Warren, PA Fire, Feb 1889

CONFLAGRATIONS.

Two Firemen Badly Frozen While Fighting the Flames—Other Fires.

ERIE, Pa., Feb. 23.—Special Telegram.—A disastrous fire broke out in Warren, Pa., today, and, owing to the severity of the weather, resulted in a loss of over $70,000 to the town, and the destruction of a block. The intensity of the cold was so great that one of the firemen, JEREMIAH KERBERGER, was so badly frozen that he can not recover. The unfortunate hoseman was taken from the ladder stiff and apparently dead at the time. Jack Haggerty, another fireman, was overcome with the cold and smoke, and was rescued with great difficulty. The business houses burned were the Warren Savings Bank, loss $6,000; C. Smith’s shoe store, $5,000; Northrop’s shoe store, $^,000; William’s restaurant, $500; S. Keller’s harness store, $5,000; Warren Weckley Mail, $5,000; The Western Union Telegraph Office, and several other offices. The loss is partially covered by insurance. While the fire was raging at its worst the reservoir gave out, and but for a chemical engine other blocks would have been burned.

The Sunday Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL 24 Feb 1889
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Transcribed by Dawn McLaughlin. Thanks, Dawn!