Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-09-08
A BIG FIRE!
Rocky Ford has a $685..
100000 Blaze.

Saturday afternoon was the most ex-
citing in the history OF Rocky Ford.
About / 80 o'clock smoke was seen is
suing from the rear room OF DIR. Fenton's
drugstore. That portion Of the building
being devoted to oils and paints, the cor
rugated iron shell was almost red hot
when the alarm was sounded.
There being 500 melon growers in
town, an immense crowd soon assembled,
but in spite of the many hundreds OF
willing hands, nothing could be done to-
ward suppressing the fire.
A few hand chemical fre-extingnishers
were used, but such was tho inilammable
character of the material in the room
where the fire started that they had no
effect whatever on the flames. The fire
company was promptly on hand, but
there being no water pressure, they could
do nothing. A line of buckets was
started, but the amount OF water they
could put on the fire was of no service ut
all. 1t soon became apparent that all
energies should be devoted to saving
stocks OF goods and protecting adjacent
block.
A telegram to La Junta brought up on
special tram the John Fisher Hose Co.
and the chemical engine. The only SER
vice, however, that iI was possible for
them to render was to help control the
iierceness OF the burning mass for the
protection of surrounding buildings.
From DR.. Fenton's store, the flames
spread to Price IL Lance's dry goods
store on the south and to DR.. Keurbys
two-story brick on the north. Gerbng
n Sons two.story brick, adjoining DR..
kearby's, went next. Adjoining this was
Col. kobD's two-stury frame. Ii Was ev-
ident to everybody Except Col. Robb)
that this building WAS bound to burn.
and that its razlng WIS necessary to save
the blocks to the north and northwest.
Col. Robb tried to prevent the building
being torn down, but his wishes were
very properly not considered. Axes,
ropes anu hundreds OF stout and willing
hands soon had the building levelcd to
the ground. Not until this Was effected
was there amy assurance that two other
blocks would not he burned.
While the lire WIS III progress, the
stores We're being stripped of goods by
hundreds of hard workers and were taken
to distant buildings or piled up in the
streets in such shape as to make the
owners hcart-sick. The bulk OF the
goods in all the business houses were re-
moved in Il damaged condition.
The entire block WIS burned, and 1t
was only 10y the utmost Efforts that the
three blocks adjacent were saved. us
much of the time high wind prevailed. |
The Masonic fraternity hnd elegantly |
fitted up rooms over DIR. kearby's. The
records and furniture wcrc largely saved. |
Gerbing * Son saved their meats and
u portion OF their furniture and fixtures.
,...t "A
Saturday evening
White < Hc,herington saved their res |
taurant stock, and also the household |
goods from the second floor OF Col. |
iobb's building.
The p!a;c.gl,iss windows across the |
street in the buildings occupied ny the |
bank, Golden Rule. ii. l. Maxwell and |
Cretcher's Pharmacy were badly dam
aged by Lent.
A. forder and d. Il. Hcrsperger, who |
had rooms over Gerbing'., lost cloihing. |
furniture. etc.
The losses and insurance are MS follows:
Maxwell building. occupied by Price 4 .
Lance, valned ut 81 ,GjO; insurance. s5OU. /
Price i Lancc's stock OF goods, valued
at $1,000; insurance, $1,000.
Fenton building. valued Mt 5000; in
surance, $1,000: no insurance on stock.
kearby building, valued Mt $500; in
surnpce, Sl,UOu; light insurance.
l.. W. KEEL, icwelry stock, loss $500; no
insurance.
Gerbing building, valued Mt $500; in
surancc. $1,000.
White X H.thcrington, restaurant; con-
tents all saved.
Eobb's binding, which was torn down.
valued ut Sl,UtO; no Insurance..
The plate. glass windows across tho
street suffered badly.
John Il. Goddings furniture was dam.
nged by removal from bank block.
Several thefts OF icwclry were perpc-
trated during the Fair. Mrs. Cheney
lost humber OF valuable rings. aud Z
George Daring gold watch and SONS /
money. The Fair attracted an unusual 4
number OF shady characters, and the 4
thef,s were committed in spite of IN extra
police force.