New York (NY) Herald-Tribune, August 3, 1874, p. 5.
IN SALEM, INDIANA-LOSTT $100,000
Cincinnati, Aug. 2-About two o'clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in
the dry goods store of Paul Peck at Salem, Washington County, Indiana,
destroying a three-story block of buildings owned by Dawson Lyon. In this
block were Peck's dry goods store, Henderson's drug store, Mitchell's
clothing store, Dawson Lyon's dry goods store, the hall of a benevolent
society, lawyers' offices, etc. There is no fire department in Salem, but
the authorities of New Albany, Ind., sent an engine, and the fire was
stopped about five o'clock. The loss is estimated at $40,000; insurance
light. It is rumored that a robbery of some $14,000 in bonds took place on
the night before, and that the fire was started to cover the deed.
A later dispatch says that information from Salem , Indiana, places the
aggregate loss at $100,000. It has been discovered the Lawson Lyon's store
was robbed of $15,000 in government bonds and $3,500 in cash.