Early Fires in Arkansas City

Arkansas City Traveler, February 1, 1882.
Mr. Sheldon’s residence caught fire last Saturday morning about 8 o’clock, and was very badly damaged before the fire could be extinguished, the roof being entirely destroyed. Nothing but the prompt action of our citizens, the existence of Providence, and the Arkansas City Water Works saved the home of our friends from total destruction. The sufferers by the fire desire to return their thanks for the assistance rendered at the fire and for the money promptly contributed to purchase the material to repair the loss.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1882.
The house just outside the city limits, on the north part of town, occupied by Mollie Burke and one or two prostitutes, took fire last Tuesday afternoon, and burned to the ground. Some furniture and carpet were consumed with the building.
[FIRE EQUIPMENT: ORGANIZING A FIRE COMPANY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1882.
The necessity of a more efficient and better organized “fire extinguisher” has at last impressed itself upon some of our citizens. Recognizing the fact that a slight fire in the busi­ness part of town would most surely sweep our business street without some organized means of preventing a spread, the young men had a meeting, in the Y. M. C. A. Room, last Thursday for the purpose of forming a Hook and Ladder, or Fire Company. C. L. Swarts was elected chairman. After stating the object of the meeting and discussing the subject, pro and con, it was decided to elect a permanent organization. W. V. McConn, F. J. Hess, and E. O. Stevenson were appointed Committee on Permanent Organiza­tion; J. Kroenert, W. D. Mowry, and F. J. Hess were appointed Committee on Apparatus. Another meeting will be held this (Wednesday) evening, at the City Council Rooms. Those interested are invited to attend.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 29, 1882.
The committee on aid for the Arkansas City Fire Co., have raised over $300 already. That is a good showing and looks like business.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 29, 1882.
The Ark. City Fire Co. meets tonight at Pearson’s Hall for the purpose of nominating officers. Every member turn out. Candidates for membership should hand in their names tonight.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 5, 1882.
The Fire Company realized $10 by their dance last Wednesday evening.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 5, 1882.
The Fire Company, of Arkansas City, will hold a meeting at the Y. M. C. A. Rooms this evening.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 5, 1882.
The dance given by the young people of our city, in aid of the Fire Company, was well attended and an enjoyable affair. We were pleased to welcome some half dozen of our Winfield friends, who, with their ladies, partook of the pleasures of “the mazy,” till a late hour! Come again.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 12, 1882.
Fire meeting at the City Hall this evening. Don’t forget to go.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 27, 1882.
                                                                    Fire.
About eleven o’clock last Sunday night the cry of “Fire” was heard on our streets and a lurid glare shed its baleful light over the eastern part of the city, which upon a closer inspection proved to be the residence of Gardener Mott, on Central Avenue, which rapidly burned to the ground despite the efforts of the assembled crowd. With the exception of a few articles of furni­ture, nothing was saved. We understand Mr. Mott was insured in the sum of $250, which will not, however, cover more than half the loss. The fire was occasioned by the overturning of a lamp.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 25, 1882.
                                                     A Terrible Experience.
A terrible accident transpired in our city last Monday afternoon through the explosion of a coal oil stove in the residence of Manly Capron in the northwest part of town, by which Mrs. Capron and her infant daughter were seriously burned, and the residence considerably damaged. From what we gathered in relation to the sad affair, it appears that Mrs. Capron first noticed the stove, which she had been using all morning, to be in a blaze, and undertook to carry it out of doors; but by reason of the intense heat, was compelled to drop it before reaching the door, when in a second of time the burning oil spread all over the room, setting fire to her clothing, and bade fair to speedily consume all with which it came in contact. See-ing the smoke several of the neighbors ran to the spot and succeeded in quench­ing the burning clothes of Mrs. Capron and in taking steps for the rescue of the little babe, which was in its cot in the room where the fire occurred. The room could not be entered by the door and it was only by the breaking in of a transom window through which Wm. Green, who providentially passed at the time, descended and handed the little one to its friends on the out­side. Thanks to the almost superhuman efforts of the neighbors, the house was saved before any considerable damage was done. At this writing both mother and child are under the care of Dr. Chapel at whose hands they will receive all attention and we hope, although the burns received were very serious, that no fatal or permanent injury has been received.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1883.
                               ARKANSAS CITY AND HER SURROUNDINGS.
Part of a long article...
Health. Last, but not least, comes a question of great importance to all parties seeking a new location. Situated as Arkansas City is, upon a rolling knoll with constant breezes and no stagnant water in any direction, it accounts for the fact that her population claim an immunity from diseases that is found in very few localities in the State. Further than this, as a point favorable to the health of the city, is the fact that pure living water can be found at a reasonable depth in all parts of the city. In addition to this, the city has inaugurated a system of water-works, which can be increased with its growth, by which water is raised by machinery to the highest point on the townsite; and distributed by pipes throughout the city, making a plentiful supply of water for use and a complete safeguard against fire.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1883.

FIRE. One day last week the packing house of Bishop & Gaskill took fire and for some time it seemed that it must be consumed. By strenuous efforts, the fire was subdued before doing damage to any considerable extent.
Arkansas City Republican, February 23, 1884.
The residence of Mr. C. W. Burt was, last week, the scene of a disastrous conflagration. His elegant, new house, including all his household goods, went up in the flames. The cause of the fire was a defective flue. While the loss is serious, and to most men extremely discour-aging, yet from what we know of the energy of this sterling gentleman, we are warranted in saying that his former commodious edifice will soon be replaced with another building equally elegant.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 14, 1883.
A defective flue, in the residence of W. Gibby on South Summit St., resulted in an alarm of fire last Thursday, and before the flames were got under control, about $25 worth of damage was done.
[FIRE: FENCE AT REAR OF NEWMAN’S BUILDING.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 20, 1884.
Last Friday morning, about 4 o’clock, the fence at the rear of Newman’s building was discovered to be on fire, but thanks to the prompt action of Mr. Neff, of the Leland, the blaze was extinguished before any serious damage resulted. It is generally supposed to have caught from ashes, as there are a dozen places in town more available for the work of an incendiary.
[NEED EXPRESSED FOR A FIRE BRIGADE.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 20, 1884.
                                                            A Fire Brigade.
Our citizens should organize a fire company or brigade of some sort, to provide for such an emergency as that of last Friday, which, though fortunately proving harmless in itself, serves a purpose as a note of warning. A fire comes about as suddenly and unexpectedly as death, and it behooves an enterprising community to be ready for its reception at a moment’s warning. Had the blaze of last week been started in more favorable quarters, there is hardly any telling where the work of destruction would have ended. No city of the size and importance of Arkansas City should be so defenseless in case of fire as are we at present, and we hope to see some action taken at once looking to better means for the protection of property.
[FIRE: PETER PEARSON’S STABLE AND ICE HOUSE.]
Arkansas City Republican, April 19, 1884.
On Thursday afternoon Peter Pearson’s stable, in the southeastern part of the city, and its entire contents, consisting of a fine hearse, some coffins, harness, etc., were fatally destroyed by fire. The fire from the stable caught his ice house and it was also destroyed. The loss is from $900 to $1,000; no insurance. The fire is supposed to have been caused by some boys playing with matches. Some persons arrived at the fire in time to have saved the contents of the stable if they had known how to open the door and that the articles were there. The hearse will be replaced at once. Mr. Pearson extends his thanks to those assisting in keeping the fire from other buildings.
Arkansas City Republican, April 19, 1884.

During the fire Thursday afternoon Peter Pearson’s hogs strayed away. Anyone finding them will please to notify him.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 23, 1884.
Barn Burned. Last Thursday afternoon our citizens were startled by the cry of “Fire!” and the dense column of smoke seen in the southeastern part of town convinced everybody that there was something in it. It proved to be the barn of Peter Pearson, our furniture man. His little boy, aged some five or six years, had raked together a lot of rubbish in the alley at the rear of the stable, and was having a “camp fire,” as he afterwards explained; but, unfortunately it got beyond his control, and almost before the lad knew it the fire had communicated itself to the stable. Inside the stable were some coffins, a fine hearse, some harness, and other articles of less value, all of which were complete destroyed, making a total loss of about $1,000. A very high wind was prevailing at the time, and for half an hour the chances seemed favorable for a general conflagration in that neighborhood, which however was prevented by the strenuous efforts of the crowd. A small stable belonging to Mr. Eddy was burned, and considerable fencing was either burned or destroyed, which is the extent of the damages. Mr. Pearson’s loss is complete, as he carried no insurance. He has ordered a new hearse, which will be here in a couple of weeks.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 23, 1884.
Peter Pearson says he can stand the loss of his barn, the burning of his valuable hearse, and other property; but when he was asked to pay 25 cents for a barrel of water said to have been thrown on the burning building, he was all broke up, and we don’t wonder at it.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 23, 1884.
The fire of last week powerfully urges the necessity of an efficient system of water works in the city. The supply of water upon an emergency of this kind is conspicuous by its absence and in the case of the above fire, it was only by the merest luck in the way of location and direction of the wind that prevented an appalling destruction of property. [Reckon this is a reference to Pearson fire.]