Harrellsville Burned.April
23. -- Our town was visited with a sad calamity on Sunday morning April 22nd.
About half p[a]st at 2 o'clock the alarm of fire was given when the top of
George W. Baker's cook room which is attached to W. A. Holloman's store
was discovered on fire. A little north wind soon drove the fi[r]e to
Holloman's store, enveloping that in an incredible short time. John O. Askew's
store soon caught, and the fire was so intense and rapid, that Mr. Askew saved
comparatively nothing from a $3,000 stock of goods, the most of them, just
gotten in. He succeeded in saving his books, and the papers and books belonging
to the post office. Williams Bros. succeeded in saving their store, by blowing
up an unccupied store near by with powder.
W. D. Scull's store, on the North
side of the street, caught from Hollomon's store, and Baker & Cullens' T. D.
Gatling's and E. D. Scull's bar, which were standing together caught from John
O. Askew's store. At last E. D. Scull's corner store, which seemed
comparatively out of danger, caught and in quite a short which, the whole
of the business part of our town was in ashes.
Mrs. J. J. Scull's residence
caught from W. D. Scull's store, and every house on her lot, except a gin house
standing some distance off, was burned. Mrs. S. saved the most of her furniture,
but lost every thing else.
W. D. Scull was carrying a policy of $1,000 on
his goods, and Baker & Cullens $2 500 on their goods and store, but the
companies are irrespoonsible and they have but little hopes of
collecting. The whole loss is estimated at $20,000. Nine stores were burned, and
our town has received a check, from which it will take years to recover.
John O. Askew, E. D. Scull, Baker & Cullens and W. D. Scull will
continue business in other house until they can rebuild.
Mose.
"The Murfreesboro Index", John W. Hicks, ed.,
Murfreesboro, [Hertford County] N.C.
Friday, April 27,
1888
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