Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-12-11
! BIG BLAZE IN DIES MONIES.
The Auditorium Bndly Damaged and
adjoining Buildings destroyed.

The Auditorium Badly Damaged and
Adjoining Buildings destroyed.
Des Aioines, Dec. 12Fire at 3 O'clock
this morning destroyed the grand stand
at the league ball park, a small barn be-
longing to L.. H. Bush, just north, and
several neghboring wooden buildings,
and all but wrecked the new Auditori- 4
UNI. Slight damage was inflicted TO the
lrear part of the latter building and by
lonly narrow margin WAS the nagnifi
lsoent structure saved from a repetition
of the experience of last June. The A
lditorium scenery and stage fixtures We're
badly damaged.
The fire originated in the grand stand
lsor in the Auditorium boiler room adj
Joining. Aided by a strong western WIND
lit swept thru the pine structure as if it
lhad been powder. The blaze was only.
discovered when it had progressed 50
4 far that great clouds of black smoke.
TINTED red with the roaring flames. We're
lolling high over the Auditorium. the
y NJ G. A. building and the houses in
the vicinity. Huge sparks shot upwards
form the cracking flames. ard We're car
Tried by the high Wind for several block.
Threatening seriously allthe property i'll
4 the immediate locality
4 AS soon as the nature of the danger
was discovered and that the Auditorium
was iinperiled. general alarm was
turned in.
Two small wooden dwellings near tne
grand stand were wept away in a. few
4 minutes. In IL quarter of an hour after.
i the alarm went in the grand stand ap-s
peared a cnarred wreck of blazing,
4 blackened boards and beams. When the
3 fire department once got to work. it
a handed the fire effectively, and by.
i.iioodine the rsof the Auditorium With
4 great streams from several lines of hose
4 managed to prevent 1T from going UP III
81 smoke.
The residents in the houses near at
hand escaped from their beds in error.
For a few minutes 1T looked as if the Y.
q NJ. c. A. buiiding, and the buildings to
the west of it, as We'll as the buildings
north OF the Auditorium, We're doomed.
Great crowds of people collected in a
short time and watched the fire as If
% awes trickeil and nomentarily expecting
the Auditorium to burst out unconroi-
lably.
The frame buildings adjoining the
south bleacllers and facing on the alley
J, which would be Fifth street if the street
stfoyed. They belonged 10 f. NJ HUB
,shbelL The loss on both is probably 81. 200
and on the furnishings half as much. A
barn on the same lot also belonging 10
MIR. Hubbell. and in which the fire s
stated. In one story told. to have origi-
mated, was also destroyed
South of the frame house which was
9 burned was a story and half brick
owned by Young 4 Butler. which was
t partially destroyed The loss Will be
A several hundred dollars
Young d Buffers livery barn. which
. faces on Grand avenue and extends
e north nearly to the ball park. Was OF
fire number of times and was badly
, damaged.
All of the grand stand of the ball parl
0 was destroyed, together with the dress
7 ing ard bath rooms and offices Beneath
e it, The south bleachers areaa total los:
Il and the north bleachers nearly tota
d loss. This property cost about $4,000
d and wassinsured for $4,000
The fire attacked the upper portion O
the rear of the Auditorium, and for !
time the roof was on fire. The aeria
truck was erected ard the fire enabled
y TO fight the blaze at Gloss quarter.
= brought 1t under control
e Smoke and water damaged the scener,
o and stage fixtures valued at $500 to
. serious extent The damage may PROV,
NEARLY total.
June II last. at A o'clock in the morn
ling The Auditorium was burned. TIL
I building Was renewed in time for tn
= Erepubiican state convention. which WA
: held Aug. i. 1t costs s45, coo and was bull
= originally by popular subscriptions an,
: was rebuilt by public subscriptions an,
the use OF the $4,000 insurance whicl
was carried.
Following are the approximate .osse
J. at this mornings fire:
y Baseball grand stand and bleach
e ers...... ...... ........ IS 500
F. NJ. Hubbell, frame houses. s. 100
Young & Butler, house damaged. 90
Young & Butler, barn and con-
tents..-.ss so
Y L. III. Bush, barn.. 81. ......s..... 90
Auditorium boiler room and walls 200
Scenery and stage fixtures J. 49,. ESQ
! sll,4o
is Fire Mt Evanston.
y Fort Dodge, Dec. 11.-Fire destroye
E