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Historic EVENTS in and around Welland

MERCHANT HAS HEAVY LOSS

Fire does Damage to extent of $4500 In Baker Clothing Store

[Welland Telegraph, 23 January 1912]

Fire broke out mysteriously in the store of C.A. Baker in the Rose block, corner North and West Main Streets, on Thursday night about nine o’clock, partially ruined almost the entire stock. The loss will be about $4500 and the insurance will hardly cover more than one-fourth of the loss.

Arthur Horwitz, a clerk, locked the store at about a quarter to nine and at that time, he states, there was no indication of a blaze. The gas stove was left burning but the fire did not start from that source. There was no electrical wiring in the building so that it did not start from defective wiring. The fire apparently started back of the counter about five feet from the stove.

At ten minutes past nine Victor Blake, when walking past the store, heard the crackling of the fire inside and an alarm was at once sent in. When the firemen arrived the interior was found to be burning fiercely and the room was filled with smoke. A stream was soon being played upon the flames and after about twenty minutes work, the blaze was under control, although at one time it threatened to burn through the ceiling to the second floor.

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