________________ Leonardville's Great Fire of 1893 (Webmaster's Note) - Early on the morning of Sunday, June 18, 1893, Leonardville experienced a disastrous fire in the downtown area with an entire block of business buildings destroyed. The Monitor called it "an appalling visitation" and a "Terrible Baptism of Fire." The fire started in a livery stable at the south end of Erpelding Avenue, just north of the train depot (which is now where Johnson's Blacksmith Shop is located) and spread through a entire block of pine business houses on the east side of the street, stopping at Second Street (which is now Barton Street - U.S. Highway 24). In all eleven buildings were completely destroyed and thirteen horses perished in the fire. At the time of the fire the city had no public water works. The "fire department" consisted of a twenty-four foot ladder, a sixteen foot ladder, and twelve buckets. Water had to be pumped from private wells and a "bucket brigade" brought the water to the source of the fire. During the fire most of the water went to preventing the buildings across the street from starting on fire. Women pumped and carried water and helped remove goods from threatened buildings to places of safety; desperate men fought heat and flames until their hands and faces were blistered. Prior to the fire, two elections to vote bonds for fire protection had been defeated. A month later, J.C. Ford donated ground to the city for a well. A special election on waterworks was held and by a vote of sixty-nine to six the waterworks bond passed. Bids were taken for a circular stone tower, and soon stone was being hauled and preparations made for a great water tower. In this first article is the account of the fire as it was going on and summarized the buildings and businesses lost. The second article (see the "Follow-up" article) is a follow-up giving praise to the many people who helped fight the fire and gives a more detailed account of losses and what were their future plans. These two articles are an excellent depiction of both a tragic event and the editorial style of the of the newspaper's editor, Preston Loofbourrow. The editor wrote in a very eloquent style popular in that era. He was very graphic, verbose and loved alliteration. My favorite phrase from the first article, when he described the scene as, "... a column of black smoke bursting from the roof of the north stable followed by a rush of flame and flying fagots of fire that caused a thrill of horror..." The editor said after the fire was out, "Thus ended the first act in Leonardville's Terrible Baptism of Fire..." Read on... ________________ (Taken from The Leonardville Monitor, Thursday, June 22, 1893) LEONARDVILLE'S GREAT FIRE! The Fire Fiend Gets in His Work in the Dead of the Night! AN APPALLING VISITATION! A Whole Block of Business Houses Swept Away! Last Sunday morning about half past one o'clock the people of Leonardville were aroused from their quiet slumbers by the startling cry of fire! fire! Those in the vicinity of Ed Nickelson's large double livery stable were the first to hear the portentous alarm, and rushing out to ascertain its meaning beheld a column of black smoke bursting from the roof of the north stable followed by a rush of flame and flying fagots of fire that caused a thrill of horror to seize upon them as they contemplated the results that in the nature of things must inevitably follow. The fire spread rapidly and the dire alarm was repeated on every hand as new spectators caught the glare of the spreading flames. FIRE! FIRE! THE WHOLE TOWN IS ON FIRE! rang out on the still air sending a shudder of hopeless despair through the aroused slumberer as the perils of the awful situation flashed upon him. Two rows of pine business houses extending in a practically unbroken line for a distance of over 300 feet on either side of the street, and extending, though more scattering, for another block beyond second street, the apparent utter impossibility of preventing the fire from crossing the street and not only wiping out the entire business portion but also the best residences, which were located directly in its path, the slight breeze augmented by the fierce heat, driving the flames across the street and carrying blazing fagots all over that portion of town to the north-west, was the appalling spectacle presented to the people as they woke to its contemplation. Naturally enough the first impulse with most of them was that of hopeless despair. But this was only for a moment. The reaction came quickly, as the necessity for prompt action flashed upon them, and all hands rushed with one accord to the rescue. Those first on the scene went to work to save the horses and valuable contents of the stable. By heroic efforts some of the horses and most of the buggies and harness were saved, but THIRTEEN HORSES PERISHED despite all efforts to save them, among them, two fine stallions. When nothing more could be done at the stable all hands turned their attention to saving what goods they could from the doomed row, and to prevent the fire from crossing the street, and from this on it was a desperate, awful fight against the most fearful odds, over every inch of the ground. While those interested in the burning row, with all the assistance they could get, were removing their goods to places of safety those interested on the west side were employing every energy to prevent the fire from crossing over. While the fronts of the buildings were smoking as if actually on fire, the rosin frying out of them and burning shingles falling over and around them, men braved the terrible heat to throw water on them, mounting the awnings and roofs, facing the heat till their faces and hands were blistered, others rushing to and fro with buckets of water, ladies pumping water, carrying water or carrying goods to place of safety, almost every one doing something to help in the terrible fight. The first building endangered on the west side was the city hotel owned by S. Davidson. The fine maple trees in front with their dense foliage broke the force of the heat and probably saved the building. Next came the barber shop and residence of L.F. Carver, the shop now in charge of Chas. Roscher, then came the Bank of Leonardville, the Monitor and post office and Swingle's restaurant. Here the fight was a desperate one, the Monitor office being on fire two or three times and the smoke rolling out of the front as if the flames would burst forth any minute. Will Talkington and Ernest Westling stayed on the wooden awning in front until the heat became unendurable, and after thoroughly wetting the front were compelled to abandon it. Then Will Miller undertook to face the heat, but after throwing a bucket or two of water was compelled to abandon it. Then Orlie Swingle got onto the roof and succeeded in applying more water. But fortunately the fire on the other side of the street had passed on, the fierce heat began to abate and the danger was passed at this point. Swingle's restaurant was the next building and had a similar experience, but the same stubborn fight was made and the building saved. Then as the fire burned northward the Shillerston building came in for its crucial test and was saved by the same sort of fight by Mr. Shillerston and his helpers. Then came the block of buildings composed Dr. Crans' drugstore, Stafford & Lee's hardware store and Richard Burk's general store. Here came the "tug of war." The fire hung on in the buildings opposite this point with exasperating tenacity and the heat became more intense, owing to the larger buildings as well as to the fact that the Christensen building was sheeted with iron, holding the fire longer in one place than is would have otherwise remained. But heroic work prevailed and this block was also saved. Then the Erpelding two story store building came in for the next test of endurance, and then Rowland Davies' two story store building on the north side of second street, and Sikes' one story store building north of second street diagonally across the avenue from the burning buildings. The Erpelding building was in the most eminent danger and for a time its fate was uncertain. But soon the last building in the burning row began to fall in and the flames and heat to subside, and then a sense of relief came and every one breathed easier as they realized that the remainder of the town was safe from the total annihilation that had for a time seemed inevitable. While the above scenes were being enacted there was an equally determined and valiant fight being waged on the other side to save all that was possible from the swiftly advancing flames. J.J. Meyers building, in which was MRS. BLANDIN'S MILLINERY STORE and home, and in the rear part of which Mr. Meyer's household goods, recently shipped from Kansas City were stored, came first in the fated row and was within a few feet of the burning stable. Of course but little could be saved from this before the mad flames had enveloped it -- a show-case of hats and a few other articles. Then the Evans building in which some sort of a gambling dive had been kept for a week or so by a strange young man, then MRS. REED'S RESTAURANT AND RESIDENCE. Only a small portion of the goods could be saved on account of the close proximity to the fire. An organ and some other articles of value were carried to a place of safety but the bulk of the goods went up in smoke. Then came the Swagerty building and CHRISTENSEN BROS. building in which their harness shop and sale room were located, and in the upper story of which was OSTLUND'S PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY and the sleeping rooms connected with Swingle's restaurant and hotel. Mr. Christensen was away from home, but C.G. Erickson, who is in his employ, with what assistance he could get, managed to save about $600 worth of the stock, but the tools were mostly lost. The old Jenkins building now owned by Geo. W. Peterson was the next. It was occupied by MISS NORA HIBNER as a millinery store she was fortunate in saving most of her goods. Then came L. Laflin's building, occupied by O.L. PETERSON as a real estate and insurance office and the rear room by Gust Johnson as a shoe shop. Pretty much all the valuable contents were saved. The next was Mr. Laflins's two story building in which was MAGNUS ANDERSON'S general store. Here the work of saving goods was vigorously pushed and the greater part of the stock was saved. Next was C.G. Sundgren's building and residence in rear, occupied as general store and residence by C.J. LIND. He was fortunate in saving pretty much everything. Then last but not least came the Corner Drug store building, owned and occupied by F.E. COLT. Owing to the character of the stock it was tedious to handle and the work of removing it was necessarily slow, but every energy of the rescuers was called in requisition and the greater portion of it was out before the flames had entirely enveloped the building. Thus ended the first act in Leonardville's TERRIBLE BAPTISM OF FIRE, and the people for the first time had opportunity to contemplate the situation in all its harrowing details. In the smoldering ruins of the livery stable lay the carcasses of twelve horses that perished in the fire. Another had ran up the street, its eyes burned out and the fire still clinging to it, and was hunted up and shot to relieve it from its terrible agony. The stable and nine of the horses belonged to Ed Nickelson and he estimated his loss at $3,000 and carries $1,000 insurance, making his net loss $2,000. W.H. Sikes lost a fine stallion and Thos. Appleton a stallion. Mrs. Blandin and daughter were without home and had lost most of their wearing apparel, Mrs. Blandin has lost all her household goods and millinery goods. She estimated her loss at about $450 and carried no insurance. J.J. Myer's had lost his building, valued at $2500 and all his household goods, which had only recently arrived from Kansas City, which he had stored in the rear part of the building until ready to move to his farm. He values them at $1500. No insurance on either building or goods. Will probably not rebuild at present. The Evans building was only a small building and $300 would probably cover the loss. Mrs. Reed lost nearly all her household goods, all her restaurant fixtures, confectionery stock, etc. An organ was saved and a few other things, but the greater part went, buildings and all, and the family is now homeless and without means of support. Their situation is particularly deserving of sympathy. The home and its contents were the results of the tireless energy and persevering efforts of Mrs. Reed through a period of years, and she had built up a good comfortable home and filled it with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and had just begun to enjoy the fruits of her toil. She was absent visiting friends in the east at the time of the fire and returned to witness the barren spot from which the pleasant home had been so ruthlessly swept. Her loss is estimated at about $2,000, with no insurance. She will probably rebuild and continue business. It was for a time reported that Christensen Bros. had purchased the Swagerty building, and this loss would fall on them in addition to their other heavy losses. But is proved a mistake and Mr. Swagerty is the loser. This is another sad case. Mr. and Mrs. Swagerty are old people and unable to earn a livelihood, and the rent of this building was about all their means of support. Loss $400 and no insurance. Christenson Bros. are twin brothers and have built themselves up here by persistent and untiring work, and were well established in business, have a good and well equipped harness business in buildings of their own in each of the towns of Riley and Leonardville. They have the sympathy of everybody in their calamity. Their losses on building is $1,300 and on stock and tools $300. Total loss $1,600. But they are not down, and being young and full of energy and vim will soon build up. They already have a new building up and enclosed and will occupy it tomorrow. John Ostlund occupied a part of the upper story of the Christensen building with his photograph gallery, but saved most everything. Mr. Swingle was using three bed rooms in the upper story, but saved the beds and bedding and his loss was light. Miss Hibner's loss on her millinery goods was about $50. Geo. W. Peterson's loss on the building in which her store was kept was $200. O.L. Peterson, who occupied a building belonging to Mr. Laflin as a real estate office saved most of his stuff. Magnus Anderson, who occupied the Laflin store building with his general store saved the greater portion of his goods, although his loss was quite considerable, and amounted to probably $700. Mr. Anderson is well along in years, is an estimable citizen and has the sympathy and well wishes of the people. Mr. Laflin lost two buildings in the fire and his loss at a very low estimate is $1,200. We should rather think it more. Charley Lind, who occupied the Sundgren building, and lived in the dwelling in the rear of the store, saved practically everything. Mr. Sundgren estimated his loss on building at $1200. Insurance $300. Attorney A.M. Story, who occupied the old Jenkins property, now owned by O.L. Peterson, saved all his books, papers, fixtures etc. Mr. Peterson estimated his loss on building at $800. No insurance. This is a heavy loss for Ole, as he had just purchased the building and assumed obligations that it will make him hustle to meet, but he is young, has had lots of business experience and can "make it" all right. He already has the frame up for a new building. F.E. Colt, who built up a fine business in the drug line worked hard to save his goods but the time was too short to save all and he had to surrender a portion to the ravenous flames, but only a comparatively small portion. He estimates this total loss on building and goods at $1200. He will commence to rebuild next week and will put up a good substantial building. After the fire he put his goods into Stafford & Lee's hardware store and shelved and fitted up a section of one side and was ready for business bright and early Monday morning. He will remain here till his new building is ready to occupy. ________________ | ________________ Leonardville's Great Fire of 1893 (Follow-up article) (Webmaster's Note) - This a a follow-up article of the Great Fire of 1893. It appeared in the same issue as the Great Fire article. It is more of a summary of the fire, what and how much people lost and what plans they had for the future. (Taken from The Leonardville Monitor, Thursday, June 22, 1893) LEONARDVILLE'S GREAT FIRE! Notes and Incidents of the Fire. While the livery stable was burning and the doomed horses were struggling in the flame and smoke one of them in some way got outside and came plunging across the street all on fire and already burnt blind, and crazed with pain, and ran against the post supporting the gas-pipe hitching rack in front of the Post Office, breaking the post and brace supporting it, bending the two-inch pipe into a semi-circle and falling heavily to the ground. It soon got up again, however, and renewed its mad flight up the street. It was hunted up after the fire was under control and shot. No doubt many incidents of the fire will escape us, and many deserving names will not be mentioned that ought to be, but we have used every effort to get everything, and get everything right, but we could not be everywhere during the fire, and probably something that our attention has been called to may have been omitted, but the columns of the Monitor are open for any corrections, or for the mention of any incidents that may have been overlooked. Bert Stafford realized his responsibility during the fire and shouldered it like a man. He unlocked the safe and took the books and money to a place of safety and then worked like a turk to save the building. His father was in Chicago and he was in charge of the business and he proved faithful to his trust. The St. Paul Insurance Company adjusted their losses here today. The are as follows: Rowland Davies, damage to building, $27. M. Shillerston, damage to building, $119. Dr. J. Crans, damage to building, $69. All on opposite side of street from fire. A.M. Story is agent for the company. The editor of the Monitor had a horse, brand new $100 buggy and a set of harness in the livery stable, but thanks to the heroic work of the rescuers, they were saved, except the harness. We hear that Miss Maude Davidson and Mrs. Louia Myers were entitled to much of the credit. Mrs. Reed has not yet decided what she will do. Her loss swept almost everything away, and the problem she has to solve is a very serious one. Her daughter Lida has a stand today in front of Burk's store and is selling oranges, lemons, cigars, etc. Everybody should patronize her. Ostlund has taken two good photographs of the burnt district, one from the north and the other from the south. Samples can be seen at the Post Office. They are fine souvenirs of the fire. If you don't get one you will always be sorry. He sells them at 50 cents apiece. In addition to the regular edition of the paper we have this week printed a number of half sheets and also a number of quarter sheets, containing the first and eighth pages of the regular edition. Those wishing copies of the paper can have the former at 5 cents a copy and the latter at 2 cents. Empty barrels were in demand at Davies' store during the fire to carry out shoes in, and to supply the demand an enthusiastic lady who was assisting in the work emptied about a third of a barrel of sugar on the floor to get the barrel to carry shoes in. M. Anderson can be found in the old Leonard hotel building north of Rowland Davies' store. Don't fail to call on him and do some trading, he is one of the heavy losers but is still in the ring and will give you just as good bargains as ever. Meridith Davies had most of the goods removed from the store in anticipation of the fire crossing the street. But the street and the water applied stayed its course and he had the pleasure of hustling the goods back into the building again. We hear that during the excitement of the fire there was thieving going on. The fellow that would steal on such an occasion ought to be shot in his tracks. If there are any such parties in town they ought to have just 24 hours notice to "get." Chas. Roscher was one of the coolest and most efficient fire-fighters we had. He belonged to the Seventh Cavalry and was in the Wounded Knee fight, and had become accustomed to perilous situations. He kept cool under fire. Chris Christensen authorized us to say that he will be doing business at the old stand Saturday, selling harness and ministering to the wants of the public as usual. It will be the same old store, but a new building. Our Fred Miller was among the most active and ready workers Sunday morning. His first move was to open the safe and get the money to a place of security and then he fell in line in the general fight. The small amount of $361 worth of glass arrived on the train this morning to replace the glass in the fronts of the buildings on the west side of the avenue destroyed by the fire. The Monitor will take pleasure in receiving contributions for the sufferers and will promptly place them in the hands of its committee, named elsewhere for proper distribution. Miss Nora Hibner has opened up her millinery goods in Erpelding's store and is prepared to furnish you anything in the millinery line at the same old low prices. Dr. Crans drug store door was on fire twice during the fire. Sponges hanging in the window some distance from the glass were scorched black and feather dusters burnt up. Hundreds of people came to town Sunday afternoon to view the scene of the fire. They came from Riley, Randolph, Bala, Alert and the surrounding country generally. W.K. Gardner worked like a hero to save the town Sunday morning. He was one of the best workers on the ground and never let up till all danger was past. Dr. Crans lost his horse, buggy, robes, etc. in the burning livery stable. His loss, including damage to his drug store front and goods will reach about $350. Charley Lind has taken a side in Mr. Bredberg's store and is ready to deal out goods to his old customers as usual. Don't fail to hunt him up. During the fire a man carried a show case from one of the buildings, bore it carefully across the street and then dropped it, smashing it to pieces. Ask your neighbor to subscribe for the Monitor and thus help those who have suffered by the fire and get the full worth of his money beside. Miss Maud Davidson was one of the first at the burning livery stable and worked heroically to rescue and save the buggies. F.E. Colt may be found at Stafford & Lee's ready to "do you up" with a glass of soda, ginger ale, or any thing you want in his line. Will Talkington was one of the invincibles in Sunday morning's desperate struggle. He was in the front of the fight all along the line. Don't forget that Charley Lind is ready to serve his old customers at Bredberg's. Call and see him and sample his goods. We are informed that Mrs. J.J. Myers did efficient work in saving the property at the livery stable, rescuing the horses, etc. Some one broke a fire extinguisher over Carl Swenson's head during the fire. He evidently mistook Carl's head for a fresh fire. Ed. Nickelson has commenced business again and is prepared to cater to the wants of the public in the line of livery service. Carl Swenson proved an inveterate fighter during the fire and was one of the most effective and persistent workers we had. If you are already taking the Monitor subscribe for a copy or two and send it to a friend somewhere for a year. Ernest Westling came in from the country in time to do some heroic work in the fight for the town. Mrs. W.G. Swenson was an active and efficient worker in saving goods from the stores. Carl Bredberg fought fire like a hero and did valuable service from first to last. Most of the fronts of the business houses on the west side are boarded up. J.O. Fulton lost $50 worth of clothing and other stuff in the fire. M. Shillerston loses $150. Principally covered by insurance. Stafford & Lee's loss on building is about $100. No insurance. Don't forget to Monitor's proposition to new subscribers. A.J. Swingle estimates his loss at $100. No insurance. R. Burk's loss on building $125. No insurance. ________________ |