The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-12
Department Called to the Rear OF Smith, o
Book Store.

Quite early yesterday morning the fire
department were called TO w. H. kra-
mer's jewelry manufacturing establish
ment over the rear end of Smiths book
| store, on North Main street. Mr.. Krae-
mer's stock and tools were completely
destroyed, and Mr.. Smith mad consider
able stock damaged.
About 3 o'clock two alarms were sent
in, one by telephone from the Elite res
turant and the other from the fire box
on the corner Of Main and Douglas av-
enue, both being about the same time.
The department promptly responded and
had the blaze quickly located. The chem
ical was used TO good advantage On tine
blaze, as well as the large hose. The
blaze had gotten an excellent start and
was in a position to spread rapidly. but
the prompt response of the department
soon put stop to its career.
The blaze originated in the maEufac-
turing jewelry establishment Of Mr.. w.
H Kraemer, who occupied the rear room
on the second floor. When the depart
ment arrived this part of the building
was a mass of flames, the fire having
also crawled down through the floor, and
had already destroyed considerable of
the stock OF Mr.. w. F. Smith, which he
had in his store room directly beneath
the seat of the fire.
1t was one of the incest pieces of fire.
fighting seen lately. As soon as the 10
cation Of the fire was discovered, which
was only few moments, the department.
distributed themselves about it in the
most systematic manner imagina BILE.
One reel connected with the plug near the
Eagle Office on Douglas avenue and ran
straight UP the alley, another as rapid
~ strung line of hose from the plug on
.he corner of Market and Douglas up
Market and into the alley to the fire.
and still third reel came down the al
ley from the north, while the chemical
dashed into the alley from Market
street. and stopped in the alley just east
of the blaze. That fire must have felt
discouraged right soon. There was
fire-fighting apparatus in every direc-
ton. and all ready 10 tear the building
TO pieces or drown his satanic majesty
himself out tin a twinkling. II was very
dangerous place for a fire. among so
many dry goods and stationery stores,
but it was entirely over in fifteen min
utes from the time the alarm went in.
Frank Carter, a cab driver, sent in the
alarm to the central telephone station,
which was transmitted in a twinklng 10
the department. 1t was not learned who
sent in the alarm from the box.
A humorous feature of the affair was
the queer actions of some man who lives
on the third floor Of the Biting block.
A few moments after the alarm was turn
ed in. the greatest racket was heard COM
ing from the room; it sounded like real,
old-time country dance. without either
regularity or music. He was making all
the noise he could in order, il is said. TO
call attention to the fire which was a
half block away. Mr.. Ed. Taylor, who
resides in the block. tells the story quite
humorously.
AS to the losses incurred. Mr.. Krae-
mer suffered a total loss, which is fully
covered by an insurance of $3.50. Mr..
Smith sustained only partial loss of the
goods in his storeroom, which, although
amounting to considerable. both from
fire and water. is fully covered by insur-
ance. Many others vera threatened, but
fortunately no one else sustained any
loss