Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-08-18
Two NARROW ESCAPES
The Capital City Has Two Narrow
Escapes From Destruction BY
Fire.
Healy's Residence Partially De-
stroyed and Barn a Total Loss
Fire In a High Wind.
Fire Ii Discovered In the Sheridan
. House At About z O'Clock
In the Evening.
Excitement Intense and tho Fire
Ladies' Do Some Tall Work
To Save the Building.
Blaze Extinguished Before Much
Damage IL Done-An Exciting
Day Generally.
Exercise For the Fire Department

Exercise For the Fire Department..
The city. Or at least a considerable
potion OF it, had two very narrow es-
capes from destruction by fire Mon
day. Nought but an excellent water
supply and a good fire department, the
pride of the state, saved an immense
amount of property from destruction.
There was a high wind during the first
blaze, one OF the kind which renders
fire an extraordinarily difficult thing to
combat, but the fire boys turned them.
selves loose, extinguished both fires, and
deserve unstinted praise for the zeal
and energy with which they worked, and
the results accomplished by them.
At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
when the wind was at it's highest, the
changing of the fire bell inspired a whole
some dread in numerous minds. Luck
lily, however, the fire was at the residence
Of a. Healy, rather in the outskirts Of
town, with the wind blowing away from
the main portion OF the city. The
several fire departments were on their
way IN but few moments, and when they
arrived, the barn at the real of the house
was nearly consumed, and flames were
just beginning to creep through the
ridge Of the house, near the chimney.
Then began a stubborn fight for supre-
macy. The blaze wa upon the inside of
the house, and the wind had not much
of a sweep at it, but for this reason it
was difficult to locate. Lack of sufi-
Gent hose was another handicap, and
only one line could be laid. It was a
pretty evenly matched fight for a half
hour or so, but the flames were finally
gotten under control, and the house
saved. At one time it looked as though
the Lambert residence would go, as the
wind carried brands in that direction,
but great care was exercised, and no
other fires we're started.
The fire is supposed to have origi-
mated from a defective Aue in the house
although the fire in the barn was dis
covered before that in the house. Mr..
Healy estimates the loss by the burning
of the barn at about $500, and the dam
age to the house and furniture at about
the same amount, both covered by in.
surance.
But the excitement created by this
was as nothing to that which prevailed
at about 7o'clock in the evening, when
the alarm again sounded, and it was
discovered that the
SHERIDAN HOUSE WAS ON
That portion of the city's population
which was free to come and go was upon
the scene in an instant, and there was a
rushing of men, a bringing into play of
fire fighting apparatus and q giving of
orders such as would be caused alone by
q blaze in the very heart of the city.
Luckily, the wind had lulled by this
time. At first, there was no evidence of
any fire, excepting small puffs of smoke;
which seeped out between the weather.
boards. 1t was an inside fire, and for
some time could not be exactly located.
Ladders we're raised, and men forced
entrance into the second story, just
above Dolan's barber shop, where the
smoke was escaping. Three streams of
water we're turned on, aid at length the
fire was located, but it had already
spread up the sides and along the joists
for a considerable distance. Axes were
brought into play, and the hidden blazes
were soon uncovered. There was every
where an intense excitement, and all
kinds of unintelligible suggestions were
shouted by dozens at once Fire would
be extinguished in one place, but to ap-
pear in another. Just at a critical time
a section of hose played out, had to be
removed, and another coupled in it's
place. Again a nozzle was blown off
but in spite of all these drawbacks, the
fire ladies came out ahead. Cool heads
and willing hands worked wonders, and
at 1880 the flames were all extin.
guished and a sigh of relief went up
from the assembled crowd, for had the
fire secured Roadway and burned the
Sheridan, it would have swept the whole
neighborhood.
AS nearly as can be discovered, the fire
must have caught from a defective
chimney, and it probably burned slowly
for several hours before it was dis.
covered. John Dolan was the first ia
see it and gave the alarm, and when he
with another person rushed upstairs, the
hall was full of smoke.
The damage to the hotel will lot be
great. Several floors and walls are
pretty badly torn up, but q few days
work will put it in repair again. Dolan'e