Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-08
clerk to withhold their names for few
THE ELKs CLUB BLAZE.
Why Yesterday MOI ning's Fire Got Away
from Chief Adams Control.

THE ELKS CLUB BLAZE
Why Yesterday MOI ning's Fire Got Away
from Chief Adams Control.
Inasmuch as it was almost the hour of
going to press yesterday morning when the
fire broke out in the Elk's club building,
The GAZETTE could give only meager
report, but seeing Chief Adams after the
ire was out, the reporter asked him about
the work of the department of volunteers
and the difficulty under which they carried
out his orders.
well, Don, it got away from you,n said
the reporter.
Yes, and I'm sore. Were you there
did you see the work? If so, then you saw
the difficulty under which / worked"
Eyes: L saw the play through. But
speaking of difficulties, to what do you re-
ferl''
ITO the interference of outsiders with the
llnemen. You know we were out on time.
The fire had gained a big start when the
alarm was sent in. When the department
arrived the entire southeast wing was a
mass of flames. / had two streams on it in
short order but they were weak, and not
until the engine stream was working did a
drop OF water reach the second floor, until
the line the boys followed me up ladder
struck it. Even then, with two plug steams
from the north and east, we were cutting it
Off, and the fire never would have passed
the gallery connecting this wing with the
main building had not outsiders misguided
my men during my temporary absence look
ing after other details and directing other
lines. When the stream from the big en-
CINE begun to play [ had the fire in my
pocket, and left the boys playing where
it would do the most effective work
to look after the protection of the two-story
Dunlap residence adjoining, the wind car
rying the flames directly against it, and
e.,
saw the Roadway the flames were getting
in the main building, and rushed to where
the engine stream was playing to find the
men had been directed to another part of
the building by outsiders, who had told
them that the roof was falling in, and that
l had said go some place else. l immedi-
ately saw the need of the other engine. and
called it out The plug streams were weak
from the start to finish but with these L
kept the residence to the east from burn
ing. The roof was of tin and pitch, and it
was impossible for the flames to escape
from the main building only by way of the
windows, and they spread rapidly through
out the building, and were burning fiercely
when the other engine arrived"
81 hear it on the streets that you were
too slow in calling out the second engine.
What have you to say about it?''
Nothing of the kind. AS soon as the en-
CINE was needed l called it out. Had my
men been allowed to carry out my orders
there would have been no need for it at all
This interference was not confined to one
man, but a half dozen. 1 don't mean to con-
vey the idea that the boys did not work he
oically--for they debut do saysthat to
the inferior plug pressure and interference
of outsiders lay the cause of the main
building of the Elks clubhouse being in
ruins this morning.
''Can you suggest remedy for the evil of
which Won cOm pl9in the 0utSide jOtarfar-
ence, refer too"
Eyes. sir. The police should be instructed
to arrest every mothers son that opens his
head to the linemen except the chief and
his assistants. Then if fire is not handled
properly the blame rests on the men whose
duty it is to direct the men, and until this is
done no fire can be handled successfully.
My men never refuse to obey my COM
mands, for they know 1 never direct them
to go anywhere that am not willing to go.
but when they are there and am at some
other part of the building, Sidewalk chiefs
pull and haul them some place else"
sCan the police do thisl''
'sChief Maddox tells me that he will fur
nish me two men to look after this matter
when his force will admit of it, but to take
two men of their beats in the forces de-
creased condition, would leave the city at
the mercy of thieves"
The building, owned by Mrs. NJ. L. Buff
uuStoH, COSI SsUoU, luSureu lor SCVUU, VIII
$500 on furniture. The Elks had $500 on
furniture and $3.50 on billiard tables. The
greater portion of the Elks furniture was
saved, but slightly injured. The immense
elk's head, priced so highly by the mem
bers of the club, was taken out without a
scratch. 1t has not been decided just where
the new quarters will be, but the club will
not be out long. The Burlington building
was leased for five years, and had only
been occupied since April last. 1t could
not be learned yesterday whether or not
Mrs. Burlington would rebuild.
YESTERDAY EVENINGS FIRE.
At $50 last evening an alarm was sent in
from First and Houston street, caused by
the burning out of ono of the Dahlman
Bros. large show windows. The gas in the
front had just been lighted, and by some
means or other some Of the goods became
ignited and blazed up, and in a moment all
in the window was ablazs, and so hot was it
that the large glass in front was broken,
and a number Of the inside glasses The
department ran couple Of lines Of hose,
but pair of extinguishers (without outside
interference) checked what could, in pair
of minutes, have been one OF the most dis
astrous fires. Everything in the window
was total loss, but covered by insurance.