The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1892-01-01
A coNFLAaRAr1oN.

A. II. ClOupek's Harness Store Burned |
Down Tuesday Night. Narrow
Escape for the Remain.
der Of the Block.
What might have been q serious fire,
occurred Tuesday night at $50 o'clock
and had the wind blown in the right
direction nothing would have saved
the town. The building occupied by
A. H. Chloupek, as a harness shop
caught 6ce in some unknowu way
from the stove while Mr.. Chloupek
vas absent. When he returned the
back part of the building was one mass
of flames aud smoke. AS soon as the
fire was discovered the alarm was
given and a crowd soon collected, and
went to work in dead earnest. A line
was formed to the river and water
buckets were passed along with the
rapidity of veteran fire fighters. The
F. E. g. NJ. v. engine which was going
out just then, aided by sounding the
alarm with long shrieks Of its power
full steam whistle. Doors were kept
shut to prevent draughts increasing
the flames, but when three barrels Of
OIL which was stored there caught,
everybody knew as they saw the flames
leap higher and higher, that all was
doomed. But the fire fighters did not
give up then, they went to work to save
the next building and 10y dint of hard
work, kept it from catching fire.
Nothing was saved but one set of har-
ness and a few whips which Mr.. Chou
PEEK saved at the cost of a badly
wounded left hand. I. Loehr, of the
I. Y. l.. restaurant, loses about $50 on
breaking Of chlnaware and household
goods which were carried ont into the
street as the fire was expected to spread.
Chloupek's building was not insured
but the insurance on the stock was
$500, loss on building and stock 81 200.
Mr.. Chloupeck will Immediately go
into business again in the Office two
doors west of the STAR Office on 9TH
street.
The STAR has, upon the different &C.
~easions of fires and alarms, and oftcner,
called the attention Of the people of
the city to the fact that this city
is without fire protection of any
kind. Once more we call upon those
interested to get together and in some
way help themselves. The STAR thinks
it is about time that some move was
being made in regard to the organiza-
tion of a fire company. Such a fire
as the above * Liable to result, with a
fair wind, in the entire destruction of
either end of the city. OF course by
hard work and plenty of it, the city
was saved but ''it's a long lane that
has no turn" and some day a fire will
start, and before enough volunteers
can be mustered the major part of the
city will be gone up. The city council
ought to take some action, aud if it
wont, the mel that are interested here
in property ought to, for their own
protection. Talk, there has been
about organizing fire company tut
as Fred with his usual hoggishness has
demanded the establishment Of the
headquarters in either Custer county,
Minnekahta or Cold Brook additions,
we forget which, ard it doesn't make
much matter as they are about one and
the same thing. The people Of the
main part of this city objected, a. such
a department would be no benefit to
them, so after thcrusua,. wfars!!ng the
subject was dyopued to give place to
some Of greater Importance, and until
now has remained iust where it was
left off. The STAR suggests that the
Eeity council establish a proper city fire
department in the center Of the city,
Immediately, and If the venerable Fred
wants to donate Caster county a fire
department he can do so, paying his
own money for it, a thing he doesn't
often do, and thus end this one dispute
and still have plenty left to fight over
4 Va Yoynvs Nu1af;la
Christmas was cele brated at the
several places as announced in last