Bent County register., 1888-03-24
A Big ELA7E IN LAMAR.
The Entire Business Portion
of the North Side Saved
by Our Water-Works,
And the Efaoiency Of the
FIRE Department and
Determined Work
Of fha oitiver1

Of the Citizens.
LAST Saturday night at IL O, clock
the cry of fire followed by the ring
ing of tile fire bell and the rapid dis
charge of fire arms, warned our peo-
pie that dangerous fire had got un-
der way. The hose company prompt
iy responded and made q good run
up Main street and suceeeded in max
ing their connections in short
space of time, but owing the fact
that the FIRE was in carpenter shop
that was a regular finder box, filled
with shayings aud light material the
fire had got such start that the
building or contents could not be
saved. The shop was the property
of ID. c. Marker aud his loss, includ-
ing the tools, was about four hun
dred dollars. Mr. Hansou's black
smith shop on the east caught FIRE,
but was put out before it burned en-
tirely down, yet was SO badly dam
aged that the loss was quite heavy.
The hose company had lively work
to save adjoining property on every
hand, but it WAS not until O'Clock
that the grandure of our water works
rhe efficiency of our fire department
and the battle between fire and water
was witnessed, presenting pano-
rama, where for half an hour only
faint hope was pitted against appar-
ent fate.
Tired and excited over the narrow
escape Of great loss of property, it is
safe to say the majority of our citi-
zens retired with an uneasy feeling
after the first call of fire Saturday
night, only to be startled a few hours
later by the firing of guns, the fire
bell and the cry of fire that rang out
u Ufcau.
A bright light located the fire TO
each one as they emerged from their
residences and on reaching the cen
ter of town it was found that the de-
pot was on fire and had got such a
start that 1t could not be saved.
There were SIX or eight cars stand
ing on the siding next to the depot
platform. The citizens succeeded in
uncoupling two loaded cars and run
them down the switch away from
the fire; the rest burned with the de-
pot. The hose company made des-
perate effort to save the depot and
cars but the flames had encircled the
building before water was turned
on. The heat was intense, and 1y-
ing hre brands rained on the build
ings and street for block to the
north. Until the depot fell in it
looked as if it would be impossible
to save single business house on the
north side. 1t was then and for one
half hour that the water works paid
every dollar they cost the city; three
streams of water backed by hun
dred and twenty-five pounds of
pressure, one playing on the Star
stables, one on the Gedding block
and one from the top of the Burger
hotel on that and surrounding build
ings. Every roof on the north side
was manned and all were kept busy.
We haye witnessed number of fires
in frame built western towns, but
never saw as desperate and success
full a fight with flames as was made
Saturday night.
The origin of the fires are un-
known, but are thought to be incen-
dairy. Three tramps who were seen
at both fires were arrested by NJ. D.
Par,nsnter and Marshal Smith Sun
day . few miles west of town, and |
were given hearing Monday before
Judge Blodgett, who after careful |
hearing discharged them. Our peo-
pie very much regret the loss of the
depot, Is 1t was one of the largest
between Pueblo and Dodge City,
and they did everything they could
to save il. The employees succeed
ed in getting out the baggage and
most of the company property.
While we all regret the fire We feel
.r--Ae-l sl>x - -. ~ -. TIL |