The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-06-22
Firebngs at Wichita.

| Wichita, Kan, June H.-Wichita has
never known such a fire scare ana such
dastardly and successful efforts at des-
truction of property by fire as occurred
this morning after o'clock. The Wichita
Mil and ELEVATOR company loses the en-
tire elevator building. containing 10000
bushels, OF wheat. This win amount 10
$4,000 AT 4 o'clock the mill, which is
known as the old City Roller Mills, is on
fire and viii be total loss Of building
and machinery The total loss from this
fire win be not far from $685. 900
Mrs Stevens Of the firm Of Caldwell &
Stevens .proprietors, is in Louisville, KY.
W r Green local manager. bought the
wheat and has seen every bushel of II
60 into the elevator. He says there are
10000 bushels In the building. He did not
know how much insurance was on the
property, bat thought that probably less
than half the value Is covered
The fire companies were all on hand as
soon as the fire on the West Side was un-
der control, but the names broke out in
the west cupalo on top OF the building.
and on account OF the enforced delay from
the other hre, with the strong south wind.
there was no possible show 10 save the
building
MI Green says tn le has been no hre
IN the building for sai The mill has
not been in operation and the elevaio- ~as
run 10y electric motor In the base OF the
elevator tower The elevator is run TIL
about midnight every night OF the week.
loading cars. Last night Mr.. George Shook
was Ia charge He closed the building at
the usual hour and went home, The win
doWs are locked from the inside and the
doors are all securely fastened with strong
locke There was no chance for anyone 10
get inside without breaking In a door or
window
Delos Woods. the Santa Fe night clerk.
had been out TO a party during the even
ing. and coming back he saw two shah
billy dressed ana suspicious looking men
crouching against the wall OF the Santa
Fe passenger depot, uthe shadows. They
We're sitting with their backs against the
wall looking up towards the mill and max
ing motions as mpen would probably do
in planning an escape from the top OF the
building Mr., Woods telephoned Police
man Fox who Immediately drove the men
out Of the railroad yards. One Of these
men mad been sneakinG around Eckert's |
place and the yards ali night and Mr.. |
bretch the night watchman Of the Santa |
re. noticing the man. had tried 10 keep |
track Of him When the IRE was noticed |
on the top OF the building. only one man
could be seen. Officer Fox caught sight |
OF him 200 feet down the tracks and start
ed toward him. but the fellow ran Mr.. /
Fox thinks Il was one Of the men he had |
driven away from the depot about II
o'clock, when Mr.. Woods had called 20
him
The nre was a malicious inesndiGry with
out doubt, but what the motive Was Is
Ahrd 10 suggest
The IRE on the West Side. which de-
stroyed the hay barn aad lumber yard.
occurred about 2.3O. or was Ia full pro-
sFess al that time. ana lasted up till after
o'clock officer Fox and Watehman
bFetch saw the frs nthe top OF the uiid-
'ns They telephonsi 10 central. giving
the alarm The frs company was Rt the
other IRE and a messenger had 10 Tun to
ths West Side 70 give the alarm. Chief
walden imms msdietely sent al ths men
not needed TO handle the Wsst nids ars
10 The mill, and ths rect DC soon as there
was no longer any danger wess ~ che
river The engine has slready beea sred
Up ami was tssen 30 ska sccna e'h.s was
lssd 70 force heavy column O. water on
he are from the east ana south. While
hires nremen turned a hose on the iil-0so
rotn the top Of the building iast west % I