The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-23


was all that could be done.
Il can give no cause for the origin of
the fire. 1t was under too great head
way when the men arrived to tell where
it started or how but it evidently start
ed on the first floor.
Il should say that generally the pres
sure was good although Captain Rob-
inson of station No. reports that on
one of his two lines of hose the pres
sure was poor
COVERED WITH ICE.
The f1remen were soon covered with
Ice but it was not until o'clock that
the fire was called out and the men
were able to have breakfast. While
none of the men was reported to have
suffered any injury all were so chilled
that they had to be relieved from time
to time and sent to headquarters to
warm. While some were warming and
trying to melt the ice which hung from
their mustaches, eyebrows and hair
others kept steadily at work and were
in turn relieved by those who were
warmed. The rubber coats, helmets
and trousers of the men were soaked
and frozen so stiff that they had to be
melted before they could be removed.
The streets, sidewalks and alleys
near the building were flooded with wa
ter that frOZe almost as fast as it fell
from the hose The cellar of the build
ing is filled with debris, water and ice.
Many wires fell from the weight of ice
caused by the spray from the hose and
all this morning inemen have been
busy clearing away the fallen wires in
the alley and street.
All that is left of the building is the
front wall and a few feet of the floors.
A very small part of the one story ad-
ditiOn at the rear is standing and a few
charred shelves of goods can be seen
but not a thing escaped the flames and
the walls that are standing are value
less.
INSURANCE.
Mary S. Black of Detroit was the
1F "
Griffin, her agent, said today: 1.-The
building was worth $4,000 and was in
sured for $4,000 in the following COM
panies: The Fire association of Phila-
delphia, $4,000; the Norwich Union of
England, $4,000, and the American Cen
trail of st. Louis for $1,000. I think it
quite probable that Mrs. Black will re-
build on the old site at once, but I have
received no word from her and can not
say positively
Mr.. H. A. Auerbach, of the firm of
Auerbach & Guettel, owners of the Pal
ace clothing store, was in consultation
with Mr.. Guettel at his room at the
Throop this morning.
Il was called by the bell boy at a
quarter of four this morning. - said Mr..
Auerbach, land went at once to the
store. When l arrived there the entire
building was mass of flames. There
is no heating plant or fire of any kind
in the building and L believe that the
fire must have started from an electric
light wire. We had just completed
some extensive improvements and the
painters and carpenters were working
there yesterday. L do not believe that
the fire started from oil rags, because
all such rags were in the cellar and the
fire started on the first floor The base
ment was filled with new goods in the
boxes as they were shipped. The fire
did not hurt them, but they are water
soaked and standing in water now. The
stock was worth about $40, ,000 but l can
not say certainly because L can not tell
how much new goods were in the base
ment. The insurance is $35, 900.
I'VE shall start in business in a tenn
porary place within P week and shall
continue business right along. I shall
send Chief Wilmarth $100 for the fire
mems relief fund. The firemen worked
nobly. Why, they were covered with
ice, and icicles hung from their hair.
1t was TERRIBLE