Arizona republican., 1902-07-11
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Five Points School Building Just as 1t
Was Finished.

at the corner of Hancock and Illinois
streets, was destroyed by fire before
o'clock yesterday morning. The fire
was discovered about half-past )
o'clock by the little daughter of Cap
tain H. c. Mcdonald. She saw smoke
issuing from the north front of the
building. The fire at that time seemed
to have Just been started. and il is
thought that if aid had been rendered
at once it would have been extin-
guished without much difficulty But
the fire grew with great rapidity, and
in a few minutes was pouring from the
whole building.
There was a great deal of delay in
turning in an alarm. and finally it had
to be turned in by ii boy on d bicycle.
1t was o'clock when the department
reached the burning building, which
was then wreathed in flames. The de-
partment would have been helpless,
even if the confiagration had not been
so far advanced. 1t was several blocks
to the nearest fire plug, and the by
drants in that vicinity showed that
there was nc pressure at the time. 1t
was not long until the greater part of
the north wall fell in. and everything
about the building that was combus-
tible was quickly consumed.
The origin of the fire was Il mystery,
and will likely always remain one
There are three theories. One is that
the fire was incendiary. another that
it was started by boys who had been
playing about the building for several
days, and the third that it was started
nv
night before. Thomas Eden, who was
among the first to reach the burning
building. is sure that it was purposely
fired He says that when he got there
it seemed to be confined to a corner
of the basement, but within Il few
minutes it flashed and spread to all
parts of the building. He is certain
that ccal oil or some other infiam-
mable material had been spread
around. The tramp theory is not a
very reasonable one TO entertain at
this season of the year in this particu-
lar locality. The average tramp, as
we'll as, the average citizen. would not
break into Il school building to sleep il,
the Salt River valley in midsummer
1t is known that boys living in the
neighborhood had been going in and
for several days. but none could have
been there at that hour of the morn
ing.
The building had just been completed
and If turned over to the school dis
trirt at all it had been done only in
formally. 1t is said that the work had
been accepted by Architect Merton
from the contractors. Galpin & Cot.
he r. I,r,r,
know whether that is so or not. for
they did not see Mr.. Norton yesterday
They are inclined to believe that therx
was nc formal acceptance. but that h,
locked at the work and expressed his
| satisfaction with it. Mr.. B. ~ Fickas
of the board had made an appointment
with the contractors to visit the mouse
Wednesday, but he was una BILE to keel
it, and he made another for yesterday
Mr.. Robson of the board was out OF
| town on Monday. as was Mr. De Mund
The contract for the construction ~
this building and the Churchill build
ing had been taken together at sl6..
600 There had been expended upon the
Five Points building $S2S5. The con.
| tractors had received on this work So
coo. and ii few days ago the architec
|
$3.50 This warrant has not bee,
cashed The contractors had the build
| ing insured in the German American
and Svea companies for So 1000
Who is to lose the difference between
| this sum and the contract price is wha
| the trustees and the contractors ar
trying to figure out now The boar,
does not want to put Il hardship upo'
| no
them for the work than not if they cal
do so legally.
They submitted Il tentative PROPOSE
ton yesterday without expectation tina
ii would be accepted out of hand Tha
was that the contractors take the in
surance and replace the building. Th
proposition WAS rejected. The boar
then laid the matter before the dis
trict attorney, who advised against IN
payment of the balance due without
test of the legality of such Il proceed
ing. 1t is likely that before anythin
| is done there will be a friendly suit
All the work is not lost There wi
| have to be no excavation for base
ment. and it is thought that the four
dation wall may not be injured.
part of the plumbing may be intac
and great many OF the brick in tn
walls may be used again. There
yet time to complete building in tir
for the opening of the school yea
but it will not he completed. for ncti
ing Will be done until the present III.
pute between the board and tn" COZ
tractors has been settled
The building was Il counterpart
the 'hrchill building. 1t contained 70,
rooms and basement, with IaVatoric
, fuel room and all other accessories
a we'll ordered school house. The foo
We're of hard wood. and altogether
was a building of which that part
: the city was already proud. Thong