The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-13
LICKED UP BY FLAMES.
ccontlnued from Flrst Page.l

The residence OF eX-POuceInau SdLHuSl
NJ. Hall. at 500 North Tyler street.
caught fire twice within half an hour,
but he was on guard, and extinguished
the flame before it could spread.
The residence of W. c. Johnson, at
the corner Of Western avenue and Cor
don street, caught fire also from the
flying cinders. The blaze started on the
roof near the chimney. 1t was extln-
guished before much damage resulted
In the vicinity of the Otto keuhne pre-
serving works, the entire population was
out guarding against the flying ire.
Shingles on half a dozen roots caught
fire.
Had the wind been from the north, the
fate of Topeka is hard to i imagine.
Without water pressure the fire depart
ment would have been pOwerless to pre-
vent the spread of the flames, and
dozens Of houses would have been fired
simultaneously.
REPAIRING BROKEN WINDOWS.
Work was begun at once on the Rock
Island depot this morning. and by 1880
all the windows had been replaced on
the second floor front. None Of the
windows on the ground floor were
broken, although the heat was so in
tense that the wood work was scorched
and the paint peeled off the doors. Su-
perintendent c. w. Jones said this
morning that the estimate on the Rock
Islands loss was $500, although it was
after q rather hasty examination.
Water soaking through the ceiling Of
the second story damaged pastering a
little.
SUPT. SHAW'S STATEMENT.
Superintendent Jesse Shaw, who has
been hard at work without sleep for 4S
hours trying to repair the boilers at the
pumping station of the Topeka Water
company, said today:
This fire could not have hit US at a
worse time. An accident to our boilers
made it impossible for US to keep up
steam, and maintain pressure.
THE men at the plant were cleaning
out one of the two boilers yesterday.
They found it necessary to replace a
Aue. About 8 o'clock last night they
telephoned me from the plant that they
were having some difficulty with the
boiler, and wanted me to come out So
I went out. I had been there but a
short time when we discovered that the
other boiler was leaking a little. I at
once sent to town for a bOilermaker
and extra help. We had five extra men
and the boilermaker at work there in a
short time. After we had just gotten
the due back in the boiler which had
been cleaned, the alarm of fire came
in. I started in to give fire pressure
with the one boiler. We ran up the
pressure at first all right, and then the
leaking commenced to cut down our
steam, and the pressure fell at once.
We were right up against it. All l
could do was te keep on pumping, in
hope that they would be able to do
something with the water down town.
We kept the main full, but could put
no pressure behind the water
I'VE got the other boiler back into
service about $50 this morning, and
now are running both boilers. We have
a pressure of ITO pounds at the pumps,
which is all they need to fight the fire
as they are fighting it now.
mo one can regret more than myself
this unfortunate condition. I believe
that our boilers are generally in good
condition, and are not likely to break
down this way. But it just happened
that this fire should come while we
were disabled.
Il don't know whether the water
company can be held liable for the loss.
That is a. question which 1 have never
considered.
II have heard the rumors that this
affair might interfere with the closing
of the deal between the city and wa
ter company, and I regret that this ac-
cident should come to make trouble
with that deal. All we can say is that
we did the best we could under the cir
cumstances, and that our inability to
give good pressure does not indicate
any structural defects in the plant. 1t
was only an accident as might happen
to boilers at any time.
The plate glass windows in the Whit
alker Wholesale Commission house di
rectly across Kansas avenue from Park
hurst-Davis were broken by the heat
The Whitaker Bros. stated this morn
ing that they insured their plate glas:
windows only a week ago against dam
age, and will be fully reimbursed fol
their loss.
READY IN THIRTY DAYS.
Vincent Kaczynski, of the Topeka Ice
& Fuel company, is feeling very gooG
that his building, which is just acros:
the alley from the Sells building, escap
ed with such a small loss as $40 900.
I'VE will be able to complete our re
pairs and resume ice making in thirt.
days" he said this morning. 1T vii
not interfere with our business at all
We were not making much of any ic'
at this time of year, and we will b.
ready for business in time for the sum
mer trade
The roof of the boiler room of the ic
plant was burned off, and the larg
wooden cupola on top of the ice plant
where the coils are placed which con
tain the ammonia. Part of the roof o
the main building was also burned, blu
here the fremen checked the fire b.
carrying water in their helmets an.
pouring 1t on the roof. A heavy bricl
wall between the boiler room and tn
engine room saved the engines from
injury. The boilers are not injured
but some small pumps in the boile
room were probably ruined.
COMPLAINS OF WATER PRESSURE
John r. Mulvane was notified of tn
fire soon after it had started but h.
did not go down.
Il could have done no good at tn
fire so 1 stayed at home and listenet
to reports from it. The building wa
the property OF my brother. Joab Null
vane and on that account I am no
informed as to the exact valuation o
the amount of insurance. But L hav
no doubt that the building was heaviI.
insured as we always make a poin
of securing full protection of this sort
1t was a good property and 1 have n
doubt that it will be rebuilt at once
Mr.. Mulvane is inclined to CRITICS
the Topeka Water company severel
for its inability to furnish. adequat
water pressure.
In my mind there is no excuse,
said ne. for the negligence of the TIC
peka Water company to provide itse
against an emergency of this sort
seems to me that the pumping static
ought to be supplied with at least a
extra boiler upon which it could rel