LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa Wednesday, May 16, 1894 page 1
Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, January 10, 2021

About midnight, Saturday night last, the rear of Dr. Morgan's drug store in Columbus City was discovered to be on fire. Everybody in town turned out to fight the flames. A slight south wind was blowing at the time which enabled them to prevent the flames spreading in that direction, but the building itself and the one adjoining it on the north occupied by Asa Merrill, was seen at once to be doomed. By strenuous efforts, a part of the goods of both establishments was saved, though the great bulk of them was devoured. Mr. Merrill was insured on his stock to the amount of $3,800. Prior to January 1st, last, he had been carrying an insurance of $5,200, but concluded, as times were hard, to carry a part of his own insurance. As he saved five or six hundred dollars worth of goods, his loss will not be very heavy. The building he occupied belonged to Mrs. R. F. Hickok and was insured for $1,000. Dr. Morgan had insurance aggregating $4,600 on his building, $3,000 on stock, $500 on fixtures and $300 on instruments. The fire was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary but no clue to the identity of the guilty parties can be had. Dr. Morgan will rebuild at once. Mr. Merrill does not know what he will do as yet. It was lucky for the town that the wind was not from the north, for had such been the case, the entire block would have gone.