Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-04
III 4 MMHN
I'll AjVEEN,N
NCUIVU IUn lIHXHIln


Nhat might have proved to be q
disastrous connagration early yester-
day morning at 1920 o'clock. was avert
ed by the prompt action OF our efficient
fire department. Just after the Gazette
had gone to press and the other de-
partments Of the office had been de-
serted, IRE was discovered in the COM
posing room. which Is on the second
floor of the building, The foreman
proceeded at once to split the street
wide open to fire station No. /, three
blocks away. while the night editor
cleared The street of the carriers carts
and wagons that were crowded around
waiting to make their morning deliv-
cry The flremen of No. / can be in
the street with engine and reel within
twenty seconds after being aroused, so
that almost Immediately Captain
U Brlen and his men were on the
ground, while Chief Celia appeared so
suddenly that 1t seemed he must have
sat up all night Just around the corner
waiting for the fire to break out. while
as a matter of fact he had long run
of 1t.
After the arrival of the boys from
No. l, an alarm was turned In from
box 70. and company from the Cen
/ tral fire hall rushed to the scene with
/ reel and hook and ladder truck
The fire had broken out near the
foreman's desk, which was in a mass
/ Of flames. The blaze had nearly con-
sumed the copy" elevator and spread
up the wall over the ceiling and was
fast becoming general all over the
/ long room when the door was broken
| down. a line of hose was carried IN
' the stairway together with eXtinguish-
ers. and a powerful stream was dl-
| rected onto the blaze before the win
dows were opened to let out the dense
( smoke
In very few minutes the fire was
! under complete control and soon after
wards was entirely eXtInguished.
The Gazette realizes that II has had
very close call and believes that
IT has escaped not only heavy loss, but
the Infinitely greater chain OF calami-
ties that follow in the wake of such n
disaster-and not only tine Gazette but
tAe Mansion hotel and other adjoining
property mat would have been Sc
riously imperilled. 1t now rises to re-
mark trutl fully, as Il has had occn-
sion 70 do before casually, that the
Fort Worth fire department Is the
best In the state OF Texas. Chief Celia
has reputation as n thorough discl-
pllnarlan, and the results of his meth
ods and discipline are shown on the
occasion of every fire we have by the
exceedingly prompt and efficient SER
Vice rendered by his force. who enter
heart and soul Into their work as
enthusiastically as any men can who
are thoroughly devoted to their calling
and take pride in doing the right thing
at the right time, even though It re-
qulres the grandest exhibition of
bravery and NERVE" to accomplish IL.
The swift work of the men from the
instant they were aroused out OF their
sound slumber, their quick run and
energetic action at the scene of the
fire. In eNtinguishing It so promptly. is
Justly considered one of the quickest
and best pieces of the department's
! l., az
utes later the disastrous results can
not be estimated. The public is to he
congratulated that the efficiency of
the department can he depended upon.
and that Chief Cella's discipline and
desire to serve the people faithfully
together with the known bravery OF tfe
men, is guarantee that everything
that human beings can do will he
done In the preservation Of lives and
property
: Among the faithful employees of the
Gazette who deserve especial mention
In connection with this unfortunate af-
fair are Machlnist Charley Clark and
Assistant Freshman Alb Stockett. Mr..
Stockett had just commenced to run
off the morning paper WHOM the fro
was discovered. But that fact did not
Interfere with the faithful performance
of his duty--in fact It made 1t more
imperative than ever. for should the
fire wreck the office 1t veg OH the
more necessary that the Inst issue for
several days at least should 20 forth
TO the public. so he stood manfully at
his post while the flames cracred and
roared above him, ana increased the
speed Of the press to lis highest limit.
Mr. Clark, the machinist. arrived nj
the Office shortly after the flames were
eNtinguished and at once set to work
to renovate the complicated and deli
cate mechanism Of the Mergenthn,er
machines. and by skilled and faithful
application had them oil In good work.
ing condition by 10 O'Clock, All whioh
time the DAVIS work was begun In the
cc'''nosing room.
Thus, thanks first to the fire depart
ment for their prompt succor, and see
ond to tile skilled workmen and others
ut the command of the mana gement
the Gazette will reach It's readers To,
day as usual