023reverseIncendiarism but the story says
nothing about arresting anyone for
_ the crime. However, The News
strongly criticizes the town coun-
cil in terms which newspapers to-
day would never do, having regard
to possible libel suits. !
But the old clipping tells the
story completely and with embel-
lishments which do not appear. in
modern news writing. It follows:
Newspaper Account
On Tuesday evening, at 8 o'clock
there commenced a fire in the
stables in the rear of the Royal
Exchange Hotel, which afterwards
proved to be the most destructive
thatihas ever taken place in any
town in Canada. A majority of
the people have no hesitation in
supporting the idea that the ter-
rible destruction of life and prop-
erty has been caused by an in-
cendiary. The idea is especially
supported by those living close to
the starting place. The flames
spread very quickly, and in a very
few minutes all the frame buildings
on the east side of Oxford between
Xing and Charles and on the south
aide of Charles between Oxford
and Thames, were completely de-
stroyed, but not, however; before
making great headway amongst
the line of buildings commencing
with the Royal Exchange Hotel on
the west side of Thames street,
With the rapidity of lightning the
flames, all the time increasing in
fury, rolled along the front and
rear of the brick buildings on this
side of the street, and then cross-
Ing over tothe handsome _stores
on the other side, the whole str'4t
became a perfect sea of firjo
throwing out a light to be seen fit
all the towns for many mile
around, probably as a warning it,
the councils and people of thostl
places to be prepared in case of
the appearance of a his than
careless and unfortunate Ingersoll.
Wired for Help
Although the firemen worked as
hard and willingly as any men on
the face of the earth could, they.
were awfully unequal to the occa-
ajon, on account of the want of
sufficient quantity and good quali-
ty of hose. The firemen and citi-
zens were all becoming exhausted
In their to all appearance useless
efforts, and the mayor telegraphed'
to London and Woodstock far as.,
sistance. London immediately sent
the Phoenix Company, twenty men
of the Hoolr and Ladders, and a
company of volunteers with the
Great Western Fire Engine. .The
fire had reached the Mayor's block.
(slate roofed) when they arrived, '
and they immediately set to work
In that quarter, and in. a short
time the people were pleased to
see that the danger of the fire
getting Into Smith's block and the
buildings on King street, was
over. The Woodstock 'firemen,
under the command of Capt. Mc-,
Kay, almost as soon as the alarm
was given in that town, were
ready to come to our aid, but they
were unavoidably delayed for a
long time by the tardy arrival,
of the train which was to bring
them here. Many of the citizens
used their fast horses and drove
here, and did such service as will
not be forgotten. The Woodstock'
liremen completely subdued the
second attempt of the flames, about
3 o'clock, and remained with its,
rendering good service to the end.
The sincere thanks of the people
of Ingersoll are tendered to the
firemen of London and Wood-
stock, who so nobly rendered us
their mighty aid in our great
trouble. We are afraid to think
what might have been the con-
sequence had not their aid been
received.
Firemen Praised
It is only proper to say that our
own firemen, under the direction
of Chief Engineer Brady behaved
nobly throughout, and it is in no
way their fault that their efforts
werenot more successful, or t'
outside aid was required. Br^
the street mow houses apartments. wtanyTlgersoli buildings were Vast in
fire which is described on this page.
were carried three and four miles
distance, and in no part of the
town east of Thames street were
the buildings safe. Almost every
housetop was necessarily kept
swept and dampened. The people
worked nobly in carrying out
goods from the stores on the west
side of Thames street, but placing
them on the opposite side of the
street, they were almost entirely
destroyed by the flames which
crossed the street. The contents
of the Chronicle office were nearly
all destroyed In this way.
Double Fatality
Although the loss of property
has been terrible, and very hard for
the sufferers to bear, the regret
caused by these is nothing com-
pared with the terrible end of two
of our citizens, C. C. Payne and
John Oneand. The former has been
a resident of Ingersoll for many
years, and has always borne an
honorable character. Intimately ac-
quainted with most people In town
and county, he, with the circum-
stances of his death, will linger in
their memory for all time. In en.
deavoring to save the property of
others he lost his life —an awful
sacrifice! He was engaged in get-
ting ,his arms full of goods, and
although called to leave thegoods
and hurry out, he remained too
long. He was seen to fall but help
could not be sent him. When his
body-.' was recovered,there was
scarcely- anything' -.about --it that -
would make it recognizable, its ap-
pearance being so awfully changed.
John Omand, late of Brantford,
was a young man employed 1n the
moulding. department of NDxon's
foundry, and almost a stranger
here. We understand that,,
was
a hard skilled worker at fires, and
that at the last meeting of one of
the fire companies, he was pro-
posed as a member. Although not
exactly a firemen, he wore and
died in the harness. Ile was with
several others, all of whom it is
feared had not escaped, In Fawke's
building at the time a brick wall
fell on the roof partly covering him
In. Every effort was made to save
him but without avail.. -
Council Censured
In the face of the great destruc-
tion of property, which has earn-
pletely destroyed Thames street, a
street second to none, in appear-
ance, in any place outside of large
cities —in the face of the awful
'deaths which have taken place —is
it possible that the members of the
late council can have quiet con-
sciences? When their neglectto
pay necessary attention to our fire
brigade has been so plain to every-
one, we think not. We hope, after
this severe lesson, even though we
do feel poor, that something will
be done to prevent a future scene
of the kind we have been forced to
witness.
What a different tale we. should
have been able to have told today
had we had waterworks! Let us,
have them, and let other towns
have them. We should be sorry to
hear of any one of our sister towns
suffering as we now are, and -,we
hope they will study our hard ]as. Prince of Wales. Hotel, owned by
sort and be benefitted. Neighbors, Jas,-.McCaugbey, loss $1,000, an
do not keep a "penny wise and sured for $600. Occupied by John
Pound foolish" set of men In office Bowman, loss $600... .
to manage your affairs —take a les. CHARLES STREET — Fra
building owned by C. P. Hall, lost
$1,000, insured. Occupied by Dr.
Bowers,loss $300; Mr. Dibbs, loss
$100; Bridgman, loss, $50; C. Mc-
Dermaid, $100; H. Kelsie, $100; ldrs.
.Waite, $100.
WEST SIDE OF THAMI
STREET —Royal Exchange Hotel,
and four other buildings, owned.
by John Walsh, loan $8,000, no fn
surance,
Other Buildings
Isere Our niggardliness and care.
]ensues have resulted in loss of
In
life, and poverty to the
town. Where on Tuesday afternoon
were rows of handsome business
houses, now there is chaos. On
Tuesday afternoon there were those
amongst us who were doing pros-
perous businesses and were in easy
circumstances, but who, today, are
Poor .indeed. On Tuesday after-
noon there were two hale, hearty
men with us who are not] with us
now, and we. believe these things
'.would not be recorded today, had
proper attention been paid towards
the safety of 'the town and its
people. We have had a lesson —let
us profit by it. -
Destroyed '
DESTROYED —East side of Ox-.
ford street. between King and
Charles, south side of Charles be-
tween Thames and Oxford, and
(nearly) both sides of. Thames be-
tween King and Charles. The fol-
lowing are the names of the losers
and amounts of each person's loss.
OXFORD STREET-4 buildings
owned by C. P. Hall, valued at
$1,700, insured. - Occupied by J.
Holt, Silversmith, loss $200; N:
Morrison, dwelling,. lose $400; R.
Clayton, wagon shop, loss $200;
Miss Doyle, dwelling, loss $400, no
insurance. -
Building owned by C. E. Chad-
wick, loss $600. Occupied by Barret
and. Mrs. Smith, as dwellings,
.Buildings occupied as follows;''
i Hotel, by Mr. Searles (moved In
[day of fire) loss on furniture $700;
RAH V W,r, , saddler, loss $1,000,
insured $600; I.R. Greenaway,
Tahoe afore, loss $300, insure fort
,$200; Mrs. Meredith, fancy store,
loss $1,200, insured for $600; Dr.
WE ] e ' ofice, loss $200, fully in-
sured.
R. ance's brick bakery and can.
Lfeetionery, loss $8,000, insured for
corrte
$3,20(
youn
loss !
Bui
loss
pied.
loss I
ler, 8
$500.
Cm
Mo:
But
wortt
DCen)
Gelrk
for $'
loss $
loss $
M.
$2,500
J.
stock
But