Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-11

building. He exercised extreme care in
seeing that no accident befel any of the
men. The great front wall looked like it
might topple outward at any minute.
Henderson kept two men at either side
watching for the least bulge in the wall to
indicate that it might fall and himself
kept guard to see that the men with the
hose kept out of harms way. So eager
were the men to get at the fire that time
and again they rushed forward ready to
enter the building and were only restrained
by the positive commands of their superior
. who feared they would be buried under the
walls As the fire gradually diminished
the men with the hose were kept as far
each side as possible and still get the
streams into the building, while their fel-
any indication that the walls might fall.
Origin of Fire Unknown.
H. V. Chase, secretary of the Newly
transfer Company, was at an utter loss to
account for the fire. He said he left the
building at five minutes before O'clock
and is certain there was no fire anywhere
about it at that time. Several other men in
the building, he said, did not leave until
some little time after he did. There was
nothing of an infidmmable nature being
dried, the linseed oil was all in the base
ment and there was not even any tarred
cordage or rope anywhere in the building
as far as he could recollect. He had no
theory as to how the fire started
The Dearborn building not con-
structed with party walls on either side,
and this probably accounts for the fact
that the fire was confined to the one Struc-
ture. Each building alongside had its own
y solid wall, and the solid fire walls of the
Dearborn building reached above the roof
. eight or ten feet and the building itself
was higher than the one on either side.
b. On March Z, 1881, when the entire block
east of this building was wiped out by
one OF the greatest fires Kansas City ever
had, the fire stopped when 1t reached the
Dearborn building, and the same stanch
q
Its fellows last night and confined the fire
within itself.
As IL was, no water was thrown into
either Of the adjoining buildings last night.
The water seeped through the walls, and
by 10 o'clock both the Easements to the
cast and the one to the west were nearly
full of water. Superintendent Pelletier, of
the insurance patrol, Immediately set
pumps to work and lowered the water
in the Easements, no damage was done
. either of the adjoining buildings. and the
entire damage to them will be but nom
fnai sum. o.
The fire itself was a grand spectacle.
From every window, and from the roof
rolled great scorching tongues of flames, of
ing oil or pitch while heavy black smoke
rolled aloft and spread itself over the en-
tire section. After the cutting of the cleo
trio light wires the streets were so dark,
except in the Immediate vicinity. that peo-
PIE were scarcely distinguishabie one from
another Viewed from little distance the
some subterranean cavern showing up in
silhouette AS they moved about IN the mist
and smoke, waving their torches and
shouting hoarse cries concerning their
work. The light of the fire beyond brought
out their figures distinctly, but enveloped
IN their rubber coats and helmets they
looked anything but human. And they
Fought the fire with more than human en-
ergy.
The Goodlett & Bowles Commission Com
pany, the Union Selling Company and
Arbuckles' selling agent had deskroom in
Nhe building and kept their books in the
storage company's vaults. Until they are
obtained and accounts are checked up 1t
will not be possible to estimate the loss
within thousands of dollars of the real
sum-
F. NJ. Dearborn said last night the build
ing was erected in 1880 at cost of SIS OO0
He carries $4,000 insurance on it. In his
opinion. three walls can be used in rebuild
ing and he will probably begin work on a
building as soon as the wreckage is
cleared away. The Newly. Transfer and
Storage lease expires May and IL a new
= tenant Is secured 1t will be remedeled to
suit their requirements.
Last night Mr.. Dearborn called on Chief
Hale and presented him with a check for
$50 for the family of Captain McNellis.