Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-05
The Fire in Custer.

We presume that our readers hav
ere this been made aware that we hav
had fire In our town. 1t occurred oil
Sunday, the 30th of December, 1900, q
about half past twelve o'clock in th
afternoon. The smoke was first seeI
rising from one Of the rear rooms OF tn,
Vienna hotel but no one seems to know
how il caught, or how the fire FIRST orig
mated. A strong wind was blowini
from the northwest and the flames
quickly spread to the livery stable oil
the east and coon the whole block wal
in flames. The alarm had been prompt
ly sounded and the people excitedly
FASTENED to the scene, and with willing
hands succeeded in carrying out the
furniture and all the effects Of value be-
longing to the occupants. Except that
of the large livery stable heionRing to
Mr.. c. Q. Crary which was we'll stock ed
with hay and oats, the proprietor hav-
ing Just LAID in a full winters supply.
Custer has no fire department. and the
flames quickly deyoured the frame
buildings in the following order.
First the Vienna hotel, which stands
on the corner of 9th street and Custer
Avenue. This was the only two story
building in the block and was valued at
$4,000. 1t was owned by the Custer
County Bank, and was insured for 81 500.
This building was formerly ownpd by
Capt. c. A. Haserodt, and was one OF
the old land marks of the city. The
lower floor was occupied by Mr.. N. o.
Billings as a barber shop. He figures
his loss at about $4,000. The east room
was occupied bv Mr.. Rodstrom as a
photograph gallery who sustained but a
trifling loss by damage to goods.
Mr.. Crary's loss foots up about 81 900
on building and 5000 on hay and oats,
total $4,000. No insurance.
Mrs. 4. Kemmish, who owned and
occupied the next building east as a
dwelling and store, sustained loss on
building and damage to stock OF $500.
Insurance $500.
Mr.. Chris Henriksen, proprietor OF
livery and feed stable met with loss
,f about 5000 on building and hay. In.
surance $500.
II q. Butterfeld came next in order
with loss to building of $4OO. No insur
ance.
James Clark, who owned the old but.
cher shop and adjoining rooms, was mex,
called upon to feed the flames, which he
did to the tune of loss of about $3.50
No insurance
Otto Munson, who occupied the rooms
next to the alley as taxidermist estaL'
lishment, suffered loss Of about $40 O(
on personal effects and damage to stock
Mrs. NJ. l.. Sanders, who owned the
last building in the block, will sustain 9
loss of $500 on building with an insur
ance of 5000.
The fire was an exceedingly hot one
while it lasted and the buildings acros.
the street, as we'll as the First Nationa
Bank were In great danger. The peo
pie, who from the very first saw tn,
hopelessness OF saying any of the build
ings IN the block, formed themselves il
to bucket brigade and kept the sur
rounding buildings well saturated Will
water BY this means, and from tn,
further fortunate circumstances that tn,
wind blew favorable, enabled the popu
lace to keep the fire confined to tn
block where it first started. Had tn,
wind blown from different quartz
their efforts must have proved futil
and much more damaging confagra
tion must haYe ensued.
There are Only two thus far who hav
signified their intention ofrebuilding OIL
their lots. These are Mrs. Kemmisf
and Mr.. Henriksen, who say they vii
rebuild as soon as their insurance can b
adjusted.