The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-10-03
A BEAUTIFUL HOME RUINED!
A Fire Destroys the Home o.
J.. A. Weeks.

A Fire Destroys the Home of
J.. A. Weeks.
conaagration Caused by Explosion
of Gasoline.
1t was just $50 when Brals Stu art
appeared on the corner OF the Kimbafl
State Bank, with the crv Of fire! fire!
tre!! Where? Wherep WAS the stimuli
taneous cry of half dozen people who
happened to be near. Bat the inquiry
needed no answering, for already a
cloud of SMOKE was rising from the
residence OF l. A. Weeks, on the corner
of Second and West streets. The fire
alarm was put in. and soon a crowd was
running toward the burning building.
w. g. Anderson kicked in the eng inc
house door, and with the assistance of
a number of Others began pulling out
the hose cart. The work was quick
enough, and some Of the boys ran up to
the hydrant, %uncoupled aud in their
excitement were in the act of attaching
when to their utter dismay the fact that
there was no water in the mains
presented itself. There seemed to be no
alternative but to stand by and see the
building burn to the ground. At this
time another squad were bringing along
the fire engine. which, to those familiar
with it, seemed to be another useless
contrivance. run the hose in the
cistern' cried someone, but that was
simply another useless suggestion, for
the heat from the house was so great
that the hose would have burned in two
in less time than it takes to tell it.
All this time a number of men were
pulling out what furniture they could
out Of the house. Mrs. Weeks stood by
apparently very cool, but the girls we're
frantic. Save tho piano." was their
piteous cry. This seemed almost
impossible, as the walls were all aname
and the room black with smoke. j. S.
Stewart volunteered. The heat was
great but his determination greater,
and he soon had the instrument at the
door where other willing hands assisted
and the piano was carried away. This
placated the girls and they moved away
crying and watched the destruction.
The fire engine arrived and upon the
suggestion Of E. P. Ochsner it was haul
ed down to the lake and a string Of hose
attached. Many thought this was use
less. 1t was thought that the engine
was dried out and that 1t would not
} pump. But it did pump. Twenty or
more men got hold Of the handles and
the force with which the water was
forced through the hose was a surprise to
!. all. w. G. Richards and James KinselIa
had hold Of tho nozzle and their work
soon told. The fighting was directed
to the rear OF the building, where the
r fire was raging the worst, and soon that
! part Of the house was under entire
control. 1t takes about 100 men to run
the old engine, and soon a call was
] made for more men at the pumps. A
lot OF fresh hands run down and the
, engine was kept going. If one person
worked harder than any other, it was
y John CULLEN. He rushed into the house
and moro than held his own with the
!, fire. 1t mattered not with him how
many burning tlmbers dropped. or how
much plastering fell on him, and had
hremen from some city force been
around, 1t would probably have made
them think OF olden times. Charley
: Drake. too was not idle, and made HIM.
} self more useful than ornamental. 9
fact that was clearly shown by the
J looks OF his clothes. In fact everybody
worked and much credit Is due the fire
} boys in general as we'll as others who
assisted in the work. 1t was about IL
minutes from the time the water was
turned on that the fire was extin-
guished. The house, however was
} practically ruined.
The origin of the fire was the exlosion
OF gasoline. About half past five O'Clock
Miss Carrie lit the stove, preparatory tc
getting supper. After burning q time
the gasoline In the stove gave out, and,
after e%xtinguishing the fire, she stncd uI
= on a chair and began filling the can
attached to the stove. Miss Carrie said
she was watching the guage, which
, moved upward very slowly and before
! she knew it the can was full and
running over. Some Of the OVERLOOKING
gasoline run down on the hot burner
and an explosion followed Immediately
> The most miraculous part of the acct.
dent-and the iuckiest part, tou-is
that the gasoline was not thrown over
) the Young lady and she burned to
! death before assistance could be render.
ed. Ninety-nine out Of overy hundred
cases OF gasoline explosion, if there is a
II