ed 
like  tinder.  But  little  stock  or  furniture  was 
saved,  and  nearly  everyone  lost  their  entire 
wardrobe,  escaping  in  several  instances  in  their 
night  clothes.  It  is  extremely  doubtful  that  the 
town  will  be  rebuilt  immediately,  as  some  of 
the  business  men  have  lost  their  all.

The  origin  of  the  fire  is  not  definitely 
known,  but  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  work 
of  an  incendiary,  as  a few  moments  before  the 
alarm  was  given,  an  unknown  horseman  dashed 
madly  through  the  town,  taking  the  direction 
toward  this  city.  The  fire  was  first  observed 
in  the  middle  room  of  the  second  story  of  the 
Baxter  house,  and  as  it  burst  through  the  roof, 
the  alarm  became  general.

Following  is  the  amount  of  insurance  as 
near  as  could  be  ascertained  up  to  the  hour 
of  going  to  press:  E.  B.  Baxter,  $1,250;  F.  J. 
Wright,  $1,100;  Jo  Williams,  $2,000;  J.  W. 
Ripley,  $500;  H.  T.  Smith,  $2,150;  Geo.  D. 
Jones,  $800;  Wm.  Watson,  $2,200;  Ensinger 
& Judel,  $800;  Bell  & Stephens,  $500.  The 
above  companies  are  represented  by  Mrs.  O.  S. 
Warren,  of  this  city.  Max  Schutz  was  insured 
with  E.  M.  Young  for  $1,000.  The  damage  to 
the  Mountain  Key  store  has  not  yet  been  esti- 
mated. The  loss  which  was  total,  will  fall 
heavily  upon  several  who  were  not  insured.  No 
correct  estimate  of  the  total  loss  can  be  ascer- 
tained as  yet,  but  it  will  approximate  $100,000.