The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-02

The Loss Between Fifteen and Twenty Thous-
and Partially Covered by Insurance.
The Explosion tfa Large Lamp
Starts the BIeza

Durham, N. c., Jan. 1.-(Special)- Be
tween and 4 o'clock this morning the
First National Bank building, one of the
finest business buildings in the center
of the city, was visited by fire and the
loss is between fifteen and twenty thou
sand dollars. The loss was covered by
about two thirds insurance.
The fire originated in the central office
of the Interstate Telephone company,
caused by the explosion of a large oil
lamp. In q few minutes the front part
of the third floor was a roaring fur
mace. The firemen did all that could be
done and confined the flames to that COR
ner of the building. On the first and
second floors there was great damage on
account Of water.
In the Interstate telephone office there
was a young lady operator. From her it
is learned that she lighted the large oil
lamp in order to warm up the room.
AS socn as she lighted it there was an ex-
plosion and the room was filled with
flames. She escaped to the hallway and
gave an alarm of fire. Every room in the
building was occupied at the time and
several of the occupants escaped in scan
ty clothing. No one was seriously hurt.
The losses are as follows First Ma
tional bank, damage to building between
$4,000 and $4,000, fully covered by insur-
ance, there being $17,500 insurance on
the building; Interstate Telephone COM
pany, damage to property about $4,000,
with $500 insurance; law office of Guthrie
Cut Il
ance 81, 500; Mrs. A. NJ Smith, millinery
stock damage about 81 500 with no insur-
ance
In addition to these losses there
were small losses among other oc-
cupants of the building, most of them
being covered by insurance The dam
age in the bank room is confined to the
furniture and is covered in the SIT 500
insurance on the building.
The fire was stubborn one and in
a dangerous localitl. Had the building
been consumed the Hotel Carolina would
have burned and that portion of the
city would no doubt have gone up in
smoke and ashes. With bull dog deter
mnation the fireman went into the third
floor of the building and for two hours
held the flames in check, finally sub
uulng tnen.
In the building were the law Offices Of
Boone and Biggs; Y. S. Bryant; dental
office of DR.. William Lynch, and several
other offices. Some ten or twelve of
the rooms We're occupied by roomers.
Had the fire gained more rapidly than
it did there would no doubt have been
loss of life
The Interstate Telephone company was
badly crippled. A large force of hands
were put to work today and Manager
Shaw says that he hopes to have the
exchange in operation by Tuesday or
wednesday of next week. The loss in
this office almost complete. The val
liable switch board is entirely ruined
and man was sent out this morning to
get another board, second handed or any
kind for temporary use, and get back here
with it as soon as possible. Informal
ton this evening is that the board will
reach here tomorrow and it will be set up
Saturday and Sunday.
The FIRST National bank is
sued statement this evening
that the bank would resume business to-
morrow morning at the usual hour. This
being holiday the bank was closed any
way and it did not lose a single day.