Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-03-04
FIRE! fire.! FIRE II!
A Large Portion of the Business
Of Wa-Keeney Wiped Out
in q Single Hour.
The Loss Will Probably Exceed
S35, 900 Partially In.
sured.

in very brief time the entire population
had turned out to witness what proved to
be the most destructive fire Wa-Keeney
has ever had.
The fire originated in the building oc-
cupied as a grocery store by Joseph
Weakley. This building was nearly in
the center of row of frame buildings ex-
tending from the Commercial house on
the south to the First National Bank
building on the north.
Fortunately, but little wind was stir
ring. AS it was, the fire burned both ways,
and notwithstanding the almost super
human efforts that were put forth by
everybody, it was impossible to check it.
Several buildings were torn down, but
the intensity of the heat carried the
flames beyond. A brave and determined
effort was made to arrest the fire before
it reached the stone building occupied by
G. W. F. Street and, for time, it looked
as though it might be accomplished. The
one-story frame building on the north
was torn down and every effort concen-
trated. Men risked life and limb in their
battle with the fierce, fiery elements but
all to no avail. The stone building had
wooden shutters and wooden stairway
and the heat was SO great that it offered
but little resistance and it, too, was soon
in flames and everybody realized that all
efforts to save any of the buildings on the
south side of the row were futile.
In the meantime the Benedict build
ing had been partially torn down and
men were placed on the roof of the First
National Bank building and water passed
up to them. This building was saved
and consequently all north of it escaped.
The heat was so great on the opposite
side of the street that the buildings were
in imminent danger all the time, and fire
originated from fving sparks several
times, but by careful watching and keep
ing the most exposed portions wet, all
damage was sverted. The Schultz build
ing narrowly escaped.
Most of the goods were taken out and
piled up in the street. Even in the street
they were not safe but caught fire. A
wagon belonging to G. N. Gibson was
badly burned and We noticed other arti-
cles in flames.
| The origin of the fire will probably al
ways remain a mystery. Shortly after
six o'clock Joseph Halblieb, OF Riverside
township, who had remained in Wa-Kee-
ney the night before, was passing by Jo-
seph Weekdays grocery store and dis
covered the fire. It was in the center of
the room by the stove and, apparently,
had just started. Mr.. Halblieb tried to
open the door, but finding it locked, ran
to the Commercial house and began ring
ing the bell and crying "fre." This was
the first alarm. Mr.. Weekley had not
been at his store that morning, and he
says there had been no fire in the
building since noon of the day before.
AS it is, about dozen of the business
houses of our little city were consumed,
representing thousands Of dollars. The
losses are doubly hard to bear, when we
consider that the losers are not capital
lists but, in most instances, had every dol
lar they were worth invested in their bus
mess.
It is not easy to estimate the individ-
ual losses at this time. Except portion
of the furniture T. r. Moore's loss is to-
tai with only $500 insurance. His loss
cannot be less than $4,000. G. W. F.
Street suffered the most heavily. He
had very large stock, the greater por-
ton of which was destroyed, including
all his household goods contained in
rooms above the store. Five thousand
dollars would perhaps not reimburse him.
He only carried about $1,000 insurance,
| several of his policies having expired re-
GENTLY and he had not renewed. DIR. A.
B. Jones' stock and building were worth
in the neighborhood Of $4,000 and, ex-
cept a portion of the stock and furniture,
was entirely consumed. He carried $,4-
800 insurance. John A. Nelson's build
ing, his library and Office furniture was
entirely destroyed, and not dollar OF In
surance. S. M. Hutzels building was
destroyed, but he succeeded in saving
! his library and furniture. He had no In
surance. Mrs. Millard's building was
not insured. G. G. Bestor saved about
$500 worth of stock and had $500 insur-
ance. He estimates his loss at about
81, 200. Joseph Weekley had no insur-
ance and lost $500 worth Of goods-all
that he had. Mrs. Benedict was par
TALLY insured and saved portion OF her
goods. She will lose several hundred
dollars. W. F. Moser in the Hutzel
building lost but little-saved nearly
everything. C.N. Gibson saved some of
his implements, ETC., but some OF them
are damaged.
Mrs. Hanna's building was uninsured
and at the time of the fire was unoccu-
pied. Her loss is severe. In speaking
| of DR.. Jones' loss we should have said
4 q n1Lo1n