Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-27
A GREAT HIT.
First Appearance of the Devils
Lake Fire Department.

Lake Fire Department.
The thermometer marked 80 below
zero at 3 o'clock last Saturday morning,
when the Devils Lake fire department
was called out for actual duty, and made
its first bow before the public. Rasmus
Johnson's saloon, corner Of Fourth and
Arnold, was on fire. The flames had
spread to every part Of the building
within, had burned through the roof,
and were leaping high into the sharp,
crisp air when the alarm was given.
Will Campbell, Dick Zimmerman, Frank
Combs and William Hall reached the
engine house almost simultaneously,
and within four minutes from the time
the alarm was given they had drawn the
machine distance of two blocks to els
tern No. 8. J. A. Burnett, w. N. Moore,
Jas Eaton, o. w. Rawson and J. W. Os-
wald were neck and neck with the en-
gine, drawing the hose cart. The first
hose was laid and stream gotten upon
the flames in q remarkably short space
Of time; then a second attachment was
made and a second stream turned on.
Will Oswald, Billy Moore, J. A. Burnett
and Arthur Leach handled the pipes.
They had quit their rooms with but little
clothing, about as much as would be
comfortable for q cool summer evening,
but they stood by the nozzles until every
spark of fire had been quenched. The
fire was stopped in the little one
story building between Johnson's and
the Central hotel, and when the pipemen
got through they were wet from head to
foot. It is not too much to say that an
old and experienced department could
not have done better. The fire was vir-
tually confined to the place Of its origin,
the small building catching from the
sparks. MIR. Wishart's building, the
Central hotel, was on fire several times,
as were also the hotel barn, Frank
Priests residence, and the tar-paper
laundry, but neither of these structures
was seriously damaged. The hook and
ladder boys did good service pulling the
Brown building apart and tearing up the
sidewalks. When the fire was under
| control the water in No. cistern gave
out, or rather the suction pipe could not
reach it, and Chief Kelly gave the order
to pull up and go to No. l, two blocks
away. This gave the boys another op-
portunity to show their skill and agility.
The old stream had scarcely stopped be-
fore the new one was on. There was no
confusion at any time. The men acted
like veterans, and obeyed orders like old
soldiers. There were congratulations
and speeches in the engine house after
the machinery had been housed, and
the department was voted q brilliant
success. :,
1t is supposed the fire originated in the
flue which passed through the ceiling o.
the johnson building. A large wood
fire had been built in the stove late Fri
day night to keep the room warm unit
morning, and it is supposed the pipe se
fire to the paper on the ceiling. ~
LOSSES. !,
The losses are as follows: r. johnson
stock and fixtures, $1,000; insurance
$1050. A. NJ. Ferris, who owned til,
building, $1,000; insurance, $500. w. II
Otis, building, $3.50; insurance, $50
Frank Brown, who occupied the Otj
building, had no insurance on his fur
niture; most Of it was saved. Mr.. Wish
arts building was damaged to the exten
of perhaps $50 or E5; insured. Georg'
Popp, who occupied, the building, sus
tanned slight loss on, furniture causet
by removal; insured. Agent Perciva
wrote the policies on all the property.
NOTES.
Frank Priests roof caught fire from
sparks, but he kicked the shingles of
and put it out.
Billy. Oswald ran half mile for exer
else, and YET was among the first to reacl
the engine house,
! A well-kuowp resident, who did val
liant service on fhe hose line, left bis can