7-Aug-1883 H. L. Baker and daughter of Melrose passed through the city Friday, on their way to Terre Haute. Mr. Baker gave us the particulars of the burning of his store the preceding day. It seems that the alarm was given between one and two o'clock in the morning, but it was then too late to save anything, as the whole building was wrapped in flames. Not a single article was taken from the doomed building. The fire seems to have originated in the wareroom, in which the coal oil tank was placed. A keg of powder, which was contained in the stock, blew up with a terrific explosion, heard several miles away. The store contained a large stock of general merchandise, valued at $5000, insured for $3000. Mr. Baker is an honest and upright man in all his dealings and he has the sympathy of all in his loss.

Source: The Clark County Herald, submitteed by Ron Cornwell