NorthSide Fire of 1924
The RushvilleTimes
Thursday, January 10, 1924
RUSHVILLE SUFFERSGREATEST FIRE CALAMITY
FOUR YOUNG MEN KILLED BYFALLING WALL WHEN FIVE NORTH SIDE BUSINESS HOUSES ARE DESTROYED BY FIRESATURDAY NIGHT
HYDRANTS AND HOSE FREEZING,HINDER FIREMEN
BEARDSTOWN AND ASTORIA SENDAID AS RUSHVILLE’S FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMBATTHE PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
Rushvillesuffered the most distressing calamity in its history Saturday night, whenfour lives were lost to a fire which destroyed five business houses onthe north side of the public square.
Charredand blackened almost beyond recognition, the bodies of the four young menwere removed from the debris of the George T. Purcell store, Sunday morning,where they met their death the night before, when a falling wall crushedin the roof and killed all four instantly.
The victimsof the fire could only be recognized by particles of clothing or distinguishingobjects that were found with their bodies.YOUNG MEN KILLED WERE:
Elmo Byrns, 15, son of L.H. Byrns, Schuyler county circuit clerk, student in. Rushville high school.
John Stover, 21, unmarried,mechanic in Hinner’s garage.
Raymond Briggs, 21, Rushville,leaves wife and baby and parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Briggs.
Maurice McFeeters, 28, unmarried,son of William McFeeters, three miles west of Rushville.
The fouryoung men killed, in company with others had entered the clothing storeto carry out goods. There was no sign of fire in the building. The electriclights lighted the room brilliantly. There was no apparent danger. Thencame a rumbling explosion–a crash–and the fire wall from the Nelson buildingtoppled on the one-story building below, and the roof went down under theweight, burying the four men beneath it.FIVE BUSINESS HOUSES WRECKEDBY FLAME
Startingin the Parrott & Kerr hardware store at 10:45 o’clock Saturday night,the fire swept more than half the business houses in the block.
The buildingsdestroyed were:
Bankof Rushville.
Parrott& Kerr hardware.
Nelsonbuilding, occupied by Wilson Grocery Co.
GeorgeT. Purcell, clothing.
Prentissbuilding; Orrin VanCleave, drugs.All ofthese buildings had frontage on the public square.
On NorthCongress street the offices of Dr. H. O. Munson and Dr. H. H. Speed, northof Bank of Rushville, were gutted, and two rooms of the Parrott & Kerrstore facing on this street were entirely destroyed.
The SchuylerCitizen office, surrounded on three sides by a seething mass of flames,came thru without being seriously damaged. Linotype and presses were inno wise damaged, as no water was thrown in the building, and Editor Larash’sloss comes from moving his stock and much of his type into the street.
A goodfire wall on the east, and a four feet areaway between this building andthe bank building, gave protection in a time of need.ENTIRE BLOCK IN DANGER
Afterfighting the fire for more than three hours it looked like every buildingin the block would go. When the Prentiss building burned it seemed thatnothing could stop the progress of the fire. Fighting the fire from frontand rear, it was put under control at this point, tho the west wall androof of the John Barton building was badly damaged.
BabcockBros. in the store adjoining moved out a portion of their stock but sustainedno loss.
AugustSchaffer in the Odd Fellows building took no chances. He put trucks intoservice and moved his butcher shop stock and light equipment from the building.
The I.O. O. F. lodge removed all their records and regalia to a place of safety.
RobertStover moved his Cheney musical instruments to a place of safety, but didnot disturb his book store stock.
R. W.Nobel in the Dace building on the corner stood pat, awaiting developments,when it looked like the block was doomed.DISCOVERED FIRE AT 10:45P.M.
The firewas discovered, simultaneously by a number of people from different viewpoints.
WilliamStephens, of the firm of Stephens & Bowman, left the store for hishome, located north from the Bank of Rushville, and passed the front andside entrances of the Parrott & Kerr store without noting any signsof fire. As he turned to go into his home he looked up and saw a brightlight in the rear of the Parrott & Kerr store. Just then the flameshot into the air, and before he could yell “Fire!” he heard a sky-lightfalling.
VernBowman, his business partner, closed the store a few minutes after Stephensleft. As he locked the front door he saw a blaze break thru the roof ofthe Parrott & Kerr store.
Wm. Boehmhad closed his meat market and was on the pavement at the same time andsaw the blaze on the roof. He ran to the front of the building, and atthat time smoke was pouring out of the upstairs window. As he looked inthe front store window fire was seen falling from the ceiling in the rearof the main sales room.
LewisDegitz was also one of the first to see the fire. He was on the north sideof the square, and was attracted by a light in the store room, and sawfire falling from the ceiling.
All ofthese men saw the fire at about the same time and their cries of “Fire!”brought out men from the few places of business that were not closed–mostlybarber shops and restaurants.
WilliamNelson, who roomed in the second story of his building, was awakened soonafter the fire was discovered; also Orrin VanCleave and family, who livedin the rear of his drug store.
The entirestock of the Wilson Grocery Co. in the Nelson building was destroyed. G.C. McCreery, local manager, has not been informed of the amount of insuranceor the plans of the company as to reopening.FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT PROVEDTO BE INADEQUATE
Rushvillehad the water to fight the biggest fire in its history, but its fire fightingequipment and bad conditions of hydrants closely adjacent were sadly inadequateto the needs of the hour.
Withthe exception of a period when it became necessary to refill the standpipe,and cut out the booster pump, the pressure was good and there was plentyof water.
Firemenwere handicapped by the extreme cold weather, as the mercury stood 12 degreesbelow zero, and the hose nozzles froze up every time they were shut off.Owing to the fact that several hydrants could not be used, it was necessaryto lay a longer line of hose, and this hindered fighting the fire in itsearly stages.CITY SHOWS APPRECIATION OFAID RENDERED BY FIREMEN
The citycouncil at its regular meeting Monday evening voted to give $25 each toWert Colvin, Henry Davis, Wm. Frey amd N. O. Neal, Beardstown firemen whoresponded so quickly to Rushville’s call for help, and who stayed thruthe whole night fighting the flames and suffering from the intense coldand freezing water.
To WilburStover of Astoria, who volunteered by himself to bring the Astoria hoseto Rushville, and made the trip in forty minutes, the council voted fundsto completely repair his car, which suffered damages in the flying trip,and a donation to Mr. Stover for his voluntary service.
The Beardstownfiremen were in Rushville thirty-one minutes, after they had received thecall of help from this city, and it is positive that without this hurriedhelp from our two neighboring cities the flames would have done twice thedamage which they did. The council also passed two resolutions which arepublished in other columns of this issue.INJURED IN PURCELL BUILDING
Geo. T.Purcell was caught beneath the wreckage of the falling roof in his store,when the four young men met their death, and his right leg was broken abovethe knee, and he was badly cut and bruised about the head. He was carriedfrom the building and taken to the Culbertson hospital for treatment. Heis making good recovery.
Mr. Purcellwas pinned down by timbers and held fast, but his cries were heard by thosewho were making their escape from the room and a rescue party went to hisaid and he was released and was taken on a stretcher to the hospital.
Rev.J. C. Brown, Vernon Unger and Glen Harris received scalp wounds, but werenot seriously injured.
Othersin the building when the roof fell were: Glen Moore, Herschel Hodges, Jas.Corman and Wm. Curry.
YoungMoore had a most miraculous escape as he was farther in the building thanthe four who were killed, yet he escaped. The men killed were about twenty-fivefeet back in the building.FIREMEN FOUGHT VALIANTLY
Rushvillefiremen fought valiantly for five hours against great odds in the conflagrationthat swept the north side of the public square, and that they lost thebattle is due to insufficient equipment rather than lack of judgment orvalor.
Withthe origin of the fire located in an L of a brick building that gave noopportunity for near approach from front or rear is due the tremendousheadway made by the fire.
At thetime when the entire block seemed doomed, and all lines of hose were concentratedon one building on front and rear, effective results were obtained, andthis would be the conditions in most fire locations, as has been provenby the history of the past.ALL K. OF P. RECORDS LOST
All therecords of Schuyler Lodge No. 209, K. of P., and the Pythian Sisters weredestroyed together with pharaphanalia, lodge furniture and a piano belongingto the Pythian Sisters.
H. B.Roach, keeper of records and seal of the K. of P. lodge, had made out hisannual report, which was passed on by the auditing committee on Fridayand he had it in his pocket at home. This is the only official record ofthe lodge saved, as every other record was in the lodge room, which occupieda suite of rooms over Bank of Rushville.
Mr. Roachdoes not even have a complete record of members of the lodge. He has alist from which he has been collecting dues, and members who have paiddues and hold receipts are asked to report to him.PARROTT & KERR RECOVERBOOKS
The safeof Parrott & Kerr, which fell into the basement when their buildingwas wrecked by fire, was opened Wednesday morning.
Everythingin the safe was in good condition. The binding on one ledger was the onlybook that showed signs of the intense heat and the cover was scorched.
The firmhad completed their inventory on Saturday, and it was placed in the safeto be totaled on Monday. The recovery of this inventory up to the lastday’s business will facilitate adjustment of insurance, as all stock andfixtures in the three business rooms of this firm were a total loss.INQUEST HELD SUNDAY
Dr. W.F. Harvey, county coroner, summoned a jury Sunday and an inquest was heldthat afternoon at the R. A. Lawler undertaking parlors.
Thoseserving on the jury were: Geo. A. Virgil, Chas. B. Settles, R. C. Gray,I. P. Bartlow, J. W. Lickey and John C. Unger.
The onlyevidence offered was that of Rev. J. C. Brown. pastor of the M. E. church.who was in the building where the young men met their death.
The Rev.Mr. Brown testified:
“I wasin the building where the boys were found. I was one of twelve or fifteentrying to salvage goods when there was a terrific crash of falling bricks.In some way I made my escape and I was positive there were some left behind.This is all I know. Then we rescued Mr. Purcell. He was covered with metalceiling and bricks. It was some time before the building was afire.”
The verdictof the jury was that Maurice McFeeters, Raymond Briggs, John Stover andElmo Byrns were accidentally killed by a falling brick wall.BEARDSTOWN AND ASTORIA SENTFIREMEN AND HOSE
A callfor aid was made to Beardstown about 12 o’clock and they responded promptly.Their firemen came and brought 600 feet of hose and later on more hosewas sent.
The WhiteTaxi Co. brought the firemen over the hard road from Beardstown in sixteenminutes.
An autofrom Astoria made the trip with 550 feet of hose in forty minutes, butthe driver wrecked the rim on one rear wheel of his car and blew out bothrear tires. But he arrived.
Rushvilleis indeed grateful to our neighboring cities of Beardstown and Astoria,as without this extra hose the entire north side of the square would havebeen flame swept.PARROTT & KERR OPEN OFFICEIN CRANDALL BUILDING
Parrott& Kerr have opened temporary quarters in the Crandall building, oppositetheir one-room building standing intact on Congress street, which willsoon be arranged for their business offices.
The firmhad completed their invoice for the year on Saturday, but it had not beentotaled and was put in the safe along with the books when the store wasclosed Saturday night.
The safedropped into the basement when the office room was gutted by fire, andits intact, but cannot be opened until it has cooled sufficiently.
The firedoor leading into the building on the alley, one of three rooms facingon Congress street, saved this building from destruction. The big ware-room,directly east, a building with sheet-iron exterior, was also saved. Thisbuilding was filled with machinery, iron piping, etc.
The wallsof the two rooms fronting on Congress street appear to be in good conditionand just as soon as the insurance adjuster has made his report Parrott& Kerr will begin rebuilding their rooms, which will give them a goodsalesroom to use until a building can be built facing on the public square.
By makinguse of their temporary quarters the firm will be able to continue businessat their old location and expand as building operations progress.
Messrs.Parrott & Kerr purchased the buildings occupied from the Griffith Hdw.Co. in 1920 and on Jan. 2d of this year made their final payment on theproperty.
The buildingwas insured in the Hardware Mutual and Implement Mutual Insurance companies.GOV. SMALL SENDS MESSAGEOF SYMPATHY TO MAYOR
Hon. Geo. H. Baird, Mayor,
Rushville, Ill.:
I have just learned of theterrible catastophe that has visited your city. I regret this deeply andwish you would express to the bereaved ones in your community my sinceresympathy in their loss. LEN SMALL.FUNERAL OF FIRE VICTIMS HELDAT THE M.E. CHURCH TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
Funeralservices of Elmo Byrns and Maurice McFeeters were held at the M. E. churchon Tuesday and at both services the auditorium and gallery were crowdedto capacity. High school pupils attended the funeral of Elmo Byrns in abody and all business houses closed during the hour of both funerals.
The funeralof Raymond G. Briggs and John Chedwick Stover will be held at the M. E.church, Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. All business houses will closefor the double funeral.HERSCHEL ELMO BYRNS
HerschelElmo, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Byrns, was born in Brown county, near Mt.Sterling, Ill., April 25, 1908; passing to his eternal reward in Rushville,Ill., Jan. 6, 1924, in the first hour of the day.
Elmoremoved with his parents from Brown county to Schuyler when he was threeyears old. Again with the family he removed to Rushville, Dec. 3, 1920,his father then having taken up his duties as clerk of the circuit court.
Deathcame to him most unexpectedly, and with the suddenness of a violent strokeof lightning, as it likewise did to three other young men of our communityall of whom met death within a few feet of each other.
The fallingbrick wall from the second story over the Wilson Grocery Co. store, crashingthru the room of the Purcell clothing store, being the cause of his instantdeath, as was true in the case of these young men.
Elmo,tho almost a man in appearance, was yet in the tender years of his life.He was in the full bloom of youth, and in every sense of the word a realboy. He possessed the natural ambitions of a lad of his age, with vigorousmind and strong body. He had many admirable traits.
He wasanxious to be useful in the world. This disposition was being exemplifiedin his service of assisting to remove the stock of the Purcell ClothingCo. from the ravages of the approaching flames, which were threateningto consume many buildings of our city’s business district, when he suddenlymet his death.
He waspersonally ambitious to be a real success in life. He daily manifestedthe fact that he was willing to pay the price of success in terms of personaleffort. He was a diligent worker. He deplored idleness. He determined toeducationally fit himself for a career worth while. Being a sophomore inthe Rushville high school, with a fine record of honor and achievementin his work, he was also giving every minute of his space time possibleto the service of his employers, Runkle & Runkle.
Elmowas a lover of the church. Few young men are more regular in attendancein Sunday school and church services than was this lad. He was well rearedin a Christian home, having been converted in Huntsville in 1918. He unitedwith the Methodist church at Huntsville, and later transferred his membershipto the Methodist church at Rushville.
Elmowas a very likeable boy with a very large circle of friends as was evidencedby the magnificent floral display at his funeral. He leaves to mourn hisuntimely death his father and mother and his brother, Frank, besides ahost of uncles and aunts and cousins and other relatives.
The funeralservices were conducted at the First M. E. church of Rushville on Tuesdaymorning, January 8, 1924, at 11 o’clock. Rev. J. C. Brown, his pastor,and Rev. G. L. Losh, of Beardstown, a friend of the family, being the officiatingministers.MAURICE HENRY McFEETERS
MauriceHenry, son of Mary Florence and William H. McFeeters, was born in Buenavistatownship, Schuyler county, Sept. 13, 1895, and departed this life Jan.5, 1924; aged 28 years, 3 months and 22 days. He leaves to mourn his tragicdeath his devoted mother and father, one sister, Alma; two brothers, Pauland Charles, and four nieces and one nephew.
WhenAmerica entered the World War, Maurice was registered at Independence,Iowa, where he had made his residence a short time previous. He was calledto report and willingly made two trips there. The first time his contingentwas gone, and the next time the armistice was signed. Maurice was readyand willing to serve his country.
Mauricewas fortunate in that he was brought up in a Christian home. This influencewas shown in his true Christian every day life, finding his greatest happinessin self-denial and service of other members of his family and friends.He was converted in 1911, during the tabernacle meeting in Rushville, andunited with the M. E. church during the ministry of Mr. Ennis. In his dealingswith men he was ever upright and true.
Mauricenever complained of his allotment in life, always ready and willing toserve all in time of trouble and distress. He possessed an unusual amountof cheerfulness, showing his true Christian character in word and deed.
Mauricewas patient as a son, helpful and thoughtful as a brother, devoted andloyal as a friend. He passed out of this life as he had lived it, doinghelpful deeds for others. The devotion and influence of his life will everbe a pleasant page in the book of life of all who knew him.
He leavesthis benediction to us: “Bear ye one anothers’ burdens, and so fulfillthe laws of Christ.”
Funeralservices were held at the M. E. church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock,conducted by Rev. E. S. Borton, pastor of the M. E. circuit, assisted byRev. J. C. Brown.DOUBLE FUNERAL THRUSDAY
Funeralservices for Raymond Briggs and John Chedwick Stover will be held fromthe M. E. church Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Services will be conductedby Rev. J. C. Brown, pastor of the M. E. church, assisted by Rev. Ira L.Livingston, pastor of the Presbyterian church, and Rev. Geo. P. Snyder,pastor of the Christian church. Interment will be made in the city cemetery.
JOHN CHEDWICK STOVER
John ChedwickStover, who lost his life in the fire Saturday, had lived in Rushvillesince Jan. 16, 1923, when he came here to make his home with his brother,George. Since then he has worked with his brother in Hinner’s garage.
He wasborn in Oklahoma City, Okla., July 25, 1902, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H.Stover, and his age was 21 years, 6 months and 11 days. In 1917 he removedto Wasco, Calif., with his parents and Jan. 16, 1923, came to Rushville.
His mother,Mrs. Susan Jane Stover of Wasco, Calif., was on her way to Rushville tovisit her sons when she received news of John’s death.
Otherbrothers and sisters are: Preston Stover of Wasco, Calif., Mrs. Mary Carikerof Oakland, Calif., and Mrs. Lottie Thompson of Pomona, Kansas; Mrs. Geo.Thompson of Ottawa, Kansas, and Sidney Stover of Wasco, Calif.
Duringthe time young Stover had been a resident of Rushville he had made manyfriends among young men of his age and his two best friends were RaymondBriggs and Maurice McFeeters, who were his companions in death.
Thesethree young men chummed together, they volunteered their services in fightingthe fire; they mounted the rear buildings of Parrott & Kerr’s storeto give aid to the firemen; they assisted in removing Attorney Billingsley’slaw library and furniture from the Bank of Rushville building and togetherthey entered the Purcell store to carry on their good work, when they wereinstantly killed beneath the mass of wreckage that fell upon them whena falling wall crushed in the roof.RAYMOND BRIGGS
RaymondBriggs, son of George and Henrietta Briggs, was born in Woodstock township,Schuyler county, Ill., May 23, 1902, and died fighting valiantly in thegreat conflagration of his home city of Rushville on the night of Jan.5, 1924, at the age of 21 years, 7 months and 12 days. Thus from earthinto the great beyond a bright and useful life at a moment’s call.
He wasunited in marriage to Miss Beulah M. Chipman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.Ed. S. Chipman, April 13th, 1921, and to this union was born a daughter,Laura Virginia, Feb. 27th, 1922, who with the broken-hearted wife, togetherwith father, mother and sister, Mrs. Raymond Quigley of Frederick, Ill.;brother, Fred, sisters Katie and Sadie of Rushville, Ill., are left tomourn this tremendous loss.
Raymondwas a faithful husband, providing well for his household, a kind and indulgentfather; looking forward with great joy to the future and welfare of hisonly child, who at this tender age will never know of his devoted lifeand love, and when duty called, rather than stand idly by, moved forwardwith a steady step and yielded up his life, working for others. While wecannot know why one in the vigor of manhood and life, surrounded by a happyhome and family, should be chosen in this particular way or time, let ussay from our very hearts: “Father of love, Thou has given and Thou hasttaken away; help us to bear our burden and love Thee still.”
And tothe sorrowing loved ones, we ask you to look forward with ardent hope andwith an unshaken confidence that sometime, somewhere, you may be unitedagain, when we all shall see with a clearer vision, and behold our lovedone in forms that never fade, and in states that never again will be changedor affections that never dull. And until then we commit his spirit to Godwho gave it. And his loved ones we commend to the Good Shepherd who lovesand cares for his own.
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