Show ELLIOTT mer mercantile TILE BURNED TO THE GROUND stoic visited B v ailigh 1 1 and to all in 30 36 hums houis considerable excitement was created in our peaceful city in ili the last 48 hours when the news spread that the stole stoie of the elliott mercantile was entered by burglars tuesday night was damaged by a small fire monday morning and burned to the ground tuesday morning according to mr ir elliott larsen oi owner er and manager of the store the first fire seems to have lave been originated by the burglars causing some little damage though not ser serious 10 its the smoke was discovered in ali the basement by ernest anderson who was passing and who notified mr N I 1 r larsen thinking it was from a furnace but upon investigation it was found the flames had a good start soon a crowd gathered and the fire was under control before the upper part of the store was damaged except by the dense smoke mr larsen also relates the finding of 0 two men unknown at the back of the store about I 1 3 a in m who had already made a getway getaway of groceries and other articles which were in ere found under a bridge just west of the store and as near as can be judged the burglars used matches or candles in ili the basement so causing the fire mr and mrs larsen were in richfield sunday evening until 11 after which he worked around the store tor for a short time before he retired about 3 p in the little son max awoke them suspicious of something being wrong upon investigation mr larsen found two men who ran in different directions mr larsen fired three times to make an all effective scare both men made their getaway however and little thinking of other developments occurring lie he retired again meanwhile the spark from something in the basement created fire which was found several hours later marshal lloyd was busy throughout the day clay and thinks lie hns has a clue and will do all that is possible to bring the marauders to justice the second fire to break out in the elliott mercantile store in twenty four hours started tuesday morning about as near as C can all be ascertained the flames spread lapid ly and before the alarm could be given the fire had gained such headway that the entire stock and household furniture owned by elliott larsen was burned and the building belonging to james R ware are was also a total loss it is s thought that the second fire could have been caused by a shouldering ing spark left from the fire of monday morning but at about 10 monday night elliott and ills his brother dan larsen ninde made an entire search of the building and found no sign of any heat whatever later at somewhere around 1230 another search was made and as all seemed to be quiet they retired to be awakened a few hours later to find the entire building afire affre the family of mr larsen just had bad time to get out of the building in their night c clothes not lot having time to get their clothing the children were carried to a neighbors and all except a few articles of furniture was burned the origin of the fire is unknown the red cross officers came to the aid 0 of the family by way of offering to sew and prepare clothing the school teachers anti and other ladies are to be commended for the ready response in making clothing for the children |