The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-27
SWALLOWED in FLAMES.
The State House Square Peanut
Stand Was and is Nit.

The State House Square Peanut
Stand Was and is Nit
The entire business building at the
southwest corner of Eighth and jack
son street was consumed by fire this
morning.
At nine o'clock William Gilchrist
rushed into fire department headquar-
tiers and shouted Fire. fre!'' and ran
out again. He was so excited he could
not tell where it was and the only way
the hremen could ind out was TO hltch
up and follow him. He ran straight as
a string to the state house yard with
the two large heavy engines following
him. He did not run very fast but he
arrived at the scene before the depart
ment did.
The hose was quickly connected and
while the hremen were playing the
stream from the chemical engine on the
building from the south the water was
turned on from the north. The stream
of water crashed through the build
ing and out on the other side nearly
drowning the men on the south side
That made them mad and they let the
fire go for while and played ante over
with the streams Of water trying to wet
each other.
Just then Chief Wilmarth dashed up,
his horse covered with foam and har-
ness. He leaped from his light wagon
to the ground and directed his men to
quickly get the longest ladders, The
men rushed to the street and to their
dismay the hook and ladder truck from
Jefferson street had not arrived. Con-
sternation! There might be hundreds
of people in the upper stories at the
point of a fiery DEATH Where, oh,
where was the ladder truck. People
held their breath and the small boys
held the chiefs horse The short lad
ders from the chemical were brought.
They were put in position. There was
great danger that the building would
fall over from the weight of the ladder
CHI
go" and he handed his name and watch
to a policeman and dashed into the
smoke and OdOr Of burning peanuts.
The crowd watched and bets of two to
one were made that he would come
back with white. hair or none at all.
What had become of him? The crowd
was horror stricken. Suddenly there
was a shout from the center of the
smoking Pyre and the man appeared
carrying a stick of chewing gum.
Did you find any people," was the
question.
but I did not find the third story. 1t
must have burnt off!" That was his
first story.
Here they comet" The crowd looked
east on Eighth street and saw the hook
and ladder truck coming. A mighty
cheer arose. The horses, three abreast,
were dashing down the hill like the pic
lures of Benjamin Hur IN his char1ot
race, but the driver wore more clothes
than Ben. The driver was plying the
whip and the other man in the seat
was ringing the bell. 1t was glorious.
Then they tried to stop. The horses
would not stop and they ran half a
block past the fire before the two men,
to say nothing of the brake, could stop
them. There were willing hands and
they carried the long, heavy ladders to
the building.
run them up quick called the fore
man. who will venture to the top.
Strong men quailed. Would no one
cheers
firemen, drawer than the rest and with
a blue shirt and overalls on, said he
would go if some one would hold MS
hat Up he went. The ladder swayed
The building shook. Then there was a
shout from the top of the ladder. An
answering hail.
Hold the life net!" the brave man
A horse blanket was brought and the
crowd grasped it at the four sides
Are you ready?' shouted the man on
the ladder.
No shouted the father of a family,
wait until I get this safety pin IN
fastened, land heunpinned a large specl-
men of the nursery variety from the
folds Of the blanket.
Let her come" All held their breath:
Swishl Through the air they could
hear it coming. Was it a man or Wo-
man? They waited.
What's the matter up there?" shout
ed the crowd, let her come"
Il have came back the weak answer
through the smoke.
The crowd looked in the blanket.
There it was! A sack of peanuts.
I'll put out the fire. shouted small
boy with red hair who lived in the
neighborhood. People looked at him
with scorn. He went home and got
pail of water. He threw it on the flames.
Only smoke and steam arose.
The crowd cheered. It's not profess
sional to use buckets remarked fire.
man as he brushed some SCOT off his
cuffs.
There was no insurance and the loss
was not more than a few thousand dol
lars but the unsightly peanut stand that
has stood in the corner of the state
house grounds so long is no more. Peas
(goober peas) to its ashes.