The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-31
DRY GOODS DAMAGED.
New York Mercantile Company Suf-
fers q $4,000 Loss by Water.

The stock OF dry goods and notions
belonging to the New York Mercantile
company at No. 10 East Sixth avenue,
was damaged to the extent of 81, 600 last
night, by water. The water had been
left running into the sink in the rooms
Of the Moore Printing company, which
are on the second floor, by some one
connected with the printing Office, and
IN some manner rag had stopped up
the outlet pipe causing the water to
overflow and run out over the floor, and
run down on to the stock beneath
flooding the store.
When Mr. R. S Johnson, manager of
the New York Mercantile company
opened up the store this morning, he
found the water pouring down through
the ceiling in torrents. The entire east
side of the store was flooded and the
water stood almost an inch deep on the
floor Fastening up stairs he found
that the water had been closed off only
a few minutes before by Mr.. Moore,
who had arrived and found it running
full force. The water had evidently
been running all night from the time
that the Office had been closed up at 6
o'clock until closed off at o'clock in
the morning. The floor of the printing
office was flooded and the water was
already running down the stairway.
Fastening down stairs, Mr.. Johnson,
assisted by the clerks who had by this
time arrived, began to sort out the
goods and take those which had not
been damaged, to some other part of
the east side of the store was more or
less damaged. The goods which were
entirely soaked, three express wagons
IuII, were taken out to Mr.. JOhnSOn'S
residence and hung on the lines to dry.
The remaining goods were sorted out
and distributed about the store as we'll
as possible under the circumstances
On the east side of the store was a
balcony and this was piled full of new
goods which had not all been opened
and placed on the shelves. There were
boxes of stockings, several cases of fall
underwear, just arrived, and badly
soaked and streaked by the coloring
matter running out of the cOlored pa
per in which they were wrapped, pack
ages of yarn, heavy with water, and
notions which were damaged beyond
estimate. Beneath the balcony were
the shelves along the wall on which
were numerous colored goods and box
es Of muslin underwear. piles of tow
els, quantities of black hosiery, and
such other goods as are found in a mer-
camille store of this kind. All these
goods were badly soaked as the water
had run down the wall and over the
front of the balcony and through the
goods to the floor
On the counter was the ribbon case,
and this is almost complete loss. The
case was filed with all varieties of rib
bon and hardly a bolt of it escaped be-
ing completely soaked. Towards the
rear of the store is the shoe stock and
the water played havoc with this Some
the path of the water and We're wet and
damaged. The entire east side of the
store suffered and the stock will have
to be sold at a loss of at least 81, 600.
Mr.. johnson said today: I'VE are at
a loss to know how this water was left
running. Mr.. Moore of the printing
house on the next floor says that he
questioned everyone connected with his
establishment and they all disclaim
any knowledge of leaving the water
running. We regret the occurrence very
much, as it means a loss to US of at
least 81, 900 and a great deal of the dam
aged goods were new stock, just put in,
and some of it not yet put on the
shelves. We have been working hard
all the morning trying to save what
stock was not damaged and sorting
over the damaged stock preparatory to
closing it out at what it will bring. The
store will open up at 2 o'clock, ready
for business. We shall replace the
stock Immediately, and in a
few days everything will be running as
smoothly