Fires

This morning about three o'clock fire was discovered in the roof of Johnson & Websters Foundery, situated on Lower First street, between Main and the river. The alarm was promptly sounded, and the steamers were on the ground as quick as could be expected at that hour of the morning, but the flames had gained considerable headway, and the frame work of the tin roof and second floor, with its contents, were almost entirely destroyed.. The building burned was of brick, two stories high and situated in the rear of the lot. On the ground floor were the finishing and moulding shops, while on the second floor was the pattern shop. Out of a large number of valuable patterns, only a few were saved. The loss in this department alone is estimated at fully $6,000, while the loss to machinery was $400.. Mr. Webster is at present unable to estimate the damage to the building, but thinks it will reach between $4000 and $5000. The new and unfinished frame building in front of the one burned and the blacksmith shop were uninjured.. The fire is supposed to have originated from a spark in the cupulo, which doubtless lodged there late last evening from the heating furnace. Mr. Webster passed through the shop after nine o'clock last night, and went home, feeling perfectly satisfied all was right.. There was only $4,000 insurance on the building, in the agency of L.C. Ferry. A few months ago a policy for $3,000 expired in the agency of Col. W.P. Davis, and unfortunately it had not been renewed. The loss falls heavily on Messrs. Johnson & Webster, who had their all invested in the enterprise.