Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-07-19
Costly Fire.

Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock fire
destroyed the two brick buildings and
the two iron-clad store rooms located
at the southwest corner of the square
owned and occupied by the Shimeall
Clothing Company. Handy & Co,
New York Racket Store, and other
tenants.
THE BUILDINGS
consisted of a tWo-story brick of two
room front. The north building was
occupied by the Shimesll Company
with the residence of @. M. Poe IN the
second story. The next room was
Handy & Co.'s, with lodge rooms up
stairs. Just south of this and con-
nected to the brick building by large
arch-wsy was a two-store Ironclad
oae-story building, separated by q
a board partition. The north room of
this building was occupied by Han
dy & Co., the south room by the New
York Racket Store.
THE CAUSE.
Mr.. Handy was alone in the store,
closing up his books. Finishing his
work, which was being done in the
light furnished by two gas burners
and one large Rochester lamp ID the
south room. Re turned out one of
the gas burners. pulled down the wick
of the Rochester lamp and started for
the safe near the front of the north
room with his books. An explosion
took place, from just what cause is
not known. Mr.. Handy turned back
and found the south room on fire. He
attempted to put the fire out, but at
once found that the task was too
great. He then turned and ran for
the front door, and finding 1t locked,
broke the glass and was assisted out
by Lew Rhodes.
THE FIRE
spread rapidly. A large crowd of
people, called out by the fire bell,
assembled and at once took hold with
a will to save property On Monday
heavy rain fell west of here, and fill
ed Deer Greek full of muddy water,
which reached here Tuesday. On that
day the water in the west we'll was
pumped out, and as the water IN Deer
Greek was so vile and filthy it could
not be used for any purpose except
irrigation, or fire protection, and as
irrigation was not needed, it was
deemed best not to pump it into the
tank. AS it proved serious mistake
was made. The fire company was On
hand promptly but could do nothing,
as an organization. L 3 Nipps went
to the east we'll, and Frank Chapman
to the Greek, but before water could
be pumped up the buildings and con-
tents were destroyed. When water
did come it was so muddy that the
walls where it struck were coated with
mud. Some water was used to put
out the burning ruins.
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN
did excellent work in preventing a
spread of the flames from the burning
buildings. McKay's store across the
street, J. D. Oheadle's residence, fifty
feet south, and Crookhsm's shop fifty
feet west, were covered with blankets
kept wet with water obtained from
wells far and near. Wells two blocks
away were called on.
THE LOSSES.
The Shimeall Clothing Company
carried stock of clothing, boots and
shoes and similar goods valued at &c.
900. About one-third of of this stock
was saved IN badly mussed up con-
dition; an insurance of So, 800 was
carried on the stock O. NJ. Poe, man
ager of the clothing company, occu-
pied the upper story, which YVES ele-
gantly furnished. Mr.. Poe and fam
lily are away, SO no figures can be OBJ
tanned as to his loss. Fire in q resi- |
dence always destroys property that
by association is of untold value to it's
owner. Family treasures are burned
up which cannot be replaced. Mr.. Poe
had an insurance of $500 His loss Is
much more.
The building was valued at $4,000,
upon which was an insurance of
$1,000.
Handy & Co. had $4,000 stock of
general merchandise, with an insur-
.nce of $4,000 The buildings were
yalued at $4,000 for the brick and
3, 600 for the frame, with an iusur-
nee of 50 600.