The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-05-14
A HOT TIME IN OLD TOWN.
Buildings Badly Damaged-Times
Office Gets Its Baptism
of Fire.
Heroic Efforts of Firemen Prevent
a Serious ConfiaSratiOn.

SERIOUS COnf1aSratlOn.
Kicking bovines. fire-cracker fiends
and boys who build bonfires in back
yards have great deal to answer for.
We all know what kicking COW did
for Chicago and what damage misplaced
/ firecracke IS have wrought in different
! places, and some of us have reason to
know that a miniature bonfire, when
built in close proximity to stable, is
not without its dangers.
On Monday evening last. about 500
some bows built bonfire IN back of the
store building owned by Grafton Mason
on Fifth street East, not expecting, Of
course, that it would develop into any.
thing serious, but the wind famed
the blaze to such proportions that the y
could not control it, and in few mo.
ments it had spread all over the dry
straw and enveloped the stables, out.
houses and the back part of the Mason
Christie, Boston store and TINES build.
lngs. SO sudden was the spread Of the
devourlng elements that man who had
just led team of horses belonging to
Nike Collins into the stable was forced
to leave them to their tate.
The Eas. end fire brigade promptly
responded, and was followed a few min
utes after by the Sixth street detach.
DO, Il
there seemed no hope OF saving any
OF the buildings from complete destruc-
ton. but, thanks to their heroic efforts
the fire was soon under control.
During the struggle with the devour-
ing element the occupants the differ.
ent buildings, assisted by the people
generally, busted themselves moving
furniture and goods to the opposite side
of the street and to theLemon building
Mr.. Erianson's household effects were
gotten out, though in some what dam
aged condition, and the TINES staff, with
the assistance of friends, managed to re.
move the stock and portion of the
machinery and type, with the usual re-
suits known to follow the hasty shifting
OF printing material We have consid-
cradle pie" on hand. but it is not OF
the most toothsome kind. We, how
ever are still doing business in the same
old stand
As the result of the fire the Mason
building is badly damaged, the rear an
mex to the Christie building is totally
destroyed, the back part of the Boston
store is burned and the stock almos,
totally ruined, and the rear end of the
ZINES building Is very much distigured
while the view from Fourth street is as
black and dismal as can we'll be imag-
ined.
Mr.ErlaIson, OF the Boston store, is a
heavy loser by the fire, as his insurance
was only $1,000. while his stock was
valued at s. 900. He also lost horse.
TIE Mason building was insured or
500, and paperhangers were busy put
ting it III shape for occupancy by Hunter
x Co., grocers. 1t will take all of tie
insurance money to repair it.
The Christie Estate building was not
insured, and is almost a total loss A
+. Hunter, the bicycle man, who oc.
cupied the front and unDurnt part OF
the building, was able to get all his
stock out, and is back in the same place
doing business as usual, little the worse
for the fire.
The Boston store building. owned by
Mrs c. l.. Catlin, was insured for $1,000
which will be sufficient to out it in good
shape again.
A great deal of sympathy is felt for
Mike Collins in the loss of his valuable
horses, and wagons and harness, as ii
leaves him par:ttiVeiv helpless. His
loss is about 800.
The residence of W. J. Leader was in
great danger, and but for the timely ar.
rival af the >lxth-street firemen might
have been destroyed.
The loss on the TINS building and
stock is Iully covered by insurance.
The fremen certainly deserve credi,
for the way in which they worked, and
speedy manner in which they got the
fire under control. and the TINES begs
to tender them its sincere thanks, as
we'll as others who came t, our aid in
the hour OF our need.
We suggest that, in future, any boys
caught lighting matches, frecrackers
or bontires IN unsafe laces, be put in
safe place.