Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-05-24
A VERY DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Gilbert, Patterson & Cos Store
Gutted.
j. A. VAN RATON'S STOCK INJURED.
Several Other Firms and Fami-
lies Suffer Loss.
N RATON'S STOCK INJURED.

l in Gilbert, Patterson q Co.'S store.
The first knowledge Of the fact came
through Mel Hamilton's little boys,
who were sleeping In room over the
store, adjoining their parents room
across the nall. The boys were aroused
by the terrible fumes Of smoke coming
~ through the floor into the room.
they rushed out and knocking at the
front door shouted, Mamma, we're
burning up" From this the alarm
soon got to the street aud the fire de
partment was aroused.
On arriving at the scene, Chief Andy
| g jss found the fire was about in the
center of the Gilbert, Patterson d Co.
store, In an opening at the rear of the
stairway, which was faced up with
shelving and used for storing empty
bottles and oil cans. The fire was
reached through a sky-light in the one
story addition at the rear, and water
was turned on. A heavy stock Of oil
was on the north side Of the store just
across from the fire, and this was at
Jnce protected, for II the flames had
reached these combustibles 1t is the
general belief that the entire block
would have been consumed. 1t was
| terrible place TO work for the black
fumes of smoke were almost sufiocat-
ing.
The flames spread forward on the
south side Of the store aud played sad
havoc with all the furniture and shelly.
ing and destroying ana damaging the
z ,ods severely. As the plastering came
| down the flames spread through the
ceiling and into the adjoining store OF
J. A. Van Eaton. In the latter place
little real damage was done by the
flames, although the entire stock IL
saturated and covered with dense
smoke. A good idea Of the intensity
of the smoke can be formed by the fact
that the favorite cat lay sufiocated Oh
the door and left white outline Of heI
form, where the smoke blackeued the
ioor all about her.
In less than an hour the flames were
subdued, by half-a.dozen Of the fire
boys who worked on the inside with
hose, The intense heat soon broke out
the heavy plate glass front, which gave
he flames new life, and made hard
fight for the five streams Of water being
poured in from the front and rear,
CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
The real cause ofthe fire will probably
n ,yer be- known. There had been no
lire In the stove for over "A hours, and
he common theory Is that it must
have been from n spontaneous COM
Oustion, although such cause would |
have been more probable in other parts |
of the store, as the place where the fire
started contained very little combus-
tible matter.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
The loss on Gilbert, Patterson Il Co.'S
stock cannot be- estimated with any de.
gree ofaccuracy. The stock invoiced
Sl5,O lately, and their total insurance
Is $500. II Is assumed by some that
half the value OF the stock will be saved,
but that is hardly probable, The loss
To the building must be IN the neigh
borhood OF $500.
Mr.. Van Eaton's loss IL estimated at
$1,000, and his insurance aggregates
$500.
G, q. Glven's loss on damage to
furniture and stock is about $50.
Ed. Lamport, damage to building,
about tlO0,
James Riggs, damage TO household
goods, $50.
Joe Aiken, same, 500,
Mel Hamilton, damage to household
goods, ESQ,
w. II, Anderson, damage TO store
about 500,
Mrs. Cooper, who has been quite
,lok for some time lived over the Lam.
port st1re and wss carried out through ,
he Gilbert, Patterson Il Co.'S hallway.
Her loss is about $50 TO household ef-
ects.
The Gilbert, Patterson 4 Co., busi-
less was started In 1875 by ID. aud A.
ieCully. A. n, Gilbert bought In two
ears later, aud was shortly after join
4 by l. l.. Patterson. Last year Ray
}. Gilbert became n member of the 1
rm. Fhe heaviest loss will no doubt {
III upon Mr. Patterson, who was away q
the time OF the tire making the eau :
ASS as Republican candidate for senator, I
10 has worked increasingly for nearly
Teen years building up the business,
al now the fruits Of his lAbors are
lped almost entir ~ out of existence. u
This Is without doubt the worst fire -
at Salem has experienced IA several =
ars, aud while Il leaves no "burnt y
strict, " IL is heavy financial loSs 90 -
me- of Raleuia heal htlalness man