Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-11-25
A BIO BLAZE

alarm Of fire was sounded, and the crowd
that usually gather about the corner Of Main
street and Douglas avenue and about the
postofice, soon discovered flames issuing
from the row of old frame shanties on the
east side of Main street between Second and
Third, and general rush was made for the
spot. Inside of fifteen minutes over thou
send people were gathered in the street and
on the sidewalks about the fire, which spread
rapidly on both sides Of the building where
it originated. There were people enough on
hand for effective work, but SO rapidly did
the first speck flash into q conaagration that
without the aid of hose nothing could be
done but look on while the destroying ele-
ment got in its work.
As had been announced in the morning
EAGLE, the water works company had shut
off the water supply for the purpose Of put
ting in section of the main pipe, agreeably
to an order of the city council, and the con-
nection had not been made at the time the
fire occurred, therefore when the fremen ar
powerless to do anything. The hook and
ladder company soon arrived on the scene
and Immediately proceeded to tear down ad-
joining buildings SO as to prevent the spread
of the red dend. In less than half an hour
however, four Of the old frame shanties in
that row were q mass of flames and some Of
them were burned to the ground, SO that
nothing could be done in the absence of
water to stay the conisgration except to
prevent its spread to adjoining buildings.
William Hellar's meat market next to
Manuel & Dressen's grocery store, which
stood longer than any of the other buildings,
now threatened to burn Mr.. R. f. Guthrie's
brick building, occupied by Manuel s.
Dresser and the Invalid's home. There were
ing, both of which caught fire, but men with
buckets of water prevented the further
spread Of the fire in that direction. The
hook and ladder company pulled down
John .Hodson's cid barber chop On the
south side Of the row, and the fire was con-
fined within the area of 100 feet in length,
the buildings in which were totally de-
stroved.
The burned buildings belonged to William
Heller, Aldrich & Brown, lines s. Ross and
John Hodson, the latter being torn down,
but burned or destroyed, all the same The
tent occupied by the shooting gallery was
also burned.
The loss probably amounts to $4,000, al
though it is doubtful if there was much
loss, as some of the owners of the buildings
said they considered their lots worth more
now than before the FIRE. Very little per-
sonal property was destroyed that was not
insured.
VIM. Heller was insured with n. F. Med |
erlander as follows: In the St. Paul Insur-
ance company, $500 on building; in the |
American, $500 on the building, $500 on |
the furniture and fixtures in the meat market |
and $500 on the meat. The loss |
on furniture, fixtures, ETC., probably |
won'texceed $500. Ii. 7. Camien's tailor
Hellar's building. The others who occu-
pied the burned premises were l.. Hoffman,
tailor, WIN. T. Hewitt, confectioner, the
shooting gallery and Hodson's barber shop.
CAmien had an insurance Of $500 on his
stock, but claims to be damaged $1,000
worth. Hewitt has policy of $500 on his
stock and is probably ali safe. lines &
Ross have $500 insurance OF their building
and Hodson has $500 on Els shop, SO the
loss is not great.
There is a variety Of stories 10 the ORR
gin of the fire. Onc of these is TO
The effect ,ha: while Mrs. Hewitt was
ironing in the back kitchen, when the fire
broke out, the gasoline stove exploded, but
his Mrs. Hewitt denies, saying she was not
in the kitchen a, the time and that the gaso-
Inc stove was was not lighted at all. What
,ver the origin,it is a fortunate circumstance
hat there was scarcely breath of wind, else
here would probably be n terrible story to
,elate this morning. Had there been
strong, north wind that whole block to the
county building would probably have gone,
md it is doubtful if the county bnilding it.
elf could be saved, as the iron shutters are
lot on the windows. which they ought to be.
Nearly all the property owners will re-
build Immediately, snd with good brick
structures. SO that in the long run the fire
vas a blessing in disguise, and many were
delighted with the result, but were disap-
pointed because the old rookeries on the
,nnosita side did not share a similar fate