The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-02-16
AFTERMATH OF FIRE.
SECOND ALARM ON FRIDAY
FOUND THE TIRED BOYS
ALERT FOR DUTY.

~ EHHHH ----- aMA #s
Fires always come in punches"
said a fireman Friday afternoon. Sure
enough! An alarm was turned in at
about eight o'clock in the evening for
a bright blaze that sprang up in the
block west Of ID street between
Fourth and Fifth The fire
was in a large shed owned by the
Burlington railway and was used as
a sand house, used for drying the
sand used by the engines. The place
caught from the stove and was soon
sheeted in flame. The man in attend
ance was powerless. to control the
fire and an alarm was turned in. The
shed burned quickly and was in utter
ruins upon the arrival of the depart
ment. The fire boys were about as
tired as men generally get, but they
were alert and ready for duty, despite
their hard seige of the morning.
Aftermath of the Big Fire.
Henry Sondregger and Nelse Cook,
who were OF the south pipe playing
water from the south, stood in their
position with the s~plashing water and
spray falling back upon them from
the wall. They were covered with a
coating of ice and were actually froz>
en- to the pavement. w. R. Lacey as
sisted in pulling the men loose. Son.
dregger's clothes were frozen to his
body when he was relieved and had
to be cut away. -
Sam Baldauf, of the Baldauf-Rosen-
blatt Company, called Fire Chief Co
chez to his store yesterday and pre-
scented him with a check for fifty dol
lars in ~apprecition of the gallant fight
made. Mr.. Baldauf believes that the
heroic work of the fire lads saved the
Baldauf building.
The city council did the right thing
last summer in recognizing the fire
department and placing it upon a
semi-paid basis. The public sees very
clearly at this time the value of a
paid and a trained department of fire
fighters and the expression seems
general.
The plate glass front of the Chas.
c. Pike drug store was cracked by
the intense heat, two of the large
glass being broken and the large oak
door damaged. The plate glass front
of the Dack hardware store was also
damaged.
Stull e McGregor, who were burn
pd ont Friday p,orp,Dn oro ooo;n in
business. They have their office in
the Central Book Store and will use
their ware room on A street as work
shop and salesroom.
The fire company saved to the city
of Oskaloosa property worth upwards
Of a million dollars, and in apprecla-
ton of this fact a number of citizens
are making up a purse to be present
ed to the company.
Water was kept playing on the fire
all day in order to get the ruins cool-
ed down to a point where they could
be worked. Sam Myers stayed at
this place all day and rendereu excel
lent service.
Link Stoler. Officer James Hender-
J. c.. Willitts and other citizens rem
dered valuable assistance to the fire,
men, and their efforts are a~ppreciat-
ed.
The fire company was handsomely
remembered by the Golden Eagle
firm, the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Company, who felt that they were in
debted for the safety of their store.
! Robert Miner, who was not inter-
ested in any way, but approaching
the almost superhuman efforts Of the
lads, handed Chief Gochee a five dol
lar bill.
Irv McCracken and Ralph Palmer
were also i~ce-coated but they held to
their posts unmindful of the cold and
the ice.
The Oskaloosa Traction Co. has
its repairs nearly all made. At eight
o'clock Friday morning it had eight
additional line men on hand from
Ottumwa to help the local force.
The Stull & McGregor safe was op-
ened this morning. The big steel box
had fallen into the basement and was
lying upon its face. It was righted
and the combination worked the first
time it vas tried. The books and pa,
pers OF the firm were all preserved.
The damage to the Pfeifer-B Belmont
stock is greater than was first
thought and the damage is still in
progress. The rear of the store ad-
mits the smoke and dense fumes
from the fire. Practically everything
in the house is, water-damaged. The
store is closed to the public at this