Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-11
A HOT TIME
In The Old Town
Last Saturday Night,

he role work OF the tiremen and citizens
that the results were not more disas-
trous.
At about eight O'Clock in the evening,
Arthur Landon and q comrade discover
ed smoke pouring out OF the roof OF
Strong & Co.'S elevator. At the time,
the buyer, Peter Wagner, and helper
were busy loading cars with wheat.
Hastily informing Pete that the elevator
was on fire, the boys gave the alarm,
which was promptly responded to by
the fire department.
From the location and progress OF the
flames, it vas seen at a glance that
nothing could be done to save the burn
ing building, SO the order was given to
save, if possible, the Bagley and adioin-
ing elevators. The potato depot OF
Kramer & Co. and III. e. Tegtmeier be-
tween the elevators was quickly ripped
toHpieces and carried away. Ladders
were placed against the west and north
ends of the Bagley building, blankets
hung over the west end, men mounted
the roof and ladders, the bucket brigade
commenced operations and the work OF
salvation was under way.
For over two hours, the struggle Tor
mastery ragged between the fiery element
and the fire fighters. Time and again it
seemed as if the men would have to give
way,-as il the limit OF human endur-
ance was reached,-but the men, blister
ed, scorched and tired, hung bravely to
the work until at last it was seen they
would win. A Drawer battle was never
fought. With limited facilities for fight
ing fire. the men scored a notable victory
and covered themselves with glory.
Individual cases oil heroism could be
pointed out, but where all fought so
earnestly and faithfully, comparisons
should not be drawn. The man who
carried water is as deserving OF praise
as he who cast it on the flames. Some
OF the ladies, even. did their share of
carrying water, putting to shame a row
OF men who stood idly by and watched
their neighbors work.
At the time OF the fire, there were on
hand in the elevator about $500 BUSH
e Is of wheat and 5000 bushels of fax,
which with the building were destroyed.
/ n the fat house, there were a number Of
8 toves and household goods, which were
all saved, and 800 bushels OF wheat
belonging TO G. ID. Peterson which was
lost, on which he held no storage ticket
nor insurance. The total loss is estima-
mated at SIC, 900, mostly insured. The
burned elevator was OF 10000 bushels
capacity.
The origin OF the fire is a mystery.
Whether the bearings of the pulleys in
the cupola got hot, or whether q spark
from the freight engine that passed a
half hour previous, or a defect in thechim-
ney started the fire, no one can tell. The
fires were drawn from the boilers early
in the evening and men were at work
repairing them at the time the fire
broke out.
A number oil minor casualties occurred
during the evening. Chic f Williams had
his head badly gashed by a bucket
thrown from the roof, VIM. Magnus
received a bad cut on his hand, John
Block tainted from over-excitement. and
a number OF firemen are nursing severe
burns.
George Strong arrived Monday, in
spected the ruins and settled with the
re representatives. OF the insurance CON-
panies. He could not state whether the
elevator would be rebuilt this fall or
not. The underwriters disposed OF the
damaged grain to Griggsby 4 Bro. OF
st. Paul for S305, which is about all
there is to show for $1O,O 900 worth OF
property.
The work OF clearing the side track is
now going on.
NOTES OF THE FIRE.
There We're no flies on the bucket
brigade.
Webster has every reason to be proud
OF her fire department.
Miss Elliott and Miss Egge bravely
carried water all evening.
1t is said the engine and cars made the
run from Waubay in eight minutes.
The railroad lIandcar crew did great
work bringing water from the railroad
tank.
Gruby Bros, H. w. Rowlee and Frank
Osborne had their teams at work haul
ing water aud did noble work.
Agent Bradley wired to Waubay for
an engine and crew. but the danger was
greatly reduced when they arrived.
Martin Sorenson's well responded in
great shape to the call made upon it.
How would Martin trade for the ar
tesian well /?
Tom Conley furnished the beer for the
fife-fgbters. 1t vas noticeable that