The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, March 1, 1906 At about 10:00 o'clock on Monday night the fire alarm was given and the flames were seen issuing from the roof of the MCCOLLOUGH & BROWN Livery Barn, just south of the Christian Church. The fire company responded but it was evident that it would be an impossibility to save the building and all effort was directed to the surroundings after a short contest with the flames. The building belonged to L.H. BUSSELLE and was insured in full. The livery stock belonged to LON BROWN and ED. MCCOLLOUGH, which was uninsured. The rigs were got out but the hay, corn, harness, etc., were consumed. A number of horses and one cow perished in the flames and their charred carcasses presented a ghastly sight the next morning. The exact number of horses is unknown -- but a dozen or more. County Recorder HOLMES had his driving horse and rig in the barn at the time, and the BUSSELLE teams and the fine Shetland pony of E.D. VIERS were there meeting the same fate. Up to within a couple of weeks MR. BROWN owned all the livery stock but since that time MR. MCCOLLOUGH became part owner. As this fire was directly north of a half block of some of the best business houses and largest stores in Chariton, the hazards were great. Soon one of the ware rooms of the BUSSELLE BROS. was on fire and it and contents went down. The flames broke through into the shoe and cloak room of the Chariton Dry Goods Company and much damage was caused but by the heroic effort of the fire company all the buildings were saved. The store room of BREWER & BLAKE caught fire but it was soon extinguished. Goods were removed from the Chariton Dry Goods Co.'s Store the BUSSELLE Hardware establishment and from the BREWER & BLAKE Clothing establishment, but were replaced without further damage. The Fair, Flatt's and the grocery stock of F.C. STANLEY were in less danger and were unmolested. The losses are small compared to the insurance. The stock of the Chariton Dry Goods Company would invoice about $32,000, the firm receiving a shipment of $7,000 on the first of the month. The BUSSELLE Hardware and Implement stock would carry $15,000, a couple of car loads being placed this week. The BREWER & BLAKE stock was protected by $6,500 insurance, the only damage being disarrangement, which was the case in the other establishments, save the total consumption in the ware houses and cloak and shoe department. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 10, 2004 [email protected]