WHITESVILLE Store Burns - 1887 - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Mont.  Fisher of Whitesville, was surely born under an unlucky star. In the last two years he has been victimized by burglars half a dozen times, and on Wednesday night last was visited by a fire which devoured everything he owned. His entire stock of goods valued at $4,500, was swept away in the middle of the night, and during a drenching rain. The loss all told will reach over $5,000, on which there was insurance in the amount of $3,300.  The stock was owned by Fisher and was insured for $3,000; the building was the property of Cohoen & Fisher and was insured for $300. A couple of other wooden buildings standing near, the property of Frank Nichols, of this city, were also burned. There are three theories in regard to the origin of the fire; sparks from a passing locomotive, spontaneous combustion, and incendiarism. Of the two former the first would be impossible, as the roof was wet and rain falling; the second would be improbable, as spontaneous combustion almost always occurs in hot, dry weather. The third is probably the true theory, and the fire was kindled by some of the friends of the burglar killed by Fisher some months ago while in the act of robbing the store. In addition to Fisher’s loss the L. N. A. & C Railway lost all its papers, tickets and furniture and some valuable baggage. This is a case for the Horse Thief Detectives to exercise their Ingenuity upon.   ---dkd