1852 Chillicothe Fire

Scioto Gazette, Chillicothe, Ross County OH; 05 Apr 1852

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Yesterday, April 1, 1852, was a day of doom for our boasted city. The devouring element, Fire, scourged the Ancient Metropolis to a degree seldom suffered by business communities. Fully one-fourth of the property extant within her municipal limits, yesterday morning, are dust and ashes today. Nearly one-fourth of our whole population have been turned out of house and home, with such trifles as they could snatch from the greedy flames. Chillicothe has received a blow, from which it will require years of energetic toil to recover.

We attempt below to relate such particulars as occur to us. All is confusion, this morning -- people removing, running to and fro and none conceiving the full extent of the calamity. Our former beautiful town, the abode of prosperity, hospitality, happiness and hope, presents an extended scene of desolation, as terrible as the wildest dream of lunacy. Therefore, in what we state it is scarely possible we may not commit some errors.

At a little past noon yesterday, a stove in the cabinet shop of Mr. John Watt, in the vicinity of the Clinton House stables, bursted by having been filled with shavings. In an instant the shop, full of inflammable material, was in flames. The wind was blowing a hurricane towards the stables and rear of the Clinton House, so that, within 15 minutes after the first alarm, the roof of that large edifice, four stories high was on fire. Thence the cinders and spires of flame were blown across Walnut Street, communicating at various points among the warehouses, stores and other buildings along the line of the Ohio canal, in that quarter, where the latter extends East and West. Within the next hour, every building north of the alley between and parallel with the canal [currently known as Water Street], and Second Streets to Paint Street was on fire.

About this time too, the large block of warehouses belonging to David Adams and Marfield & Lockett, opposite the Clinton House, bursted out in flames. They were nearly filled with pork, bacon, wheat, &--------. The wind continuing to blow from W.S.W. -- for a long time the fire was kept north of the line of stables, up the alley, just mentioned.-- and by strenuous exertions, the Apothecary [? - hard to read] block was saved. All the little buildings contiguous, belonging to Col. J. S. Swearingren, were consumed, of course.

At 2 p.m. the fire communicated to the "May Corner" at the Canal end of Paint Street. Thence it spread eastward and southward licking up everything before it. Meantime, all the stores on the west side of Paint street, mostly large brick building and the "Ross Block" on Second street were burning. Huge piles of goods were thrown in the street, and carried off to places of security.

Going west to Walnut Street, the buildings on Second, opposite the Thatcher's block were saved. The fine brick dwelling of E.P. Kendrick, Esq., looming up in the eye of the fire, caught in the roof, and was soon abandoned to the Devourer.

We might have mentioned that there was not a drop of water in the Canal, and the scanty supplies afforded by wells and cisterns were all that was to be had. Early in the fire, by the sudden bursting of Adams's Warehouses, the Reliance engine, by far most powerful in town and entirely new, was abandoned and burned as she stood. Another of the engines was obliged to be suddenly backed in the Scioto to save it.

O.H.Luckett's, Holcomb's, the old M. E. Church, Dr. D. Wills's office and house are the only buildings standing intact between Mr. Kendrick's and Mulberry Street, on the north side of Second street. Those were survived by the most tireless and heroic exertions. [Illegible section] the Woodbridge and Waddle Blocks which form more than two hours were in constant danger, kept constantly wetted in every possible way, by many who stood up to the work like heroic salamanders. Where all seemed to vie in exertions to save property, it would be invidious to single out individuals whom we happened to notice. Both those large blocks, on the saftey of which depended the salvation of fully one-fourth of the town, were fairly snatched from the forgged hunger of the Fire.

Our sad and incoherent story is not half told. [Several lines unreadable here] The Maderia House corner caught from "Ross Block" directly opposite. At this moment every building on the east side of Paint Street, going northward to the canal, was either burned or burning. Thence, eastward the Devourer singed out buildings for destruction in advance, following the rest at it's leisure. By 4 o'clock there was not a building left uncom[...here there appears to be the end of this paragraph and another smaller paragraph that is completely unreadable].

[This is the middle of the next paragraph.] From it however, the dwellings of J. Mayo, Mrs. Baker, Thomas McDougall, and others whose names do not occur to us, as we write, were, one after another consumed. The most eastern limit of the conflagration, was the slaughter house of the Meers [this is difficult to read, so the name might not be correct], Bakers, on Water Street east of Bridge street, two-thirds of a mile from the western limit.

To return over the burned district, to review the instances of destruction is the task of a committee -- one cannot perform it. Suffice it here to say the principal Hotels of the place -- Maderia House, Clinton House, and several smaller establishments -- are in ashes: Marfield's, Adams's, D. Fullertons, Holcomb & Co's J. Clarke & Son's Allston & Peitsmeyer's, Fraser Bros. J. R. Allston's, C.O. Joline's (Collector's office). Warehouses, with all the intervening and neighborhing buildings and their contents, are destroyed. Stocks of groceries, bacon pork, which had been rolled into the canal ditch, in expectation of safety, were burned as they lay. Messers, Marfield & Luckett, had the proceeds of 7000 hogs, with a large quantity of lard, damaged, in their warehouse. The Messar Fraser had just carted 20,000 hams from their Paint Creek establishment, and canvassed them in time for the Devourer. They were nearly all destroyed.

The following dry good stores were burned -- we name them as they occur to our unassisted memory, following the course of the fire: Marfield & Luckett, A. H. Roads, D. Adams, Davis, O.T. Reeves, W. Carson, J. McClintick, Jr. T. Carson, T. Ghoranley, W. H. Douglas and Sons, Douglas, Waddle and Shull, Bennett and Bro. W. Miller and sons, C.J. Miller and Co, T. Woodrow Jr., A. Smart & McFarland, Maule and Shaeffer, F & S. D. Campbell.

R. W. Donning and Co, Schutte, Allen and Evans hardware, post office and Advertiser printing office, Ringson and Fairbanks tailor shops. John F. Waddel grocery, and every establishment in Adams Block. May McVey's and other grocers. A. D. Sproat and J. W. Morris drug store. The Valley Bank, ___ Forge Company, Welsh's iron store and plow, Norton's variety store, etc. etc. etc.

We cannot pretend to give a complete list. The best private dwelling houses destroyed were that of E..P. Kendrick, Wm. Ross and Dr. Campbell, C. Woodbridge, J. S. MdGinnis and one or two in the north eastern part of the city.

The wind lulled toward's night and the extent of the mischief could be discovered at noon today, dense volumes of smoke were rising from various point in the burned district, and the blackened walls left standing, appeared unmistakably desolate.

There are further lists as to who has coverage and what they thought the damage was [some of the names that readable are]: Atwood, Carson, Allators, May,Sproat, Maul & Schaffer, Norton, Ives, Perarson, Campbell, Welsh, Rapid Forge Co., J. Maderia hotel, David Miller furniture, Woodbridge, Kellogg Haskins steam mill, Dr. James Moore, Masonic Lodge, Michael Kirsh's hotel, Thomas, mcDougalls, Dr. Mansfield, Dr. Fallow's, Wm. H. Douglas, Wm. McKell, E.P. Pratt, D. A. Schutte, Bennett and Brother, J. & H. McLandburgh, Wilson, Valley Bank, Spencers dry goods, Mc Farland, Frazier, Allen, Clark, Trimble, Reeves, Pearson, the list goes on and on and on.

Shame to say although a large police force was organized thousand of dollars worth of goods were STOLEN, and carried off to byplaces in various parts of the city. It would seem that nothing milder than the pangs of hell-fire could touch the petrified sympathies of scoundrels who would steal under such circumstances. A large police force was engaged, but still depredations went briskly on. A gentlemen just informed us that he alone had recovered four wagon loads of plunder.

The situation of our city appeals to the leniency of creditors and the sympathies of the humane, not only among those who have been left unhurt or partially scathed, in this as well as in other and more prosperous communities. Relatively speaking, the conflagrations at Fayetteville, San Francisco and Pittsburgh were not more calamitous.

It is a grateful reflection, however, that not a single life was lost, nor a bad accident to body or limb, as far as we have been informed. Many, of course, were singed and burned, by firing of clothes and proximity to the flames.

We cannot close this rambling account, without speaking the high sense entertained by the whole community of the services of the Ladies, who, as they always can, in cases of real necessity, set the men an example of patience and fortitude, zeal and activity. God bless them, and have pity of the desolate!

RECAPITULATION.

With the assistance of our friend, D. A.Schutte, Esq, Insurance Agent, the following list of losses, has been made out. It is not pretended that it is full. It counts up to SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

George Wood, brick warehouse $3,000.
Adams' block and Hotel building, total loss20,000--insured.
   Adams stock of goods total loss about 8,000  insured.
P. Kline, confectionery, total loss about 1,000.
Marfield & Lockett Dry Goods, total loss about 7,000--insured.
John Waddle, Family Groceries, total loss about 200, partially insured.
Roads [this name very difficult to read, could say Hoads] Dry Goods,
   total loss about 6,000.
Allen & Evans Hardware total loss about 6,000 partially  insured.
John Robinson Hotel furniture total loss about 500.
John Marfield warehouse total loss about 3000 partially insured.
Marfield & Luckett Pork and Lard total loss about 40,000.
Clemson corn etc. total loss about 1500.
D. Adams Warehouses total loss about 5000, partially insured.
H. Hillhouse, block of buildings total loss about 5000, no insurance.
Stocks in said buildings, total loss about 5000.
Rosenfield Hotel and furniture total loss about 4000.
Michael Davis brick building and stock total loss about 7,000.
Thomas Ottis Warehouses total loss about 6,000, partially insured.
Dixon Fullerton stock of gorceries total loss 20,000, partially insured.
Holcomb & Co. total loss 12,000, partly insured.
Holcomb & Co. Warehouse, total loss about 2,000, partly insured.
A block of frame houses on Water street, total loss about 2,000.
George Sosman brick house and contents, total loss about 3,000.
Sharinberger Warehouse about 500.
James Clark stock of groceries total loss about 5,000.
John McFarland a brick warehouse total loss about 4,000.
Alex Frazier & Co. stock of Pork, Lard, etc. total loss about 20,000.
Allston & Peitsmeyer's stock about 1,500.
William Allens property, about 600.
Dr. C. A. Trimble brick house about 2,000.
O.T. Reeves brick buildings total loss about 4,000.
O.T. Reeves stock in Dry Goods, about 15,000.
Swift's heirs brick buildings total loss about 2500.
William Carson stock of Dry Goods total loss about 9500.
Jas. McClintick sen, brick building total loss about 3,000.
Jas. McClintick stock total loss about 10,000.
J. S. Atwood, brick building total loss about 4,000.
Thomas Carson stock total loss about 7,000.
J.R. Allston stock total loss about 12,000.
Jacob May brick house and stock total loss about 4,000.
Commercial Row and contents, total loss about 10,000.
A.D. Sproat brick house and contents, loss about 10,000.
Maul & Schaeffer house and contents, loss about 4,000.
M. Norton stock 4,000.
Amass Ives building 2,000.
A Pearson, building the contents 5,000.
Francis Campbell building 5,000.
S & F.D. Campbell stock 10,000.
Denning & Campbell stock loss about 25,000.
Wm. Welsch building and stock loss about 6,000.
Rapid Forge Co. stock loss 3,000.
J. Maderia Hotel loss about 10,000.David Miller, furniture etc. 4,000.
Francis Campbell dwelling 2,000.
C. Woodbridge dwelling loss 2,000.
Francis Campbell warehouse, Water steet loss 2,000.
Kellogg Haskins steam planning mill loss about 2,000.
Dr. Jas. Moore's dwelling 2500
Masonic Lodge, loss 2,000
Michael Kirsch's hotel, loss 3,000.
Jacob May's dwelling, loss 2500.
Thomas McDugalls's dwelling 3,500.
D.Mansfield's house, loss 1500.Dr. Fallow's dwelling loss 500.
Wm. H. Douglas block of buildings total loss about 18,000.
Wm. McKell about 10,000.
Douglas Waddle and Shull about 25,000.
E.P. Pratt buildings about 5,000.
E.P. Pratt stock and furniture about 1000.
Mrs. Carson brick buildings about 5,000.
D.A. Schutte stock of Hardware, about 21,000.
Bennett & Brother dry goods about 12,000, mostly saved.
J & H MLandburgh building about 7,000.
William Ross's block about 18,000.
Wm. Miller stock of dry goods about 10,000.
C. J. Miller stock of dry goods about 10,000.
N. Wilson stock of shoes about 4,000.
Valley Bank fixtures no loss.
s. Spense dry goods, loss 5,000.
T. Woodrow, Jr dry goods, loss 7,000.
Smart & McFarland, dry goods 6000.
Dr. Morris drug store loss 3,000.
E. P. Kendrick's dwelling loss 5,000.
Thomas Orr dwelling 1500.

Insured in Etna Co. Hartford
Denning & Campbell 3,000; Mrs. J. Smith 1000, Douglas, Waddle & Shull 8,000; D.A. Schutte 7,500; Chas. J. Miller & Co. 5,000; Masonic Lodge 2,000----Kirsch 2,000, Marfield4,000,David Adams 14,000; M. Miller 2,000, M. Davis 3,000; C.O. Joline l,000, D. Fullerton 7,000, Holcomb & Co. 10,000, Hirn 1500, J.McFarland 5,000; Thos Orr 600;J. R. Allston 4,000, Aallston & Peitsmeyer 1,000; McGinnis & Co. 2200, Jacob May 1,000;Jacob Wolfe 1500; O.T. Reeves 8,000; W. Carson 2,000;James McClintick, Jr. 6,000; John Peregrinne 500, Thomas Carson 6,000;F. & S.D. Campbell 6,000; Wm. Ross.

In Protection:
David Adams 10,000, and other parties respective amounts not ascertained, but amounting in the whole to some 75,000.

In Ohio Mutual:
Heirs of F. Koch 600, Erhard Streball 400, C. Rosenfeldt 1500.

In Franklin Ins. Co. Philadelphia
Wm. H. douglas & Son 10,000; J. Maderia 9,000;Dougals & Waddle & Co. 8,000; Denning & Campbell 9,500, W. Ross 18,000, Fraser & Co. 5,000.