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Fire
On Tuesday morning, shortly before three o’clock, a small barn belonging to Geo. Ross, civil engineer Burgar street, was first seen by Miss McGlashan to be on fire. By the time the alarm had gathered aid, the barn was wholly enveloped in flames, and fire had communicated to the dwelling-house, a distance of about thirty feet. The firemen were soon on hand, but the fire had meanwhile got into the attic of the house, which was strongly built, and before the flames were got at and extinguished the building and contents were badly wrecked by fire and water. Although the cellar drain was discharging water to its full capacity, the cellar was filled with water to the top and overflowed, shewing water enough to drown out half the town if on fire and the fire could be got at, but in this case as at the fire in White’s building, tons of water were wasted on shingles and siding whilst the fire continued to burn in the attic and between partitions. A better hook and alarm system is needed, the town bell being only audible to those in its immediate vicinity.
The loss is estimated as follows: barn and contents, $200; damage to house, $1200; loss and damage to furniture, &c., $500. There was an insurance of $1500 in the British North America Co., as follows: $100 on barn; $1150 on house, and $200 on furniture. The losses therefore are mainly covered by insurance. Mr. and Mrs. Ross accepted of Sheriff Smith’s hospitable offer of rooms in his dwelling during the rebuilding of the burned house, which will be done at once.
The fire is supposed to have been caused by tramps or chicken thieves, as the door was not locked, and Mr. Ross knows of no fire or light having been in barn for weeks. As no sound or trace of the hens kept in the barn was heard or seen there is some suspicion that some thief stole the chickens, and caused the fire by throwing down a lighted match. Steps were discernible through the snow leading across lots and down to the creek road, going north.
Welland Tribune
5 April 1889
Fire: 2 April 1889
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