The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-13
GREAT SPORT AT \ FIRE.
Small Blaze Causes a Large Turnout
Loss Only SS5.


Loss Only Ss5.
A crowd that filed every conceivable
nook and corner OF the space between
Washington and Main streets and Railroad
avenue and the water front witnessed so
fire yesterday afternoon in 5. Droxinman's
store. The youngster, ranging in age from
: 10 y years. had all the fun. while young
men, Old men and men who had been I'M
hibing water front hot drops for colds
listenedro the remarks and grinned, There
We're five policemen and numerous flremen
and pieces of fire apparatus that could not
not get within half block of the scene OF
the fire. owing 10 the torn-up condition Of
the street
Droxinman has a secondhand store in
the one-story building that faces the water
front. He was lighting a lamp at 4:2I
o'clock. II slipped from his hand. struck
the floor, exploded. and then the fun con-
menced Droxinman ran out and shouted
fire. The street was deserted, but man
ramed Dexter suddenly appeared and came
10 Droxinman's assistance. Some fishing
nets were thrown upon the blaze in hope
that they would smother the flames. To
make matters sure. Droxinman ran up 10
the New England hotel and got John Pat
terson 10 turn in an alarm. Then Droxin-
man ran back to the store. The flames
We're jumping around among the meshes of
the nets as If anxious TO get to work. \
man eameup and told Droxnman the best
thing TO 40 was 20 open the doors. Drox-
inman took his advice. Then another man
came up and said the doors ought TO be
shut. Droxinman said he thought so. too.
and shut them BY this time the crowd
was gathering from all directions. and the
small boy appropriated the box cars in
the yard for q grand stand.
How much insurance have you got?"
yelled a little urchin. This irritated Drox-
inman, who has been in business fifteen
years, and never has had n fire in his place
before. Another urchn gave the second
hand store salute. and his chums laughed.
Then a policeman came along and said:
stand back" The fire apparatus at
length came up. and it was discovered that
the numerous distractions in the street
prevented the chemical from getting near
the store. Droxinman became anxious.
and asked Chief Cook if he was going TO
get a stream of water. BE easy" said
Cook. I'VE viii put out the fire." A mo-
ment later four fTemen came running
along with Babcock fire extinguishers
strapped on their backs. and rushed into
the store Then a lire Of hose appeared
and was deposited in front of the store.
The water came along. and the first thing
the crowd knew there was a ''siSh. biz
and the small boys and big boys climbed
over one another to get out Of the way In
side of the store the chemicals were siz-
Zing. and in two minutes the danger was
over. Out came fireman with a lot of
fishing nets and threw them on the plank
ing. Then Capt. Clancy turned on the
water. and the crowd had some fun with
him. He laughed. The crowd thought it
looked dangerous. and made a break for
safety. There was no need of it. He sim
ply took hold Of the nozzle and let a
stream of water play on the smouldering
mass. Il guess 1 Will tap out the fire."
said Chief Cook, as he went up TO box AZ. at
the corner of First avenue south and Main
street. The crowd followed him. and then
Immediately rushed back on discovering
that nothing serious had happened.
We'll, boys" said Sergt Willard, "the
fun is over" The crowd sadly dispersed,
and one sage remarked: Now. that is a
- Of a fire, amt it. for all of this excite
ment?"
DroXinman figures his loss at s25. The
stock is worth $500. and he has $500 insur-
ance in the German-American Fire Insur-
ance Company.