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Old Boys Reunion Mill street- Photo from Almonte.com

For the first time in many months the stillness was broken early Tuesday morning by the alarming clang of the fire bell. The alarm was given by Mr. P. Guthrie, who when going home from night work noticed smoke coming out of the building occupied by Messrs. Thom & McNab dry goods store.

The engine was quickly on hand with a good head of steam ready, but the great difficulty was in discovering where the fire was, as the store could not be entered on account of the dense smoke and no blaze could be seen. Finally about half-past seven when some of the smoke had been drawn off through an upper window, the firemen managed to get into the cellar and from there directed a stream upwards onto the blaze which was quickly extinguished.

It is supposed that the fire originated from the furnace. As wood is used for fuel and the fire in the furnace would have burned out about 12 o’clock, the spark which started the conflagration must have been smouldering during the night. The fire did not spread rapidly on account of there being: no draft, but bursting up through the floor it burnt through the counter and shelving; and had almost made its way through the ceiling before it was subdued.

The heat and smoke in the building are responsible for most of the damage to the stock as the firemen were very careful in their distribution of the water. No estimate of the damage can he formed as yet but the stock is practically ruined, and was valued at $11,000. The insurance for the stock, was $7,000, divided among three companies, the Phoenix, the Insurance Company of North America and the Law Union and Crown. The loss for the building which is owned by Mr. T. R. White will amount to about two hundred dollars.

Author’s Note: Two hundred dollars?