Omaha daily bee., 1897-07-22
DOWN HALF A BLOCK
Children smOking Cigarettes Start
Disastrous Fire.
DEPARTMENT IS LATE ON THE SCENE
Delay in Turning in the Alarm En-
nbIes the Flumcs tn Get n
Good start without
Opposition.

Children taking their first lessons in cigar
etc smoking started a fire between 8 and 6
o'clock last evening that denuded nearly
half a block of the little wooden buildings
that covered 1t an hour before. The fire
was located on Sixteenth avenue. between
Seventh aud Eighth streets. A $500 resi-
dence. three barns aud a number OF cut
buildings and sheds we're destroyed.
The fire caught in a two-story barn at
tached to the premiees occupied by ]. c.
Christianson. Across the street a vacant lot
is being used by men operating a power
cornsheller, and during the afternoon a
number of little boys put in their time
gathering mp the corn silhs and rolling them
into cigarettes and smoking them. Two of
he kids were at this work in Christianson's
bran. and it is Supposed to be through their
manipulation of matches that the fire started.
The fire caught in some hay and in a moment
the barn was in flames from top to bottom.
The nearest fire alarm box was located on
Main street near the Rock Island depot.
One of the neighbors ran the distance OF SIX
blocks and turned in a police patrol call
instead of a fire alarm. He then ran BACK
to the fire. The patrol wagon had almost
reached the scene when a fire alarm was
turned in from box SO. The time lost by
the police call made it impossible for the
fire department to do much more than save
adjoining buildings. When the first COM
plny arrived three barns we're in flames aud
Christianson's house was abla2e. Christian
son is a clerk In b. NJ. Sargent's shoe store,
and was at the store when the fire occurred.
Mrs. Christensen assisted by the neighbors,
succeeded in removing all of the furniture
from the lower floor of the house and part
of the upstairs goods and furnishings be-
fore the heat became too great. A bed and
a small amount Of clothing in one Of the
upper rooms was destroyed.
Nothing whatever was saved from any part
Of the barns and sheds. A large barn but
recently built belonging to julius and Mark
Jensen, who operate a butcher shop or
the adjoining lot, was totally destroyed. to-
gether with a large amount of grain anC
hay, a carriage and some harness. Nothing
whatever was saved from a barn belongings
to John Mitchell. The other barn destroyed
belonged to Charles Thompson, and it wa!
totally destroyed with all Of it's contents. A
half dozen small sheds and outbuilding:
went down in the whirlwind OF fire. Eacf
barn had chicken pens attached surrounded
by high wire MEETINGS, and in each Of thes,
pcns were Il number of helpless fowls tina
were slowly roasted.
The house occupied by Christensen wa
owned by Rev. S. Alexander, formerly paste
Of the Second Presbyterian church, but nov
located in Mount Ayr, la. 1t was compare
lively new and cost 81 500. 1t was protected
by insurance amounting to $500. Jensoi
Brothers barn cost $500 three years agl
and was insure for $500. The other barn
were smaller affairs and were protected b,
light risks. AleXander's barn was value
at 5000 and had no insurance.
Two sections of hose burst during the fire
and Chief Templeton had a chance to eX
pertinent with the new clamps designed t
repair bursted hose. The first one quickl
stopped a hole half the size of the diamete
of the hose but a new break showed up a
another place in an instant afterwards. TIL
second clamp operated perfectly and enable
the company to continue to use the line @
hose.