Canaseraga, NY Fire, Apr 1895

IN ASHES!

Business Part of Canaseraga all Wiped Out.

ONLY A MEAT MARKET

Left---74 Buildings Destroyed---34 Homes.

THE RUINS

ARE DREADFUL---LOSS $150,000---INSURANCE $85,000--A DETAILED STATEMENT OF LOSSES AND INSURANCE-A PRETTY AND THRIVING TOWN RUINED.

Last night the people of this city were startled by the alarm of fire about 1:45 and as the fire laddies rallied from their slumber they learned that it was caused by an appeal for help from the neighboring village of Canaseraga which was reported as being desolated by the flames, and the report turned out to be correct. It is the greatest disaster that ever befell the beautiful and thriving little town, and has laid the business part of the village in ashes. The fire is mostly in that part of the place adjacent to the railway but did not reach up quite far enough to capture the depot.

The extent of the terrible disaster can be most readily realized by the simple recital of the fact that 74 buildings were consumed, and 34 families were rendered homeless. Not a business place is standing in the whole village except one small butcher shop and the Erie depot. Bank, newspaper office, post office, every thing went down in the blast of desolating flame. The loss will probably reach $150,000 up on which there is $85,000 insurance.

The Erie people were ready to do their part and a special train was soon made up to follow train seven out, and speedily took the steamer the Maple City and Emerald hose carts about 30 men under charge of chief of the department, F. L. Howard, and made the trip in short time.

Unfortunately the oil steamer has not been of use in the department since the water works were put in, rendering it unnecessary, and it has been out of commission, as it were, having been used only to pump out the sewers the past winter, and it was found to leak badly, and farther[sic] more, the engineer who is usually in charge was not with it last night, and its decrepitude was too much for those present, so it was useless, and of course the hose accompanying it was of not a necessity.

The fire started in the store of Henry Hurlburt, but its cause has not been ascertained. The night was a wild one, and the flames spread with inconceivable velocity, and in a short time many dwellings and places of business were involved.

The village is practically [illegible] of protection against fire. It has an old [illegible] engine and 500 feet of hose. The more progressive part of the community realized its unprotected condition, and have agitated the project of water works as a remedy for this. Only as late as this week some of the residents discussed with one of our attaches, the probable outlook in case of fire and a strongwind accompanying it and expressed his fears of the very disaster that has befallen the pretty town.

The scene of the fire was soon swarming with the people of the village, all of whom were routed out by the wild cries of alarm, the ringing of the bells, the roaring of the flames and its wild glare, and all turned in to assist in the saving of property, and making such efforts to head off the flames or to restrict its ravages as was possible.

As the fire was in the business portion of the town the merchants were busy in trying to save their stocks from the flames, and the confusion and excitement can be imagined. If not it cannot be described.

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