Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-11-24
CRADENS
DAMAGED
BY FIRE


hour this morning by the first disas-
trous fire for many months. About
twenty-minutes past five Special Mer-
chants Nightwatchman w. w. Thomp-
son discovered smoke bulging from
the north basement window of the
Graden Mercantile companys large
warehouse at the rear OF their store
and adjoining the d. & R. G. railroad
tracks He Immediately turned in an
alarm from the kruschke corner, the
nearest station. Returning to the
building he found immense volumes of
Smoke pouring from the window, as
well as from the west windows and
through small erevices in the front
part OF the main floor. The fire de-
partment responded quickly but so
dense was the smoke that it was hard
to discover the point from which it
eminated. The doors and windows
were broken into and flames burst
forth over the entire front of the main
floor. Three streams OF water were
soon playing on the blaze, but it was
evident the main fire was not on this
floor. Firemen then, although almost
d. dlSlcu ny tul opculuSS
through the floor and found the front
part of the basement seething mass
of flames. Through these openings
and the basement windows streams of
water were directed and for an hour
or so it was question who would
prove master-tilemen or the fiery ele-
ments Finally. after working two
hours, the blaze was extinguished, but
smoke remained and it was an hour
after before an inventory could be
taken of the damage.
A representative of The Herald
went through the warehouse about
half-past eight and a sorry sight
greeted him. In the basement is stor
ed the winter suppy OF potatoes and
apples, several carloads of each, along
with meats, consisting of hams, ba-
con. etc, cheese. tobacco, surplus
rubber goods. stoneware and numer-
Gus other articles. The sacks cover
ing the potatoes were burned off and
the potatoes roasted, while apples
were well baked, especially those ex-
posed. The joists and floor were
burned so they gave way in several
places While the blaze did not ex-
tend to the south end OF the basement
everything was thoroughly impregnat-
ed with smoke. On the main floor OF
the warehouse and in front is the hay
and grain department. The sacks
were burned. causing the wheat, corn
and oats to be spilled on the floor,
while the hay was more or less sing
tol hninp inter
cepted before it had gotten good
hold. or otherwise it would have been
difficult to have controlled it as easily
on this floor The boxes of several
dozen cases of matches We're badly
burned but the fire did not reach thc
matches.
Mr.. r. +. Sloan heard the alarm and
had gotten up to look at the fire card
to see the location of the call. While
engaged in this he was called up by
phone. and informed the fire was in
the main store building, but minute
later another message gave him
the true facts. OF course he
hurried to the scene, the fire
department having arrived and
~at work. Mr. Sloans saws so far
not even tangible clue can be CIV
en- concerning the origin Of the fire.
Since the new heating plant has been
established no stoves are in the
warerooms. 1t was thought that
,sparks might have been blown
through the west windows from the
passing passenger train this morning.
but as the windows are covered by
a fine wire screen it is not believed
possible for a burning cinder to pass
through 1t is generally conceded
however. that the fire was under head
way a long time before discovered
probably two or three hours. With no
air current to fan the flames and dense
smoke it made slow progress until the
entire front of the basement was en-
yeloped. Had the discovery been
made twenty minutes later it is doubt
full If the building or contents could
have been saved
It is hard to estimate the damage.
The goods stored in the warehouse
will invoice between 100000 and *Zo.-
600 with insurance Of about 80 per
cont. This insurance is principally In
the lockwood Perkins agency. the
Local Security company and Frank
Eldredge agencies being also repre-
n ented. The loss. which will prooa-
blv foot up $4,000, being caused large
" through smoke and water. Will be
distributed among dozen or so COM
NAMES. This forenoon the doors were
barricaded until insurance ad1ustors
arrive. III.
The fire will not interfere with the
reoular business OF the frm, as the
ii, storerooms are well stocked
- - ,,a4 Tho cliphfeSf delay