Newspaper article:Page 5 of Dalton Gazette,published in Dalton, Ohio on Thursday, December 22nd, 1898 - Dalton Gazette April 28 2023
- Newspaper title
- Dalton Gazette
- Organization
- Industry
- Accommodation and Food Services > Accommodation
"Yesterday morning, about half-past four o'clock, landlord David Gardner of the Central Hotel detected a strong smell of burning wood and varnish, and descending to the office found the whole interior in flames. Prompt action on his part and the fact that water was pumped ready to his hand soon extinguished the blaze. Fortunately the office was tightly closed and the fire could get no air and did not burn rapidly. The intense heat however had broken a small glass in a panel of the front door and it would have been only a matter of a few minutes more until there would have been a bad fire. As it is the woodwork of the office badly scorched and charred, register, clock and other furniture ruined. About a dozen overcoats that were hanging back of the register counter, belonging to traveling men were burned, some totally destroyed, the others in various degrees of ruin.
The origin of the fire is a mystery as it evidently started back of the counter, as the most destruction was caused among the overcoats hanging against the wall, the theory that it originated from a pipe or matches in the pockets is the most generally accepted. The loss Mr. Gardner estimates as over $100, which is covered by insurance.?