Independence, Iowa Fire

November 2, 1873

On November 2, 1873, all the buildings on the east side of Chatham, between Main and First streets, northeast, and on the north side of Main Street, between Second Avenue, northeast, and the building now owned by C. A. McEwen and occupied as a candy kitchen, were destroyed. In all, ten business houses, at a loss of $30,000.
Fire was discovered about half past 11 o’clock Friday night in a woodshed attached to the rear of the Leytze Block. This was soon consumed and it spread to that block and consumed it, and from that point spread in two directions— up Chatham Street toward the north and up Main Street toward the east. The only means to fight the fire was a hand engine attached to the public cistern at the corner of Main and Walnut streets, and when all was ready, the hose laid and the firemen at their posts, it was discovered that the machine would not work, owing to the valves being frozen, and thereafter the machine was useless for any practical purposes. But for this unfortunate circumstance the conflagration would undoubtedly have been confined to the Leytze Block and the adjoining buildings. The hook and ladder company worked heroically, trying to check its fury by tearing down wooden buildings in its course; but without any mechanical assistance, their efforts seemed almost futile. The fire raged and increased in fury until it reached the high three-story brick wall of the Munson Block, and its further progress was stayed. The flames leaped and surged against this opposing force, but after a time gave up the struggle, and abated into a smoldering heap of coals. This was in reality a long anticipated and dreaded calamity, owing to the many wooden structures in that block, and not until some such catastrophe happens can people be educated to the fact that they must improve their methods of building. Here again the losers were encouraged and aided financially to rebuild their businesses, and with this substantial backing were just making a start when the second and far the worse catastrophe knocked the very foundations from under those business concerns who had so generously offered to assist them. ....

This fire of 1873 had been regarded as a serious check to the business interests of the town, and it is no wonder that at first this second visitation of woe almost overwhelmed those sturdy, courageous business men who had risked their fortunes with those of the little pioneer city and had waited long and patiently to reap the promised returns of their ventures.

And that the city so speedily recovered from that lamentable disaster, and more than redeemed her former prosperity, is ample proof of the genuineness and superior abilities of her loyal citizens and further proves that “there is a destiny that shapes our ends”—Independence had been born to live. In the same weekly issue with the account of the fire, appeared the public assurance of most of those men whose business houses had been totally destroyed that they intended to rebuild, not only much better, but many more stores.

The account of this destructive conflagration was faithfully and graphically written in the first issues of both the Bulletin and Conservative, printed after an involuntary suspension of just one issue, which showed a most remarkable display of energy and enterprise. In this appalling calamity which had wreaked such universal disaster, no business interests had wholly escaped damage, and the press, so far as its means of communicating with the public was concerned, was most effectually wiped out of existence. All that remained of two well-provided and well-stocked printing offices at daylight on the eventful morning was a few broken fonts of type, the rest being represented by a heap of smoking debris. And under these adverse and discouraging circumstances, that the papers were compelled to intermit but one regular issue, that being supplanted by voluminous “extras,” was therefore a source of gratification and pride to the publishers and of congratulations to the public.

While yet the flames were crackling and hissing among our finest business blocks, the editors measuring the full extent of the calamity that had befallen the city and appreciating the fact that the only way to overcome it and rise superior to these transient reverses and material defeats was the maintenance of the most unfaltering courage, founded upon invincible faith in the future of the city, were willing to set an example in this regard and show true faith in their works. So they started for Chicago, Mr. Toman on the day of the fire, Mr. Barnhart the next day, without money and with no definite idea of the extent of their resources to purchase new material for the re-establishment of their papers, not stopping to discuss the probable effects of the calamity upon the business. All the business men with whom they had dealt were sympathizingly interested in the details of the disaster to Independence and were ready and willing to extend any aid in their power, expressing their confidence in the ability of the merchants and property owners to rally from their great misfortune. The credit of the business community had not been shattered in the least.

The enterprising editors: William Toman, of the Bulletin, and Mr. Warren Barnhart, of the Civilian, each purchased an entire new outfit, immediately set them up, and commenced business with the “extras” which we have mentioned. Mr. Toman’s editorial in the first regular issue expressed the sentiment of both papers, but as no copy of the Conservative of that date is available, we quote from the Bulletin. “The Bulletin is again an entity, and not-withstanding all that comes in the shape of, ordinary dispensations, proposes to live and to chronicle the rise of our fair young city, from the ashes of her sorrow to a higher place of prosperity and a larger growth than before. We have implicit confidence in the recuperative power of our community, and we only ask our fellow citizens to realize, that though crippled, we are by no means ruined. Let us admit of no unprofitable repining, but put our shoulders to the wheel, and from the uncomfortable distinction of the ‘most unfortunate City of Iowa,’ let us earn the reputation of ‘the pluckiest.’ “With this pronunciamento, breathing a spirit of calm determination and confidence in the future, which could not fail to inspire and encourage the prostrate community, the Bulletin wielded a great influence. From its columns this official report of the conflagration is gleaned.

History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, 1914, pages 573-575 Search this book on line at ancestry.com

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