Waterford
Block Destroyed by Fire
Loss Totals Sixty Thousand Dollars
Post Office, other buildings suffer
Waterford,
Oct. 26. -- The York block here was burned this morning, and nothing was
saved except R. K. Robinson's jewelry stock, which was partly savaged.
The
total loss is placed at $60,ooo.
The
whole two-storey solid brick block, with a heavy stock of general
merchandise, boots and shoes, hardware, oils and linoleums and drugs was
consumed, while a strong east wind, fanning the flames, threatened
destruction to Dr. Teeter's residence and others farther east.
Half
a dozen store fronts across the narrow street suffered from broken glass
and scorched paint and the Bell and Norfolk Telephone Companies came in
for their share of loss.
The
fire was discovered by the engineer of a through freight, who gave the
alarm with the whistle of his locomotive.
The
oils and paints added intensity to the heat, and the solid walls buckled
and fell flat. The wall of the post office building, which stood out
till all else was gone, was so much out of line that it was considered
dangerous to keep the office open.
There
is unmistakable evidence that shopbreakers with a glass cutters were in
town during the night. Herbert Colver's [sic] store across the street having
been robbed. In their rapid escape they left some boots, shirts and
other materials behind them.
Coming
as it did the morning after the funeral of his talented son, Dr. Howard
S. York, Col. I. E. York, the heaviest loser, is today under a double
affliction.
A
rough estimate of the loss:
I. E. York, building: $25000; stock of hardware, oils and drugs:
$19,000;
H. A. Sanderson, stock general store: $13,000;
R. K. Robinson, jewelry: $4,000
other slight damages: $1,000.
---
Fire
Inquest
On
Monday Crown Attorney T. R. Slaght, K. C., was in Waterford attending an
inquest into the cause of the fire that destroyed the York block in that
village last Thursday morning.
The
inquest was held before Mr. George T. Lewis of Toronto, deputy fire
marshal.
The
evidence showed that there had been no carelessness on the part of
either Mr. Sanderson, the proprietor of the store were the fire started,
nor of any employees.
The
insurance carried was shown to be quite inadequate.
The
premises had evidently been entered and robbed. Whether purposely set on
fire on not by the burglars cannot as yet be known. But some interesting
developments are expected shortly.
The
fire fighting appliances of the village were shown to be of the most
primitive and inefficient description.
