of Perry & Caman. They also succeeded in saving considerable such as
pictures, picture frames and office furniture. A large proportion of their
good, however, went down in the general ruin.

John F. Patterson occupied the basement of this building but his assistants
succeeded in removing the principal part of his stock before the flames
worked down into the room which he had occupied. His loss was comparatively
light.

Orders were now given to tear down the building adjoining the brick, hoping
thereby to save the corner building, and if possible the intervening frame
building owned by Jan Manderscheid, though but few entertained any hopes of
the latter. The building to be torn down was occupied by J. Deitrich as a
meat market. A hundred willing hands and strong arms soon had the structure
leveled to the ground, and as the walls of the huge brick followed soon
after, the little structure was buried out of sight in the ruins. About the
time the fire had completed its work of destruction in the brick building
the Sioux City fire department got a stream of water on the ruins, the
flames grew less and less until nothing but smoldering heaps marked where
fine business houses stood the night before.

The scene presented to [unreadable] as the morning of Sunday June
[unreadable] will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Main street
for a distance of two blocks was strewn with household good, millinery good,
groceries, boots and shoes, dry goods, and a thousand and one other articles
that had been saved from the greedy flames. On the immediate site of the
fire the sight presented was saddening sickening. Where but a few hours
before stood many of the most substantial business houses of the town,
naught now remained but a black, smoldering worthless heap of ruins, a fit
emblem of the terrible ordeal through which our loved city had just passed.
Across the street the seared, scarred and mutilated buildings told only too
plainly of the scorching withering heat to which they had been subjected.
Their blistered fronts, blackened awnings and broken windows proved only too
conclusively that had the heat been intensified but a few degrees nothing
could have saved them from destruction. Particularly noticeable among the
business houses damaged on this side of the street was B. Steiner’s elegant
new brick, on the front of which the paint was blistered and burned off, and
the large plate glass doors and windows cracked and broken into a thousand
pieces; Sartori’s elegant plate glass front which was shivered into hundreds
of pieces; the front glass of Mrs. Kissel’s restaurant, which was badly
damaged, and H. Israel’s clothing house, where the plate glass front was
also badly broken. The front of Spring Bros. hardware store was effectually
protected by iron shutters to the windows and iron screen for the doors.

The faithful labor and personal risks encountered by many by their efforts
to save the property of their fellow citizens will long be remembered by
those in whose behalf these valiant efforts were performed. Though it is
impossible to chronicle the names of all who performed prodigious on that
memorable morning, there are several of whom honorable mention should be
made. Rev. Cunningham, rector of the Episcopal church of this place was
[unreadable] in himself. He was always to be found where his services were
most needed and with coat off worked like a verible Hercules, saving
property and assisting in every way to stay the conflagration. E. F. Payne,
too, distinguished himself by standing to his work on the awnings of Mr.
Wilcox’s building, where the heat was so intense that those who were sent to
relieve him could not stand it. His hands and arms were so terribly
blistered that he was unable to work to-day. There were others, too, and
probably many of them of whom we have not heard, who assisted in their
power. The English residents of this city especially distinguished
themselves by the zeal with which they labored to save property.

The following are the losses as far as we have been able to obtain them at
this writing:
Kilburg & Nemmers, loss of building$6,000, on stock $5,000; ins. $14,000.
Mrs. Beck, loss $500; ins. $1,000.
Perry & Caman, loss, $300; ins. $600.
J. F. Patterson, loss $250; ins. $500.
Michael Stouck, loss, $1,500 ins. $800.
Wm. Meigle, loss, $1,200; ins $1,200.
McManus & Jensen, loss $700; ins. $350.
S. Greenwald, loss $500; ins. $5,000.
A. B. Steiner, loss on plate glass $250; ins. $175.
A. Sartori, loss on plate glass $50.
P. Peebles, loss $1,800; ins. $1,000.
McNally Bros. loss on building $400.
Otto Elierman, loss $400; ins. $400.
J. G. Deitrich, insured for $600.
Fred Kuhry, ins. $4,000.
T. Dodson, ins. $1,100.
C. P. Woodard, ins. $1,800.
N. F. Revell, ins. $1,400.
Moon & Watkins, ins $800, net loss $6,000.
G. E Eva, ins. $1,000.

In the present confused state of affairs it is impossible to obtain even an
approximate of the losses, or the number of companies in which insurance is
held. This will be given as soon as it can be obtained by the parties
themselves.

Conclusion.

A majority of those who were burned out will rebuild at once and those who
do not rebuild will move into other localities and resume business as soon
as possible. There are a few who lost all their earthly possession in the
disastrous blaze, and we understand it is the intention of our citizens to
extend material assistance to those who are thus unfortunate. The case of
Miss Lena Larsen is a particularly sad one. She not only lost her entire
wardrobe, but all of several years' hard earnings, and is left in very
straightened circumstances. We doubt not she will receive the heartfelt
sympathy and substantial aid of our liberal-minded citizens. From what we
can learn there is every prospect that a brick block will replace, the
wooden buildings burned, and what now seem a grievous loss may eventually
prove of real benefit to the city. The conflagration through which we have
just passed is not without its lessons, one of which is the necessity of a
good fire engine, by the aid of which similar conflagrations may be
prevented in the future. At an early hour in the morning Mr. Brown,
proprietor of the Revere House sent a very substantial repast to the engine
house, which was appreciated by the firemen, both from Sioux City and this
place who had worked so long and faithfully to save our fair city.

Le Mars Daily Liberal, June 13, 1882

FIRE NOTES

The ruins were still smoldering this morning but the rains to-day have
pretty thoroughly extinguished every vestige of fire.

The site of Sunday mornings’ fire is pretty well decorated with signs
indicating the locality to which the different parties burned out have
removed.

Orders are already in the factory for a new glass front for Steiners new
building to replace the one destroyed by the fire. The interior of the
store is also to receive additional decorations; it being the intention of
Steiner & Co. to make this establishment even more attractive than it was
before it received its sever scorching.

The fishing party that had gone from this place to Spirit Lake, consisting
of Frank Miller, Frank Revell, John F. Patterson, John Manderscheid, George
Kline and Fred Becker first heard of LeMars' disastrous conflagration
through a letter sent by Phil McMannus on the morning of the fire. The
letter was written in haste and necessarily contained but few particulars,
and as most of the party owned property in the immediate vicinity of the
fire, they were thrown into a state of excitement bordering on lunacy.
''.Just, my luck," exclaimed John Manderscheid, "I’ll bet, two
dollars and a half my business has gone up in smoke," and he sat down on the
floor and wept. Frank Miller assumed a similar position and wondered if Phil
had carried out his favorite box of cigars, while Frank Revell recklessly
smashed his new hat on the floor, scratched his head and pondered on the
chances for detecting the party who set the fire. The rest of the party
joined in the chorus. When order was partially restored it was unanimously
resolved to abandon the fish to their fate, shake the mud of Spirit Lake
from their feet and scoot for LeMars. They scooted. From a party on the
train they learned that the entire block had been swept away, upon which
Frank Miller's face elongated about a foot, John Manderscheid's a yard,
while Frank Revell manifested his disgust by completing the ruin of his hat.
The rest of the party joined in the chorus. It was a solemn occasion. At
Sheldon the Italian musicians, who were in town during the
fire, gave the party the real facts in the case. Manderscheid got up and
howled with delight, Frank Miller jumped to his feet and yelled, ''By
George, boys, my cigars are safe; I'll set 'em up," and Frank Revell mourned
because he did not have another hat to smash. The rest of the party
joined in the chorus. On reaching town the scene that met their eyes was not
calculated to cause any great amount of hilarity. Frank Revell's and Jno.
Patterson's places were a heap of ruins, but the others were so unfortunate
as to find their places of business intact. "'Twas a sorrowful coming home."

The streets are being rapidly cleaned of the debris occasioned by the fire
and the work of excavation for the new block will soon be commenced.

Hundreds of people have visited the ruins last Sunday morning, coming in
many instances a long distance from the country. Numerous relics of LeMars’
great blaze were obtained, and, no doubt, will long be preserved.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS. — Notice is hereby given, that the contract for
building a new Catholic church in Remsen, Plymouth county, Iowa, will be let
on the 20th of June, at 2 o'clock p. m., to the lowest responsible bidder,
in the Remsen House. Plans and specifications can be seen at Jno.
Hoffmann's Remsen House, in Remsen, at B. H. Huelsmann’s, LeMars. A bond of
$1,000 must accompany each bid. The right to reject any and all bids is
reserved.

By order of Building Committee.

Le Mars Daily Liberal, June 14, 1882

This morning a young man named Chris Farburn, an Englishman, died at the
Beehive. The unfortunate youth had been in LeMars about two weeks, having
come here to work for Fred B. Close, Esq. While in New York be contracted
the disease from which he died. Farburn was about twenty years old. The
funeral will take place at half past 5 o'clock this p. m. A friend who was
watching with Farburn dining his illness has come down with the disease, and
is dangerously sick. Money is being raised by subscription to purchase
comforts for the unfortunate fellow.
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We understand that the managers of the Foster Estate are willing to sell the
grove at the corner of Main and Plymouth streets, for a nominal sum, and it
seems to us that now would be an excellent time to secure desirable park
grounds. The grove occupies an entire block of ground, and the trees are
thrift, about ten years old, and the greater part of them box elder and hard
maple. With a little work the grove could be put in fine condition and made
a pleasant place of resort for our citizens. If the city will not buy it, a
company of private citizens could readily be organized for the purpose, and
the city reap the benefit, at all events. We should like to see a move made
in the matter at once.

Le Mars Daily Liberal, June 16, 1882

W. S. Fuller, of Washington township, has hard luck. About two years since
his wife was burned to death by a prairie fire, and Mr. Fuller himself
seriously burned. Thin morning his eldest son, aged about twelve years,
died suddenly, and it is supposed from poisoning. The lad bad been dosing
gophers with strychnine, and it is thought that in some way he absorbed into
his system sufficient of the poison to produce death. He was ill but a few
hours and suffered the most intense agony. The funeral takes place
to-morrow.