Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Thirteenth Year - Number 22
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, July 31, 1902
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BIG FIRE AT MART.
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Six Store Houses Are Reduced
to Ashes in Short Time.
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Caused by Explosion of a Lamp in a Meat
Market.==A List of the Sufferers.
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Loss and Insurance Not Known.
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Special to Democrat:
       Mart, Tex., July 24.--This town was visited by a conflagration at an early hour this morning that reduced to ashes six business houses in a very short time.
       The fire originated in the meat market owned by Fowler & Stowe and was caused by the explosion of a lamp.  The flames quickly consumed the market building and spread with great rapidity to the adjoining buildings, all of which, like the market house, were built of wood and burned like timber.
       All efforts to check the flames for a time were without avail.  Mart has no organized fire department, but the citizens fought the fiery demon with all the power they could command under adverse circumstances.
       The flames were not finally subdued until the following houses and stocks had been consumed:--

       Fowler & Stowe, meat market.
       J. C. Morrison, restaurant and confectionery.
       Owens & Bro. furniture store.
       M. N. Wadsworth, general merchandise store.
       Collier & Mann, general merchandise.
       Vacant house owned by W. W. Knight.

       The extent of the insurance cannot be given now.  The loss
amount to probably $30,000.

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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas