The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-05
BIG FIRE
DESTROYED
BUILDINGS
In Oklahoma City for the Sec
ond Time.
IN FURNAMCE ROOM
OF Store It Is Supposed the
Fire Started.
ROOM

Oklahoma City. o. T, Feb. 4.-(Speciai
90 the Eagle)-For the second time fire
has destroyed the famous Lion store, the
largest department store in the territory.
The first fire was July Is, last, and en-
tailed a loss OF nearly $4,000.
The fire Of today started at about G:30
and was discovered by Mr.. Geo. E. Gard
ner, the manager of the store, when he
made his rounds OF inspection, about =
o'clock The fire started in the furnace
room and was communicated to large
amount of inaammable material close by.
mir. Gardner attempted 10 quelI the flames
BY the use OF han grenades, but was
driven back by the intense smoke. He
imemdiately turned in an alarm, but be-
fore the fire department arrived the en-
tire store WAS u seething furnace.
The hremen Were soon playing several
streams of water into the windows and
number of volunteers stationed them
selves on top Of the burning building and
adjacent structures in order to prevent
TIE further spread of the flames.
II was evident at the start that the
contents Of the main building could not
separating the new annex, were closed,
(which action In connection with the pro-
lection afforded by a good fire wall,
saved the stock in tht department from
destruction and serious damage. This
department is devoted principally to
Clothing and large trpaulins We're thrown
over the great stacks of clothing piled
upon the tables and there will be no ser
tous damage from water in the annex.
=. 4.
ceilent work in fighting. the progress Of
the flames. the fact that there were no
fire walls in the main building greatly
Handicapped their efforts. which We're
therefore turned to prevent the spread
OF the fire 10 other buildings and reducing
the flames in the burning building as
quickly as possible, and the main build
Ing was practically gutted by the flames
while the structure itself is left in such
condition as to be practically total ruin.
The loss of the Lion store will amount
20 between 81, 900 and SSO.0e0. and the in
surance carried is about $60,oa0 Mr.. Gard
ner states that all creditors will be amply
protected and that all liabilities will be
paid In full. The building was owned
by Henry Wills adm was valued at s20Go0.
His insurance is $4,000.
The upper floor of the Lion store build
ing was occupied by Offices The loss OF
having been saved. The losses are as fol-
lows:
r NJ Upshaw. insurance Office. $500.
T. NJ GaUlt. real estate office. loss on
fixtures. S2G0; on valuable papers. which
81 destroyed from 5000 to $1,000.
r, j. Edwards. brokers office $51o.
Holt d Skinner. real estate office, $500.
Dr. Bradford, physician. $500
Drs. Coulter and McCarty. dentists.
q SEQ
Western Cotton company, cotton bro
kers 81 500.
How many Of the above firm carry in
surance is impossible to learn DIT this writ
ing
During the excitement of the Lion store
fT9 a gasoline tank exploded in the
candy store at l. North Broadway. and
before the flames could be subdled five
frame buildings had been gutted The
lcsSes are follows:
Cook & Monohan. saloon. Is North
Broadway. loss 81 900: insured
j. ". Brown. eonfectioner. l. North
Broadway. loss 500; insured
sam White, mems furnishings, 1TIe
North Broadway loss $500; insured
John Waggoner & Co. 19 North Broad
way, restaurant. loss $500; insured.
Wilder's candy store, p North Broad
WY. loss $3.50; no Insurance
Assistance was asked from Guthrie.
Norman and Shawnee. The Norman de-
p3rtment responded and arrived at 9:3c
The Guthrie department arrived at 1890.
Just as the second alarm was turned i'm
and by their prompt action prevented
The destruction of much valuable pro-
pcrty, as the local firemen We're exhaust
ed by their extraordinary efforts.
Oscar Miller. a member Of No. hose
company, while at work on the roof of
Nnder's candy store was overcome by
the flames aud fell into the burning build
Ing. BY heroic methods he was rescued.
but his condition is pTeearious
After the fire had been subdued the
fremen made parade about the city.
headed by the Oklahoma City cornet band
p compliment To the visiting tiremen.
snd as rejoicing that the city had been
kaNod from total dcsirfct;nn