Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-02
Flames Eat up Residence Nearby
at Loss of $4,000.
MATCH IGNl1ES WOOD lLCHOL
Had Gone to Rear of Drug Store to
Get Drus-otfer Buildings Damaged
But Saved by Vigorous Efforts of
Fire Fighters.

ii'iiiSs WHICH last hight completely de-
stroyed his drug store and home in
Beacon, by the timely arrival of three
men, William Beardsley is lying at the
nome OF friends in that place in a Sc
rlous condition. Though suffering in
tensely from the severe burns, the
physicians are of the opinion that the
injuries will not prove fatal.
The flames originated in the rear
room of the drug store by the ignition
OF wood alcohol. Though the people
of the town worked heroically the store
and the residence of the PROPRIETOR
were soon burned to the ground, and
1t was only by the most strenuous ef-
forts that other nearby buildings were
saved from the flames.
The loss is estimated at sS 5000
only partially insured.
Had Order for Wood Alcohol.
About $50 o'clock last evening Mr..
Beardsley had an order for wood alco-
hol and went to the room accompanied
! by a lad named Morrish to get the
drug.( In. pouring the drug into the
| bottle some Of the liquid dropped to
| the floor This was ignited by match
| dropped onto the floor by Moorish or
! Beardsley and the flames darting up
wards caught the clothing of lIr.
! Beardsley.
Mr.. Bsardsley Rescued.
in his attempt to extinguish the
flames Mr. Beardsley dropped the bto-
tie, which broke as it struck the floor,
adding to the rapid spread of the fire.
Morrish Immediately gave the alarm
and Frank Shoemaker, William Bow
en- and j. Mosier, who happened to
be about the store. rushed into the
rear room just in time to save Mr..
Beardsley from being probably fatally
burned.
Gasoline Tank Expiodes.
When Mr.. Beardsley dropped the
bottle in his attempt to put out the fire
it broke as it struck the floor adding
to the rapid spread of the fire. .fhe
flames soon reached the large gasoline
tank nearby, which exploded scatter
ing the fire to all parts of the room,
and soon the entire building was en-
yeloped.
Bucket Brigade Formed.
Beacon has no fire protection but
the citizens who soon gathered formed
a bucket brigade and began battle
royal with the flames. 1t was soon
seen that all attempts to save the store
or the residence of Mr.. 3eardsley,
which was located just east of it, were
| fruitless Only small amount OF fur
nitule was saved from the dwelling.
Other Buildings Threatened.
Famed by the wind the danes
were carried to the house just east of
the Beardsley residence, belonging to
Harry Liscomb. BY the most yigor-
Gus efforts OF the lire fighters. the
blaze here was finally extinguished,
but not until considerable damage LAD
been done to the house.
The offices OF the Garfield Coal 6
Mining Co.. located across the street.
north OF the Beardsley store were
threatened and it looked as though all
that part OF the town would be con-
sumed. The vigorous efforts of tho
bucket brigade, however, finally were
successful and the flames were brought
under control.
Beardsley Badly Burned.
AS soon as Beardsley had been re-
moved to the home of friend, medi-
cal assistance was summoned. An eX-
animation OF his injuries showed that
he was severely burned about the face
and hands, with painful burns about
the left side and shoulder and right
forearm. Steps were at once taken to
relieve his suffering, and today his
condition is reported to be good, con-
sidering the extent of the injuries he
freceiyed
Cannot Talk.
The loss, as nearly as can be esti-
mated, will amount to about $4,000.
No idea of the amount of the insurance
carried by Mr.. Beardsley can be Sc
cured, as his looks and papers were all
destroyed with the store building. and
today he has been unable to talk or
give out any information concerning
his loss or the insurance. Mr.. Boards
ley has been resident of Beacon for
the past twenty-five years and is well
known throughout that vicinity.
Youou Officer Dies.