Brave Girls Sound Alarm

 The Register-Leader, January 12, 1907

Remaining at Their Post of Duty at the Peril of Their Lives.

Called Out the Firemen.

Who by Valiant Work Saved the Business Part of Lowell from Destructive Flames - Midnight Fire Causes Two Thousand Dollar Loss.

The business part of the town of Lowell was threatened with destruction by flames shortly after ten o'clock Friday night, and but for the heroic work of a couple of young ladies at the telephone exchange, who at the risk of their lives, awakened the town, there would have been a disastrous fire. As it was, one of the main business blocks of the town was gutted by the flames, entailing damages which will aggregate about two thousand dollars.

Shortly after ten o'clock, a man on the street discovered that the Mattern Block at the corner of Front and Walnut streets was on fire. The blaze had started on the lower floor, which is occupied by Mrs. Esther L. Newton's millinery and dress-making establishment. The blinds were down at the time, but the man was attracted by breaking glass on the inside of the building.

The young ladies on duty at the Lowell Telephone Exchange, Misses Maude Williamson and Nellie Gray, were informed of the fire, and they at once sounded the alarm. In spite of the fact that the telephone building is located alongside of the Mattern Block and was every minute threatened by the flames, the young ladies remained bravely at their post until they had awakened the entire town. When they left the building, after the firemen had arrived, the smoke was so dense in the exchange that they were barely able to find the exit and were all but overcome by the heat and fumes arising from the fire.

The town fire department did excellent work upon its arrival at the fire, and after a hard fight, succeeded in getting the flames under control. While they were able to prevent a spread of the fire, they were unable to save any of the Mattern Block or its contents, and the building was completely gutted.

The second floor of the building was occupied by Messrs. Savage & Ray, who had just opened a photograph gallery. They had fitted their quarters up in fine shape and everything that they owned was destroyed. They had no insurance whatever, and their loss will be upwards of six hundred dollars. Mrs. Newton's loss will be about eight hundred dollars, which is partially covered by insurance. The damage to the building will amount to about six hundred dollars, which is covered by insurance.

The fact that a severe storm was just coming up at the time, with heavy wind, makes it all the more remarkable that the business part of the town was not wiped out by the flames; and the thanks of the businessmen of Lowell are certainly due the young ladies who awakened the town, and the volunteer firemen who worked so valiantly after their arrival.

Death of Aunt Fanny

Marietta Intelligencer, April 6, 1853

Died of paralysis on the morning of the 18th Instant [March 18], in Adams Township, at the residence of Mr. P. B. Buell, Aunt Fanny, in the 92nd year of her age.

The deceased was a native of Virginia, in which state she lived about sixty years in slavery. She was a woman of unusually strong and vigorous mind, every faculty of which she retained to the day of her death.

Her cheerful and affectionate disposition, and her long residence with the family in which she died, had endeared her to all. She has lived and done good, while three successive generations have passed away. May her future be as happy as her past has been free from blame.

[Note: The 1850 Census of Adams Township, Washington County, Ohio, lists a blind, black female named Fanny Fitzhugh living in the household of Peres and Elizabeth Buell. She was born in Virginia, and her age appears to be 87 or 57.] 

Three Men Killed in Well

Marietta Intelligencer, June 12, 1845

The following particulars of the death of three men in Adams township, on Friday last have been furnished us by a citizen of that place:

Mr. Henry Harwood, recently of Morgan Co., had been engaged for several days in deepening a well on the farm lately purchased by him, about four and a half miles from the village of Lowell.

On Friday morning, Mr. Jeremiah Robinett, one of the men employed by Mr. Harwood, said he would work a while before breakfast, and was let down into the well (already more than fifty feet in depth) by Mr. H.  A short time after, Mr. H. called him, but received no answer.  He immediately obtained the aid of Mr. John Bell, was himself let down into the well and fastened a rope to the body of Robinett.  Bell then drew them both up to within 12 or 15 feet of the top, when Harwood, with his foot in a loop of the rope, fell against the wall and lodged so that he could be raised no higher.  Bell then went down to the place where the bodies were lodged, and so raised and fastened them that he could probably get them out.  He then started up, but when within a couple of feet or so of the top, fainted and fell upon those below. 

There was now no person to give assistance but Mrs. Harward, who ran for help, and found one man near at hand.  While he was waiting for others to come, Bell fell from his lodging place upon the other bodies to the bottom of the well.  Many persons soon arrived, and Robinett and Harward were taken out dead.  A Mr. Brooker was now fastened to a rope, and let down to obtain the body of Bell.  He did not succeed, but was himself drawn out, speechless.  Efforts were now made to get out the bad air, and at length Timothy Clay went down fastened to a rope, which he also succeeded in attaching to the body of Bell, and they were drawn out together.  Clay said it was with difficulty he could breathe, the worst place being half way to the bottom.

We have somewhat contradictory accounts of some immaterial facts, but think the above is doubtless correct in the main.

Since the preceding statement was in type, we have received the following communication from a gentleman of this place who has since been in the neighborhood of the occurences.

Dear Sir:  In volunteering, last evening, an article on the melancholly occurrences in Adams Township, my view was simply to offer on my responsibility, a report of reports, and intimating that something better might be expected next week.  Perhaps a better course will be for me to glance at such items as may possibly assist yourself in framing an article of that sort.

The location I understand to be near the N.E. corner of Adams township, a little to the west of the ridge road, near the head of Bear Creek - not far from "German" Hall's.  I understand Harwood's place is very near the residence of old Mr. Bell, whose son was one of the victims.  It was stated to me by the sister of young Bell, that some difficulty was felt in working in the well the day previous to the catastrophe, and that on the fatal morning (I think it was said very early) before going into it they attempted to purify by burning straw in it.  All accounts I have heard concur in stating that the fatal gasses seemed to prevail more particularly in the upper part of the well - it was said within ten feet of the top.  I was told that lights had been let down, and that if a candle were not extinguished in the descent, it would continue to burn near the bottom.

I have no wish to have my name appear in this business - but should have been pleased, were it convenient, to have assisted in the investigation.

C. E.

It is to be hoped that a thorough investigation of all the facts in the case may be had, the results of which will be given to the public.