The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-23
FIREMEN's GOOD WORK.
Prevents a Dangerous Fire I'm the Sc
attic National Bank Building,


attic National Bank Building.
The work done by the Seattle fire ladies
yesterday morning in checking the flames
that broke out in the business Office and ]
mantel room OF Gait Bros. & Co, IN the J.
Seattle National Bank building, was
subject Of favorable comment by Maj w
s. Harlan. receiver OF the building, and E.
w. Philpott. who has charge of Gait Bros
& Co.'S. business. Over S2o0 600 worth OF
property was in imminent danger of being
destroyed, and the fact that the loss to
the building was only $500 IS proof of the
magnificent work done. When the fremen
reached the building 1t was filled with
smoke, the ingress was closed. and to those
who are acquainted with the dangers and
troubles the fremen experience, IT is APP
parent how quick they got to work and
how well their efforts were directed. At one
time the smoke put out the firemen's Ian
terms. Not drop of water was used, al
though the lines were laid and were al the
building in readiness to be turned on II tho
chemicals failed 10 accomplish the desired
results
When Post-Intelligencer reporter call
ed al the office OF Gait Bros. & Co. yes
teriay afternoon, Z. w. Philpott sat in his
office chair close TO one OF the large win
dows that was cracked by the intense
heat We'll" said Mr.. Philpott, as he look
ed over the ruins. I'VE are pretty we'll dis
figured but stu In the ring. I don't know
as / ever had such another surprise in my
life as when discovered this morning what
had taken place. l desire TO say right here,
however, that after an examination OF the
room I am satisfied that tho firemen did
splendid work. and made a stop OF which
they may be proud. or course our mantels
and mirrors have been rendered useless by
the intense heat. but the fire itself was
confined to limited space and conquered
without the use Of water. Not one OF our
papers of special value was injured. Mr..
Cats commission az Hawaiian consul. on
which Is the autograph signature OF Pres
ident Dole, was very close TO where the
fire started. The firemen. however. got
to the place In time TO remove the document
to a place OF safety. The safe was pref
~ well blistered on the outside but other
wise went through all right. / am glad
20 say that our brass goods were not In
jured. AS TO the loss, II Is a difficult mat
ter TO give exact figures. The stock was
originally worth. fully $500, but OF course
would not haveVorought that at the time
of the fire. should say we had sustained
a loss OF about 81. 900. l have been looking
around for an insurance policy. but cannot
find any. The goods IN the warehouse were
insured and I should think there would
have been some on this stock. However, I
have not found any as yet I have wired
John R. Gait at Newberg. N. Y. As to the
cause OF the fire I would say that II is
impossible for Il 10 have started from
stove. There is not a STOVE in the room.
We have been troubled with mice, however
and I am of the opinion that they caused
the IRE. II started on the south side OF
the room, a short distance back from the
window and behind q case IN which was
tiling II Is possible that they had n hole
through the floor ana could go down be-
tween the floor and ceiling Of the room
below. You see the Are worked in between
the fioor and ceiling and burned through
so that the stock Of the Novelty store be-
low was badly damaged by smoke. oheni-
calls and heat The fremen did such quick
work after the discovery by Mr.. Birch that
the actual damage to the building VIII be
nominal. II IS a fact. however. that X any
time had been lost a serious conhagration
would have resulted
Receiver Harlan said: THE freren ala
their work we'll. There was no delay in
arriving and excellent judgment was
shown nv Chief Cook n not using water.
y e s'roult matter 20 tell what the loss
viii he. but II the ceilings are not pernna-
uentlw injured the loss VIII not be great
cav 500 20 fSa.
nov, IN ire Novelty store. Ia Occiden-
.ai avenue. which 81 under Gait Bros s.
e. ina nrop-ietors were working sIi day
irving 20 get things IN ORDER and at the
same time keep good natured. They would
inst rtck up fancy toilet case that had
been nicely decorated on TOP with cinders
ars ohsrni-ai or book that had its COW
IS .ra~roAs with different colored spots,
IN the hone % making the store present
more tidy appearance. when q face would
he glued 10 the door window and admit
,ancs raouested Finally one OF the pro-
-y4Afo-s sat down IN despair and declared
Re rsa not know but X would be necessary
20 cover the windows with papers TO keep
people away.
FoHowiug - q list 81 losses and irsur-
snee. Seattle National Bank building.
t,ss zen Insurance sI2a 00o. divided as fol-
I07wS. poval Exchange. 5000: Norwich
T-,'or- $40 ee8: Home. OF Nsw York, $1,000;
Insurance Company q North America.
&c 010. Transatlantic. 81 on0: Fire Associa-
.ton 80 ana. National. SO 90: Union Assur-
srce SO ess: F,tna- So 90; The Western. OF
Toronto. So. ofse-s1So.fss
Gait Bros. a Co. estimated loss 5000. no
Insurance discovered.
Noveltv store. estimated loss si.019. In