Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-22
EXPLOSION AND FIRE.
The Mysterious Fire That Swept Away the
Store and Home OF Mrs. Wilcox on
North Market

North Market
| Last evening a few minutes after S
O'Clock loud report was heard in the
| vicinity of the market house followed in a
| few seconds by another and still louder.
People in the vicinity were startled by the
noise and looking to where it apparently
| proceeded they saw the sides of the frame
| building occupied by Mrs. Wilcox's North
| Main Street Millinery store, on the south
east corner of First and Market, bulge out
| from the foundation and the whole in
! terror wrapped in flames.
The fire alarm was turned in and in a
| few seconds both companies were on the
ground and at work The chemical COM
menced playing upon the interior first and
soon seconded by the hose of the two other
companies Their efforts were successful.
| They saved the frame OF the house aud
prevented the flames spreading to the
closely adjoining buildings. 1t was
very evident from the first that
none of the contents could be
saved; for the fire seemed to be burning
fiercely in every room when the alarm was
given.
|. By 8 o'clock the flames had been extin-
guished and Superintendent McMahan, of
the patrol, was placed in charge of the
building. The interior was al! burnt and
charred. There were with the exception
of Mrs. Wilcox trunk and "a few other of
her possessions, not a thing saved from
the general ruin The floor of the south
room was upheaved, giving evidence that
the explosion, whatever it was, was be-
meath the boards. The south and the
north ends of the building were both
blown off their foundations several feet
and every window was shattered or
broken.
The building was, as before stated, used
by Mrs. Wilcox as millinery store and
also as a residence.
The stock on hand, as well
as the furniture and everything
were valued at S2,70O; there was an insur-
ance of $500 upon the stock, $500 upon the
furniture and household goods and 500
upon the millinery fixtures The build
ing is owned by Messrs Blackwelder,
Knight and J. O. Davidson and was one of
the oldest in the city, being built abont
eighteen years ago by w. A. Plummer
and when occupied by him was considered
one of the finest houses in this section of
Kansas. 1t afterwards became the home
for some years of Judge Campbell.
What was the cause of the explosion
and thus the origin of the fire was the
often asked question last night; and no
one apparently seemed able to give a very
satisfactory answer.
A. J. Wilt said he was on the Sedgwick
corner when he heard an explosion in the
north end of the house followed by still
louder about five seconds afterwards on
the south end. Then he saw the whole in
terror in flames.
Kirby Kaufman was passing the house
and said he heard first Il sort of mutfled
explosion followed almost Immediately by
d loud bomblike explosion; saw the ends
of the building bulge out, and then the |
whole structure in flames.
Mr.. Miller, who has the renting of the |
building, says that he is inclined to be- |
lieve that one of the lamps which had been |
left burning in the room exploded and the |
flames were communicated to the gaso- |
line.
DR.. Rentz thinks that it was but the ex- |
plosion Of gas and says that every hing he /
saw about the place carries out his opinion. |
He has read of many just as unaccount-
able explosions as this one. One thing |
that he maintains strengthens his belief is
the fact of the whole interior APP
pearing almost simultaneously in |
flames, which would hardly have happen |
ed in other than an explosion of gas
Mrs. Wilcox says that she and her |
brother left the house few minutes be- |
fore to go up and assist Mr.. Wilcox in |
his jewelry store. She left two lamps |
burning and fire in the stove The first |
she knew of the fire some one came |
into the store saying that her |
house was on fire She rushed |
down to the burning building to find it all |
in flames and everything she had except |
what was in trunk destroyed. She could |
in no wise account for the explosion.
Fire Marshal Walden thought that the
upheaval of the floor in the south room
indicated that the explosive, whatever it
was, had been placed under the building.
Mr.. Wilcox said that he knew nothing of
the loss until some one ran down Main
street and told him that there was a fire at
the corner Of Market and First. He was
unable to account for the explosion The
gasoline can was still in the rear room
after the fire had been put out as was also
The gasoline stove: so that it could not
have been an explosion of either of these