The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-14
WAS A TOTAL LOSS
Thomas Mahan Fire Estimated
at $4,000,
INSURED FOR $4,000
House Supposed to Have
Caught Fire in the Roof

The fire which burned up the fine, large
residence of T. VI. Mahan on Fairview
avenue al an early hour Sunday morning,
was probably the largest one that has
happened in this city in a number Of
years. The morning was the coolest ever
experienced in this vicinity, being p de-
grees below zero, and a strong wind blow
ing from the north.
The fire was first discovered by the lit
tie son Of Mr.. Heron, living next door,
and when first seen the flames were issuing
from the roof Mrs. Mahan was aroused
by loud rappings and a call of fire from
Mr. Heron, who had rushed out TO notify
the Mahon's, who were sleeping soundly,
not knowing that their house was being
rapidly licked up by the flames. Mrs. Ma
han called 10 her husband and ne imme-
diately rushed TO the telephone and sent
in an alarm Of fire. He then awakened a
hired man and they went up stairs to res
cue the children, Of which there are four.
Mrs. Mahan barely had time to leave her
apartments in her night clothing as the
upper part Of the house was in flames in
a short time.
Mr.. Mahan's residence being some dis
lance from the central part of the city
and located near Seventeenth street. it IS
not customary for all the department to
90 TO J fire above Tenth street until a
seconl Harm is turned in. The company
which would 20 first turned out promptly
and in their usual alertness were ready to
dash off when an accident occurred by the
breaking Of one Of the sing1e-trees on the
art faf1 or, Ia
lay in replacing it with another The
chemical engine, stationed at the same
house, dashed on 10 the fire and ar
rived as promptly as quadrupeds could
take It. A second alarm was turned in
to bring out the reserve which was wait
ing at the house TO leave if wanted. Four
horses were attached and it arrived in a
short time. The men found the stem Of the
hydrants frozen and thawed them out with
coal oil and torch and in a very few min
utes after arriving at the fire streams Of
water were pouring on the already doomed
structure. The chemical had, in the mean
time. done good work on the house next
door, saving it from a like fate of the
Mahan house. The men had a tough night
of 1t. Every gallon Of water that was
poured on the structure turned TO ice be-
fore daylight and the men were likewise
covered with the same.
Yesterday q search was made for a
trunk that had stood in a corner Of Mrs.
Mahan's room. It was seen TO fall through
the ceiling to the floor below. In It were
diamond earrings "A gold watch, valuable
papers, several silver dollars, four gold
dollars one $21I gold piece. a 500 gold
piece and 800 in paper money. When the
trunk was found the earrings and watch
were recovered but the money was gone.
The paper money had burned and the gold
and silver pieces had probably melted and
fallen through the charred trunk. A piano
and several pieces Of furniture was also
saved, besides three carpets. which vera
ripped up by the assistance Of neighbors
and firemen.
The ruins were mass Of ice yesterday
and amateur photographers We're taking
snap shots at the sight so seldom seen in
this city.