THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1897 NOTE: THE FIRST TWO PAGES OF THIS PAPER IS MISSING ON MICROFLIM. Our readers will be pained to learn of the death of Miss Mabelle Fader, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Fader, of Redding. The young lady was here on a visit last summer and made many friends during her stay. The parents of the deceased have the sincere sympathy of their many friends in this valley. SERIOUS CONFLAGRATION A PORTION OF THE TOWN OF BIEBER SWEPT AWAY The Town Hall, Gerig Hotel and Gazette Building among the Ruins C. A. Panabaker of Sacramento Loses His Life in the Fire. The cry of fire startled our people about fifteen minutes past seven o' clock Sunday morning. Smoke was seen issuing out of the Gerig Hotel and the flames soon followed. It seened less than a minute from the time the fire was first discovered, when the whole upper story was a mass of flames and the energy of the people was directed to saving the inmates of the building. The house was occupied by Mr. Stroube and family, and it was with difficulty that the children were rescued, some escaping in their nightclothes. One poor unfortunate lodger, however, could not be reached in spite of the most strenuous efforts and he perished in the flames. The person was Chas. A. Panabaker of Sacramento, whom the GAZETTE last week mentioned as being here on a visit. Efforts were then directed to saving the contents of that and the adjoining buildings. All the people of the town, old and young, had flocked to the scene, and the people from the country came to town as fast as they could and all lent a helping hand in getting everything possible to a place of safety. It was useless to try to save the burning structure or those near it, for in a short time the town hall was ablaze, followed soon after by the residence occupied by Mrs. Ostrom, the GAZETTE building and the barn in the rear of the hotel. But a flew danger was now apparent; the store occupied by D. R. Brownell, the Bieber Hotel, the Corner Saloon and Baker's stage barn all were threatened and it required heroic efforts to save them, Brownell's store, being directly opposite the hotel, had to stand the brunt of the heat and before it could be realized smoke was seen issuing from it. Willing hands at once went to work with buckets, and although the workers there had to be covered with wet blankets to stand the heat, they took the punishment heroically and staid with it until the hotel building fell, when the heat coming from that structure was materially lessened. Had the hotel building remained standing five minutes longer, the workers could not have stood it and Brownell's store would have become a prey to the flames and nothing then could have saved the rest of the town. Other good work was done at the Bieber hotel. Wet blankets and quilts were used to cover the roof and a constant stream of water was passed up to thwart the fire fiend. The most danger there was during the burning of the town hall, but that building being without partitions it quickly fell to peces and with its fall the Bieber Hotel was saved. The Corner Saloon also required some work, but as that was considerable further from the burning structures, the pump and hose were brought into good play and saved the property. But during all this time there was some hot and heavy work done to save the Baker stage barn. It was threatened from two sides. The hotel barn was but a few feet from it and the wood shed in the rear of the GAZETTE building, filled with pine wood was not much further away, and both burning fiercely. It required courage to stand there and fight the fire, but our boys are plucky and as a monument of their grit, the Baker barn stands in its accustomed place. It is useless for us to try to make mention of those that did the most noble work during the conflagration. There was no one there, whether man, woman or child, that did not do all in their power to render assistance. It was by the aid of the weaker that the stronger were able to accomplish what they did, and everyone deserves the heartfelt thanks for their willing, unflinching and heroic work in saving property and aiding in checking the spreading of the flames. Personally we feel grateful indeed and from the bottom of our heart, we extend our sincere thanks to all who rendered assistance during the fire. We know that others who suffered loss, or whose property was threatened are equally thankful. The loss as near as can be estimated was $4400, distributed as follows: N. Bieber: Town Hall, Ostrom residence, GAZETTE office and part of contents, $2000; Wm. Gerig: Hotel, part of its contents and barn, $1600; Wm. Stroube: Furniture, supplies and clothing, $700; Mrs. Ostrom: Furniture and clothing, $100. Unfortunately not a cent of insurance was carried on any of the property and it becomes a total loss to the owners. The orgin of the fire cannot be definitely ascertained, for the building was a mass of flames almost as soon as the fire was discovered. After the buildings had burned to the ground and it was possible to get among the ashes, the remains of C. A. Panabaker were gathered up, and Justice Watson being in town, a jury was impaneled to hold an inquest over the remains. The jury was composed of T. J. Fulcher, J. R. McKenzie, Wm. Holland, C. A. Mayhew, F. C. Reno and S. H. Paulk, and they found that the remains were those of Charles A. Panabaker, of Sacramento, aged about 41 years, and that he came to his death by the accidental burning of the Gerig Hotel. A messenger was immediately sent to Adin to telegraph to the relatives of the deceased inquiring what disposition should be made of the remains. The answer was to give them decent burial and all expenses would be paid. The remains will be interred in the Bieber cemetery tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. BORN HERRICK - Near Bieber, Cal., Oct 5, 1897, to the wife of Ellis Herrick, a daughter DIED PANABAKER - In Bieber, Cal., Oct 3, 1897, Chas A. Panabaker, aged 41 years FADER - In Redding, Cal., Sept 29, 1897, Mabelle Fader, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Fader, aged 18 years, 9 months and 26 days. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1897 Sam Watson had his left hand quite severely hurt by the tusks of a hog last Friday afternoon. Dr. Bradshaw was called and attended the wound. The funeral of C. A. Panabaker took place in the Bieber cemetery last Friday afternoon. The children of the Bieber School attended in a body and Rev. Mr. Risley officiated at the grave. Al. Sherman got two or three fingers cut off with the edger at the Widow Valley sawmill the other day. Zetus Eades got mixed with a little gun the other day, and the first time he came to the surface, he sat down to reflect over the absence of a couple of fingers. DIED SCHMIDT - At Susanville, Cal., on Monday, Oct 4, 1897, Alvin Marian, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Schmidt, aged three weeks. STRESHLEY - At Azusa, Los Angeles, Co., Cal., Sept 30, 1897, Mrs. Orlando Streshly, aged 60 years. NOTE: extra "e" in last name. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1897 John Perkiss received a very painful injury yesterday morning by being kicked on the mouth by a horse, breaking one tooth and cutting and bruising his face quite badly. Dr. Bradshaw dressed the wound and he is getting along as well as can be expected. J. B. Howell, who is ninety-three years old, and blind, fell off a high porch the other day and was hurt considerably. The fall has caused him to lose his usual courage. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1897 The report reached here this morning, from Alturas, of a quarrel which occurred in the court room at that place yesterday, between Judge Harris and District Attorney Raker, in which the former made an assault upon the latter with a knife, cutting him about the face. LOOKOUT NEWS It is reported here that Rev. Levi Reynolds is dead The citizens of this place are building a house here in town for Al Sherman and his children and will donate the same to him. Rev. Davis of Gospel Band Wagon No. 10, conducted the funeral obsequies of Mrs. Sherman, at this place, yesterday, in the presence of a large congregation. A little visitor from baby-land entered the home of John R. Craig on the 18th inst. As it is of the female personation, and behaves well, John has concluded to adopt it, John cigars are two bits apiece. It is with sincere regret that we chronicle the death of Mrs. Al Sherman, which took place last Saturday morning. This is a sad blow to Mr. Sherman. While some dance with mirth and gladness, the crepe hangs on the doors of others and the inmates are shedding torrents of tears for departed loved ones.