Fire at Purdy ..The town of Purdy, Barry county, was about wiped out by a fire that started in a vacant building at 2 o'clock last Thursday morning. Nineteen business houses and dwellings were burned. It is the undoubted opinion that the fire was started by some fiend. The loss is estimated at $40,000 with about one-fourth of that amount covered by insurance. ..The following is a list of the houses burned: ..The fire originated in a vacant building owned by Jesse Milton on Main street, from which Tucker's livery stable on the south soon caught. The stock was saved, but the buildings were an entire loss. ..Robinson Bros. drug store caught next; loss $2,500, insurance $3,000 [could be $5,000].

..J. F. Byler's drug store, $1.000; insurance, 1,500. ..Mrs. Archibald's building was an entire loss. ..Wash E. Smith lost his grocery stock, but saved the post office fixtures. O. L. Rose owned the building on which there was no insurance. O. L. Rose & Son's store building on the corner burned with $500 insurance; loss on the two buildings was $1,000. ..Gurley & Sons' hardware stock was burned, loss $8,000, insurance $2,200. The implement house was not burned. ..The Purdy bank building; no insurance, loss $1,200.

..J. L. Fly's stock of dry goods, building and residence burned with a loss of $7,500; insurance, $6,500. Some goods were saved. ..J. T. Johnson's harness shop; loss, $1,700, insurance $500. ..W. C. Gan's stock of groceries; loss $600, insurance, $400. The building belonged to J. C. Riddle and was insured. ..O. P. Smith's building was next burned with a loss of $_00 and no insurance. ..McGu---- & Peel's law office, no insurance, loss $100. ..A. B. Morris' building; loss $100; no insurance. ..Thos. Smith's produce house; loss $100 with no insurance.

[Note: abstracts omit duplicate advertisements, ie., "Dr. Voorhies, Dentist" appears in this column on a weekly basis. Also, omitted were numerous references to the weather and corn, wheat and oat crops unless a specific individual was named or a statistical fact was given. I did include some of the aforementioned so the reader could get a feel for "a hometown paper" in 1894. --jjr; 01/2004] Trade at Banner's. Dr. Voorhies, Dentist. Moco and Java Blend at K. & O's. Kirby's Coffee beats them all. Buy K. & O's. Fancy Mixed Tea. The crop of early potatoes is bounteous. Call on A. J. Vance at post office for choice Candies. If the corn was waiting for hot nights it can now proceed to spread itself. New Groceries every day at John B. Smith's. Farmer Harley has his wheat cut and shocked in good shape and is well pleased with the anticipated yield. Sloan keeps any priced Machine Oil you many want. Fred H. Jones, foreman in this office, returned Tuesday from a visit of two weeks to friends in St. Louis. My line of Cigars is first-class. A. J. Vance. Judge R. H. Landrum has entered the field as a candidate for the Republican nomination for State Senator. There has been a lively harvest on the farm of W. E. Baugh. Five binders cut 300 acres of wheat without a bobble. For Croquet Sets and Hammocks go to Sloan's. The locusts are dying rapidly and the grand chorus that was heard in the woods a short time ago has dwindled down to solos. A fresh stock of Wood's Pants, Pantaloon Overalls and Shirts just received. J. H. Kirby & Son. George A. McCanse met with the Republican Senatorial Committee at Peirce City last Monday. He is the member from this county. Dick Jennings and his sister, Mrs. Henrietta Haley, left last Saturday on a trip to St. Louis in company with their aunt, Mrs. Segroves. Millsap & Bro. will sell you Men's Dolan Worsted Suits for $4; also 200 pair Men's pants at half price. M. S. Fite now has a nicely equipped bath room in connection with his barber shop, and solicits the patronage of the public. Prof. L. E. Robinson took his final departure from this place Tuesday. He has accepted a position with the new Normal school soon to be opened at Springfield. We have money to loan on improved farms in sums of $200.00 and upwards. Harris building. D. M. Newton & Co. Viers, who killed Shaw at Stott city week before last, has not been apprehended, although Sheriff Wilson has used diligence and effort to find him. The first number of the Ozark, the new paper at Miller, has been received at this office. H. L. Davis is the editor and publisher. It is neatly printed, newsy and is liberally patronized by the business men of Miller. The ladies of the M. E. Church gave an ice cream supper in the court house park Tuesday evening. It was liberally patronized and the occasion was a very pleasant one to all who attended. Insurance adv. by Harley & Porter. Frisco Excursion -- The Frisco Line will have on sale, July 3d and 4th, limited to July 5th, 1894, tickets from Aurora to all points within 200 miles, for one fare for round trip -- no ticket sold for less than 50 cents. Extra equipments have been arranged to accommodate all. The Pleasant Hill Christian Church, a new church in the east part of Turnback township, will be dedicated the first Sunday in July.

E. H. Benham, a member of the state executive committee of the Prohibition party, and also state organizer, will speak at the court house, Monday night, June 25. A cordial invitation is extended and a good audience should turn out to hear Mr. Benham. Friends of Prof. and Mrs. Rowlee, to the number of forty, surprised them at their home in this city, Tuesday evening. The party carried with them nice refreshments of various kinds and also a hearty good will that tended to make the gathering a very pleasant one. A large number of ladies of this city, married and single, expect to indulge in the delight of a "Mother Hubbard" picnic at the Big Spring to-day. Not one naughty man will be allowed on the ground as the fair sex wish to have a good time without any cares on their hands. List of letters on hand, if not called for in two weeks will be sent to the Dead Letter Office at Washington, D. C., J. H. Matthews, P.M.: Brown, Mrs. Nancy Chapman, Emma Griffith, Lewis Williams, A. J. Lawrence county was named for Capt. James Lawrence, a United States navel [sic] officer of the war of 1812, and who was killed in his engagement with the British man-of-war, Shannon, and used that now famous saying, "Don't give up the ship," when he fell mortally wounded. Chesapeake postoffice was named in honor of the ship he commanded. The following lively party visited the Government fish hatchery at Neosho last Sunday: Dr. J. W. Fenton and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wilder, Misses Lizzie Kelton, Stella McGaw, Blanche Stephens, Messrs. F. E. White, Will Marbut, and Hal Fowler of this city, and Dr. D. M. Fenton and wife and A. T. Boothe and wife of Peirce City. E. J. Arnhart, of Buck prairie township, was brought to this place Monday morning, suffering from a violent attack of insanity, which came on him very suddenly Wednesday of last week. Sheriff Wilson took him to Nevada Asylum that evening for treatment, and it is hoped he will soon recover. He is about 40 years of age and married. Yesterday afternoon at four o'clock at the home of the bride, in this city, Miss Anna Potter, daughter of James T. Potter, was married to Mr. Joseph N. Davies, of Peirce City. Rev. W. B. Cochran, of Aurora, performed the ceremony. The bride and groom left that evening for Eureka Springs where they will sojourn for a few weeks before taking up their residence at Peirce City. Mike Staffleback was brought up from Peirce city yesterday morning by Constable King and placed in jail, to walls of which he is no stranger. He is charged with the crime of burglary, which he is alleged to have committed near Clarkson about three months ago, in breaking into the residence of Mr. Carr. He was caught at Joplin a few days ago and at the time of his arrest is said to have had on a suit of clothes he got while making the raid. Adv. for Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy. W. H. Sloan, Druggist. J. F. Halterman's little son, aged three and one half years, fell in a well last Sunday, but was miraculously rescued by his father. The well was twenty-five feet deep to the water and the little fellow was playing with the bucket when it fell pulling him after it. Mr. Halterman fortunately happened to be near and as soon as possible let himself down on the rope and reached the child just in time. The baby was not hurt by the fall but was strangled to unconsciousness, but in a short time Mr. Halterman was enabled to bring it to. The escape was a narrow one. Last Sunday was the 80th anniversary of the birth of Mr. Thomas Hash, living two and one-half miles south of this city, and his friends and relatives gave him a pleasant surprise dinner in honor of the event. There were present 55 people, and among them, his brother Zach Hash and wife of Illinois. He also received several nice presents. "Uncle Tommie," as he is called by all his acquaintances, is one of the early settlers of this county. He was the first circuit clerk and was also at one time sheriff and collector, which offices he filled with credit. He has always stood as a man of the highest integrity and honor and in his declining years has the esteem of all. He is one of the few remaining pioneers who has witnessed the growth of the banner county from a few hundred widely scattered inhabitants to its present grand proportions of wealth and population. We hope for him many more pleasant birth day anniversaries.

A DESTRUCTIVE WRECK A G&N Train Thrown From the Track Near Mt. Vernon ..There was a most disastrous wreck on the G. & N. road in Z. T. Newman's field, three miles north of this place, last Thursday afternoon about four o'clock, and Jack White, fireman, so seriously injured that he only lived twelve hours. It was the north bound train in charge of Ben Howard, conductor, Jake Rhem, engineer, Jack White, fireman, and Will Samuels, brakeman. The accident happened at the north end of a cut and where there was a slight curve. It was caused by a spike laid on the outside rail of the curve and was no doubt the fiendish work of some person or persons. It three the engine, tender and three loaded cars from the track but only demolished one of the cars. Mr. Rhem, the engineer, went down with the engine but crawled out without serious injury but Jack White, the fireman, who also remained at his post, was not so fortunate. He became fastened in some way and was horribly burned by the escaping steam and hot water. He was extricated at once and taken to the residence of Mr. Newman, where he received medical attention as soon as a physician could be called, but despite all that could be done death relieved him from his sufferings at 7 o'clock the next morning. ..Will Samuels was on the top of the cars and was thrown from his hold on the brake and fell between two cars, but fortunately escaped injury. The conductor and W. H. Young, of Aurora, were in the caboose and escaped without injury. The caboose and one car remained on the track. ..It was the work of an instant but the engineer locked the wheels of the engine before it left the track and for quite a distance the rails were torn from their fastenings and the ties were plowed up and broken. The wrecking train arrived early Friday morning and by Saturday noon the construction was cleared for a resumption of traffic. ..It was the most destructive wreck that has ever occurred on the road and the scene was visited by hundreds from this town and the surrounding country. ..Jack White has been connected with the road from the start and resided with his mother in Greenfield. He was unmarried. ..There were four cars loaded with wheat, but only one was so badly wrecked that the contents had to be removed. The engine was badly demolished. A REUNION ..On Monday evening last, Misses Pearl and Jennie Shelton entertained at their beautiful home, Prof. Robinson, Prof. and Mrs. Rowlee, Misses Nora and Nell Millsap, Miss Bertha Fairburn, Messrs. T. J. Newman, F. R. Angwin and J. L. Maynard. The occasion was a reunion of the class of '93, all of whom were present except J. Foreman McClelland, who is holding forth in the I. T. and was unable to come, much to the regret of all. ..School reminiscences were the order of the hour and all went merry as Hymen's bell. At 10 o'clock refreshments were served that would almost tempt one to believe the epicurean the only true philosophy. ..The members of the faculty left shortly after refreshments but as for the remainder "They didn't go home till morning." But when they did go they took with them the memory of a most delightful evening and the consciousness that their class-sisters are peerless in the art of entertainment. J. L. M. DENIES THE CHANGE ..Editor Chieftain: The Old Settler's Picnic Association met last Saturday night and agree to hold their annual meeting August 17 and 18 at Phelps. ..Some parties have tried to take the picnic to Miller, and they have so advertised it in the Miller Ozark, but we don't propose to be beat out of our annual celebration on the 18th of August that we have held for the last twelve years. We propose to make this the grandest picnic that has ever been held at this place. S. W. Goss. Phelps, June 19, 1894. LICENSED TO WED Peter Grammer, 30, Marionville Alice LeBow, 19, Republic L. L. Hood, 21, Fairland, I.T. Mary E. Gholston, 19, Miller Rev. T. J. Brookes, 60, Neosho Anna Ludlow, 39, Aurora David M. Ball, 38, Aurora Lucy McKnight, 22, " Joseph N. Wolf, 33, Aurora Maggie Mills, 25, " Joseph N. Davies, 35, Peirce City Anna Potter, 28, Mt. Vernon