Sherman Daily Democrat
Tuesday, June 27, 1911
pg. 1

DESTRUCTIVE HOLOCAUST
Nineteen Residences and One Business House Were Destroyed
Handicap of Stiff Breeze

Denison Answers the Call for Help on the Double Quick - Two Men Prostrated by Heat - A List of the Several Losses
A fire in the residence section of Cottage Hill swept away eighteen residences and one store yesterday afternoon.  The total loss will approximate $35,000 with about $24,000 insurance.

Sherman yesterday afternoon experienced one of the most extensive residence fires witnessed here in years.
Beginning in the home of Mr. John Heim in East Williams street, it swept east to Wood Avenue, where it turned north deflecting in Richards street and in all practically wiped out five blocks of handsome cottage residences.
The firemen were sorely handicapped by a brisk south wind which at times was almost a gale.
The continued dry weather had parched everything to a tinder and the flying sparks, burning shingles, etc. started a blaze wherever they lit, on anything at all combustible.
The efforts of the firemen were heroic in the fullest sense of the word and no less so were the efforts of the citizens who lent every assistance in their power.
Fred Duer from the central station was overcome by heat as was J.N. Pitts, a citizen, but both are fairly well recovered today.
In leaving the central station a truck in avoiding a collision with a trolley car careened and Firemen Kimball and Walcott were jolted and the latter received some bruises.
It became apparent early that the fight was a desperate one with the chances against the firemen.
Many people summoned moving vans and got their goods out of danger.
Many, however, got them out to see them burned later on.
The Denison department sent three men and one thousand feet of hose on a special interurban car.
But for the determined fight made at the corner of Williams and Hurt streets where a vacant house was saved, the flames would likely have encroached into the most densely built section and scores of homes burned that luckily escaped.
The fire originated in the pantry of the Heim residence, possibly from the proximity of a gas stove.
The trolley cars on both the Brockett and Lamar street lines were crowded with sightseers from downtown but despite the throngs the authorities preserved good order.
Many went out in autos and other equipage but these were not allowed to congest the streets or in any way interfere with the fire fighters.
Chief Arnoldi, Mayor Wall and Chief of Police DeSpain were present and were largely instrumental in keeping up at least a semblance of hope and confidence among the people, even when it looked like the fire would stop only when it had swept the beautiful hill of its homes.
The example of these officials tugging and pulling at hose, carrying buckets of water, carrying out house hold goods in a great measure inspired the people to a degree of effort that has never been witnessed at any previous fire in Sherman.



LOSS AND INSURANCE
The total losses and insurance as estimated by the local insurance agents, from their books, are as follows:
John H. Heim, loss on residence and household furniture, $4,000; insurance $2,800
C.E. Mockbee, loss on residence, $1,200; insurance $900.  Loss and insurance on effects not attainable
Mrs. David Bennett, loss on three cottages valued at $1,400 each, $4,200; insurance on all $3,000
E.R. Fisher, loss on household goods, $650; insurance $400
G.W. Kiersey, loss on cottage, $1,200; insurance $800
O.L. Williams, loss on household goods, $800; no insurance
T.F. Newell, loss on cottage, $1,200; insurance $800
Ed Glasscock, loss on household goods, $650; no insurance
Fred O'Hagan, loss on household goods, $900; insurance $600
John S. Hefner, loss on house, $1,250; insurance $800
Mrs. N.E. Nunley, loss on household goods, $550; no insurance
D.W. Gulick, loss on store building, $1,250; insurance $900
Mrs. Fuller's loss on household effects and insurance not obtainable
Montgomery & Glasscock, loss on stock of groceries, $2,575; insurance, $1,750
Alfred Evans, damage to residence by fire, $700; insurance $1,500
George Ables, loss on residence $1,200; insurance $800
Sam Calvin, loss on household goods, $600; no insurance
John S. Hefner, loss on second house, $700; insurance $400
S.W. Porter, loss on cottage $900; insurance $750
Brice Vestal, loss on residence and household goods, $2,400; insurance, $1,200
Mrs. Darnall, loss on household goods, $750; insurance $500
Luella Moore, loss by damage to residence, $500; insurance $1,000
F.E. Davis, damage to residence by fire, $400; insurance, $1,000
In addition to the above, the loss to colored citizens aggregated $2,200, with only $1,000 insurance.  All of the agents carrying these have not been found yet.

CHIEF ARNOLDI THANKFUL
I wish to sincerely thank the citizens who so unhestitatingly came to the assistance of the department yesterday and especially do I, in the name of the people of Sherman, thank the Denison department for their prompt offer of help.
E. Arnoldi, Jr.
Chief Sherman Fire Dept.

CLOTHING DESIRED
A great many families in the fire district lost all their personal effects and especially will clothing for boys from 10 to 12 years of age and ladies' underwear be thankfully received and distributed when it meets the urgent requirements if sent to the home of Mrs. Will Roberts, 1023 East Williams street.

NOTICE OF THANKS
Messrs. Montgomery and Glasscock, who suffered a loss by the fire yesterday at the corner of Wood Avenue and Richards street, wish to thank the firemen and citizens who did all they could to save the store from the element and to notify the public that they will be in business again just as soon as the building can be erected.

Sherman Daily Democrat. (Sherman, Tex.), Vol. THIRTIETH YEAR, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 27, 1911, newspaper, June 27, 1911; Sherman, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth643419/: accessed June 9, 2016), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; .