Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-25

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fremens work less quickly effective
than it might otherwise have been,
Before the fire hose was ready
many buckets OF water were carried
up with no avail. Jay Harding and
Frank Lott carried up the hose first
to the third story. They say that
they could see tho fire under the
smoke and had the water been ready
they could have used 1t to good adj
vantage. Mr.. Harding says that the
water came while they were tolling
up the stairs but as they reached the
top it ceased.
The cause of this stoppage was the
breaking Of a valve in one Of the
pumps at the Sand Springs power
house. The engineer had up II high
pressure and when the water was
first turned on the sudden release
snapped the machinery. Manager
Rogers and Engineer Sherman started
at post haste for tho Springs as soon
as notified Of the accident, but before
they reached there the other pump
was in operation furnishing an album
dant pressure throughout the fire.
A good deal OF difficulty was, how
ever. experienced in getting at the
flames, owing to the complicated
stairways and the height Of the build
ing. The smoke was 50 dense that
the interior was almost shut OIL from
the dremep, Three and part Of the
time four streams were thrown and
by 2:30 the fire was under control.
The roof, the third floor and a por-
ton of the second floor were burned,
All the goods on the third floor were
destroyed, many on the second floor
were saved but were badly injured
by both fire and water On the
ground floor the best furniture, car
pets, drapcries, china and queensware
stood. Much Of the furniture was
injured by water and steam but the
remainder Is little injured except in
being soiled
No goods were taken out as owing
to apparent advantage which tho
liremen had and the confusion Of the
crowd, it seemed safer to leave the
goods in the building The result
showed the wisdom Of this course.
The building was erected eight
years ago at a cost Of $4,000. II
was insured in the London Assurance
Co. for 5000 and in the Western
ms. Co. for $1,000. This will cover
the loss. The value Of the stock car
ried was between $4,000 and $l2,-
000 1t was insured In the Aetna for
Sc, 900 and the German Of Frceport
for 1000. The fixtures were insured
for $500 in the Aetna. The insur-
ance will also repay the loss on stock.
The establishment was the finest fur
niture store in central Kansas II not
In the state. Messrs. Y. M. and. G.
s. Upshaw have built up splendid
business and have tho sympathy OF
all In their misfortune. While the
loss is to a great extent covered by
insurance II is nevertheless a serious
blow to their business.
No plans. have been perfected for
the future Of the business by the
proprietors. They are awaiting the
adjustment Of the insurance. The
business will, however, probably be
continued as before as soon as mat
tiers can be arranged.
The cause Of the fire is somewhat
mysterious but is supposed to be the
result Of spontaneous combustion
among oiled rags and rubbish in the
work room in the third story, II is
somewhat curious that Mr.. Upshaw's
residence came near burning a week
ago from the spontaneous igniting Of