Geneva, IL Courthouse Fire, Mar 1890

Geneva's Damaging Blaze.

Geneva, Ill., March 14,-Special Telegram.-The court house in this city which was destroyed by flames late last night, caught fire through spontaneous combustion, it is believed, in the floor between the jail and the County Clerk's office at 9:30 p.m. The alarm was given by the prisoners in the jail, who fearing they could be cremated alive, yelled lustily for help. Sheriff Kelley was asleep when the fire originated, but was awakened by their cries and hastened to release them and provide other quarters. He then turned his attention to superintending the efforts to check the flames. There were two vats filled with water in the building, together with a limited supply of hose. These availed nothing, though the engineer kept the tanks filled until the building was clearly doomed. Telegrams asking for fire engines were sent to Aurora and Batavia, and both cities responded, but the apparatus did not arrive in time to prevent the total destruction of the building. The loss is supposed to be upward of $60,000, with insurance nearly sufficient to cover it. The building was erected in 1856. Most of the records have been saved, the main vault in the building succumbed to the flames. The Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday next, and will probably take immediate steps for rebuilding. In the meantime the county officers are arranging for temporary quarters.

The Sunday Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL 15 Mar 1890
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!