The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-11

at the fire in a very few minutes later
and took charge of his men
When the department arrived the fire
seemed 20 be confined principally to the
basement at the southwest corner of
Clawson's store or in the northwest cor
ner of the Mine & Smelter Supply por-
ton, in one of which places the IRE is
believed by Chief DeVine to have orig
mated. Fortunately there was, ac-
cOrding to the statement of Chief De-
vine, a good water pressure, and soon
the firemen had several lines of hose
on the burning portion of the building.
Rapid Spread of Flames.
The flames spread with a ripidity al
most phenomenal, breaking forth in re-
mote portions of the building, jumping
from basemen to second floor and
spreading from room to room without
any apparent means of transmission,
unless the house was filled with gases,
which the fremen believe to have been
the case.
At AIS Chief Devine, realizing that
department No. l was not a sufficient
force, sent a general alarm, and all the
apparatus from departments Nos.
and + responded, reaching the scene in
a very few minutes.
Terrific Explosion.
It was at this juncture, about half an
hour after the fire alarm was turned
in. that a terrific explosion occurred,
almost costing the lives of four fremen
and demolishing portion of the build
ing. It came without an instant5S
warning, and the wonder is that a
number of firemen, as well as others,
were not blown into atoms. There was
roar that awakened people for miles
away, followed by a shaking of the
ground that could be distinctly felt
many blocks from the scene of the ex-
plosion-
1t seemed as though the whole south
side of the building had been suddenly
80
with flying debris. and a large section
Of the south wall went flying across
Pierpont avenue, almost demoHshing a
portion of a house. The front door of
the Mine & Shelter Supply house was
! blown across the sidewalk, stone pillars
were twisted from their positions and
eight firemen were blown several feet
from where they had been working,
four of them receiving severe injuries.
Firemen Injured.
The four firemen injured were As
slstant Chief Mccarthy, Captain Love,
Amos MoretOn and Otto Wtibeck.
The explosion created a draft
through the building that made the
names burst out with renewed energy,
and 1t looked for short time as if the
Dooly oulldins, the High school and
the whole block would be swept to the
ground. Steamer No. > which was
called at 4:43. unfortunately blew off
a suction connection while on the way
~ AllC IRE, ana considerable DELAY
was caused from that source. but the
} break was soon repaired and ten lines
of hose were soon in operation upon the
burning building.
The flames by this time were rolling
out of every portion of the building
the High school had taken fire and ale
windows in the east end of the Dooly
building were ignited.
Adjoining Buildings Saved
A line of hose was promptly turned
upon the High school building but it
required the most heroic work of the
firemen to save the building. Another
line of hose was turned upon the Dooly
block, but it was discovered that the
I engine would not throw the water high
er than the third floor, and it looked
as if the building We're doomed. For
/ tunately, the rear part of The building
/ is provided with stand pipes, and a line
/ Of hose was connected with this while
/ firemen lugged a fifty-fOot line of hose
/ to the roof. connected it with the stand
pipe and fought the fire from the roof.
A number of volunteer assistants
4 turned their attention to the windows
from the inside, tearing down awnings
and knocking out burning frames to
prevent the fire from getting 10 the
ceilings inside The fight was a hard
one and against strong odds, but persa-
verance, the firemen and the volunteers
saved the building from ruin.
| A slight wind was blowing when the
| fire started but after the explosion it
seemed to die down. else. according 10
the statement of the firemen. it would