The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-04-15
AN EARLY.CALL
TO FIGHT FIRE
Rakestraw's Livery Wrecked
by Destructive Element.
THE FIRE CHECKED
BY Almost Superhuman Efforts of the
Volunteers All Safely Res
cued.-Damage $1,000.
THE FIRE CHECKED

anu IN a lew minutes the hose carts
and hook and ladder truck were drag
ged to the plug nearest the fire, which
was at the Rakestraw livery barn.
The upper part Of the barn was
roaring mass of flame and smoke, and
considerable difficulty was experience
in getting the horses out. However,
there were many willing hands and
fortunately every horse was gotten
out while there was yet an opportuni-
ty to handle them. The fire rapidly
gained Roadway and it looked several
times as though the Walker barn ad-
joining on the south and the entire
block would go. The volunteer fire.
men worked as they always work, and
regardless of falling beams or showers
of water which drenched them to the
skin, and sent them shivering right
into the flames held the fire to the
original building, except that the roof
of the paint shop was burned to some
NACSAACs A/AttAO VI oAy SaAuO w C0 IeAh-
en- safely out of Rakestraws barn,
with the exception of few light wag-
ons, which were scorched and dam
aged, and some harness.
From Walkers stable the horses
were driven and the vehicles and har-
ness, and everything movable taken
ont h,rt oil hn f1,o nv
touched that barn.
From DAILY & Co.'s paint shop some
unfinished work was carried out and
such household stuff as could be lifted,
but this also was unnecessary. as it
afterward developed.
The hose company certainly did
make handsome showing and the
owners of the other buildings in the
block can thank them and their efforts
that their property Is not represented
today by smouldering pile Of debris.
Jay Rakestraw, proprietor Of the
burned outfit, who sleeps in the Office
at the barn, says he was disturbed by
q III VI NOuSAAA6, anu WOhO up CAO
night man who was asleep on a couch.
He inquired as to the trouble and just
then both observed that the room was
| filled with smoke and sparks were
dropping. They Immediately rushed
out to the stalls and cut the halter
ropes as fast as possible, even before
giving an alarm, and to this, probably,
the horses owe their salvation. The
corral gate was opened and the stabbed
animals turned loose, found their way
in good order to freedom.
The barn was insured for $500 with
the Fireman's Fund company, the con
tents for $1,000, with the CALIFORNIAN
both of which company's are repre-
sented here by c.. R. Griffith. The
building is of course a total loss, and
it is said that thirteen rigs of various
kinds were either burned or scorched
so severely that they are valueless
Chief Mullaney says that considering
the hour and the delay in giving the
alarm he thinks the fire department
more than covered themselves with
glory in combining the fire and saving
the adjoining buildings. Mr.. Null
laney says the water pressure was ex
cellent and modestly attributes some
of their success to that medium. Any
one resting cozily in bed would have
been chilled to death in the biting
breeze which came in from the west
freezing the water on ladders and roo
and there were several narrow es
capes. Johnny Uehlinger was steady
ing the hose on the comb of the roo
when the nozzle man slipped on tn,
ice and all three, one hose and tw,
firemen slid ten feet to the ground
unhurt, but little wetter.