The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-01-04

hose. a ladder was raised and the hose
taken to the roof The water was
poured down into this section, which
was already a roaring furnace.
The two stories of height of the rear
building are taken up by only one open
space inside from floor to ceiling, a gal
lery being the second story. Huge vol
umes of smoke poured through the
skylight openings. Chillingworth and
others assisted the firemen to drag a
second line of hose around to the rear,
where effective play was had on the
dressmaking department, and also into
the main store. BY .the time the sec
ond hose was in position, the entire
store was a mass of flames. With
axes and crowbars the police broke
down a barrier of iron bars, giving the
hosemen a fine opportunity to work on
the flames from the roof, effectually
checking its progress towards the lum-
Der piles. Foreman Deering, of Hose
Company No. 2. had charge of the Op-
erations in the rear, and kept his men
working in closer toward the seat OF
the fire, Chief Thurston directing all
the operations.
The flames finally broke through the
frail wooden partition between Kerr's
and MOrgan's stores, and the rear iron
OOOIS VI l1e ldlLtI were bAtIOnh OpGh
for a line of hose to be taken through
the PARTITION into Kerr's. Kerr occu-
pied the floor space over Morgan's. and
it was not long before this also was in
flames. Owing to the iron window
shutters being closed all around, the
firemen were unable to reach the fire
directly, until Chillingworth and Re
near had battered away the cement
fastenings on two window shutters,
which we're torn off, giving free play
for the hosemen. A double ceiling over
Morgan's store prevented the heavy
cases of goods with which it was filed
from falling through, but stream Of
water came down and ruined all expos
ed articles. Two streams were kept on
the upper floor from the rear two into
into Kerr's main establishment from
the rear, and two through the front
entrance.
The front part of Kerr's was used for
the display and sale of dry goods.
This opened directly into the office,
millinery and dressmaking sections,
the gallery being used for the storage
of millinery and dressmaking materi-
ais. The front upper story of Kerr's
was used as a general storage and
packing department. At an early stage
Of the fire, it seemed that the floor
would give way, and guards were con-
on the watch to give the alarm
IN case this took place, as the firemen,
working in smoke, would have been
penned in.
The Inter-Island Company, next
door to Kerr's, was not injured, the
thick brick wall proving a fire-proof
barrier.
The firm of L. B. Kerr & Company,
Ltd, was organized some four years
lgo with a capital of 5000, 900, subscribed
by Mr.. Kerr. few others
laving small holdings, for the purpose
If taking over the business of L. b.
Kerr, and since that time it has branch
ID out considerab bly,. Recently the firms
tatement showed that in the main store
md branches there were stocks of s210,-
90 It is estimated that the firm had
total stock of something like s15O,0OO
n the two buildings, one-third perhaps
,eiug in the wareroom.
1t is estimated that the Insurance on
he stock viii reach $4,000. This is
,laced in local agencies. J. NJ. Dow
ett's companies handle s20.000 of the
mount, and il is understood that the
represented by w. G. Irwin
Z Co. have the same amount. Castle
I Cookies companies have about $4,000
{ insurance and Bishop & co. represent
inilar losers. Small amounts are car
led in other agencies.
James F. Morgan has insurance Of
1 goo on the floating stock which comes
D his warerooms, and he estimated last
ight that he would lose that much
lOre.
The building is one Of the oldest coral
tructures in the city. It is the prop
rty Of the estate Of James Robinson
nd its value is estimated at some $10,-
%, there being some insurance on 1t,
re amount not being ascertained.