Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-05-17
Fire SWEPT
Entire Line of Grain
Elevators Entirely
Wiped Out.
Gallant Work of Firemen
and Lucky Shift of the
Wind Save the City.
An --
Flilbank and Waubay Respond to
Call for Help, No Serious but
Several Minor Accidents
100000 GONE UP In SMOKE!

Although terribly tcOrched and badly
scared, Webster makes it's usual fortu-
nate escape from the clutches OF the
fire tiend. For "A time this afternoon it
looked as ii nothing short of a miracle
would save the city from destruction.
hui the noble work OF the brave firemen
and clliznns generally was rewarded
and the fire confined to the elevator
Districts. An alarm oil fire was given
at Z p. III, when it was discovered the
Standard Oil sheds we're in flames. The
fire department quickly responded, but
the explosive and infiammable nature
OF the contents Of the oil sheds kept the
tiremen at a distance for IA while and
they turned their attention to the
adjoining elevators. The first act was
to pull out OF danger an oil tank car
the woodwork OF which was in flames
4 strongea st wind was blowing aud
the flames rapidly communicated to
Dit manson's coal sheds. The depart
ntent tore out the warehouse wings of
the elevators in hopes of staying the
fire, this proving ineiectual, dynamite
aud gunUOwder were used in an en-
deayor TO blow M an elevator, but the
hpa' was SO Intense and the flames
sped So rapidly that but little was ne
compIi~hrd by this metIad. As the line
Oi elevators was doomed, the firemen
directed their Efforts TO preventing the
DANES communicating to the lumber
yards and property in the business
portion. At this time the wind vperpd
slightly to the northeast giving the fire
fighters an opportunity to work at
better advantage. Following the coal
sheds IN rapid succession wps DESTROYED
the Farmers union, Merchants, Bagley,
Strong x Co., and Empire elevators,
the last OF which burned TIA the ground
at four o'clock, the entire line being
wiped out in exactly two hours. Fires
were started in a dozen plnces or more
by flying cinGers, but all were promptly
extingulslp ed with the exception OF a
small buildimg destroyed in rear of
kramer's barn and Frank Gibson's
residence which was practically Quilted
by fire,
The Waubay and Milbuuk fire com
panies responded with chemical appa-
| ratus TO u call for aid. The Waubay
department covered the distance III 81
| minutesby team and the Milbank Com
! paHy made the run in one hour and
twenty minutes, but the fire was about
over when they arrived Every water
tank was pressed INTO service haul
ing water and the merchants and
citizens III the endangered parts
of the city had employed seams
to haul their possessions to points OF
safety. Several minor accidents are re-
purted-Wm. Mahaney badly injured his
ankle in falling from a barn, w r. Bates
hurt his wrist and ankle falling from the
| Gunderson Building and Ole Irvig re-
ceived a bad smash in the lace from "a
timber. The depot building was in
! great danger, Agent Bradley removed
everything from the building but the
bucket brigade kept the building
thoroughly soaked aud saved it.
The total loss will approximate $780,
600. Messrs Kramer aud Williams, and
| ID. b. Compton being the heaviest losers
as the old line companies are FUZZY IN
sured. The fire is said to have been
caused by the striking ol a match in the
| oil sheds. A force OF men will be station
ed at points throughout the city tonight
to guard against danger ircm flying
embers.