Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-10
Finest Portion of the Business
Part Of City is Destroyed,
Loss Being $125,OOO
DEPARTMENT HANDICAPPED
Citizens Failed to Respond to the First
Alarm and Cold Weather Made it
Difficult to Combat. the Flames
Several Big Dry Goods Stores Burn
ed-Insurance Two Thirds of Loss.

Special to Times Republican.
Oskaloosa, Feb. 10-With five OF lts
best business blocks in flames this city
faced one of the most serious situa-
tions in its history this morning. The
total loss will not be less than Sl25,-
600 and the estimated insurance is
about $4,000. The losses:
Fitch & Fitch. wholesale. retail and
manufacturers of harness. Loss on
900. Insurance on both, 100000.
Stull g. McGregor, house furnishers.
Loss on stock (complete) $4,000. In
surance, 100000.
Jones and Riegel building, sl5,00O;
insurance $1,000.
Pfeifer & Belmont, dry goods. Loss
$4,000. Probably covered by insur-
ance
F'rankels, building, damaged. $4,000.
Insured.
Sam Balduff, dry goods. Loss on
stock, $4,000. Insurance unknown.
Loss on building, $4,000.
Charles Beadle, building damaged,
$500. Fully insured.
Bashaw's livery stable Slightly dam
aged. Loss $3.50.
The fire started from a furnace in
the Fitch & Fitch wholesale and retail
harness shop. This company also
does a manufacturing business and
employs about twenty men. They oc-
cupied a three story building and
basement. 1t was nearly 3 o'clock
when the flames were discovered and
they had evidently been burning for
some time. as the names had already
communicated to the Stull & McGregor
store. The Fitch establishment is a
total loss. Stull & McGregor conduct
best in central Iowa. Not a thing was
saved. Their entire stock, estimated
to be worth $4,000, was entirely con-
sumed. They carried insurance of
$4,000. This firm occupied fine
building, two stories and basement,
forty foot front and 100 feet depth.
The building was owned by Will Jones
and Dan Riegel, of this city. 1t is
completely destroyed and was valued
at about $4,000. insured for $1,000.
Fire Leaps Alley.
From the Stull & McGregor store
the fire crossed the alley east to the
Frankel building, occupied by Pfeifer &
Belmont with d stock of dry goods
The rear portion of the Frankel build
ing was considerably damaged, the loss
being estimated at $4,000. Pfeifer &
Belmont's stock was badly damaged by
smoke and water, in fact practically
ruined. They estimate their loss at
from twenty to twenty-five thousand
dollars and their loss is covered by
insurance.
Walls Fall.
While the firemen We're fighting the
flames in the Pfeifer & Belmont store
wall of the Fitch building fell strik-
ing the rear end of the building occu-
pied by Sam Balduff's big dry goods
store. The force OF the falling Walls
carried down part of the Baldauff
building and set fire to It's contents
and the smoke and water did great
damage to the stock. Their loss is es-
timated at $4,000 on stock and s3,-
900 on the building.
From the Stull & McGregor store
the fire communicated to the Charles
Beadle building. 1t looked for a time
as though this building would have to
go, but by hard work on the part of
the citizens and firemen it was saved.
although considerably damaged. 1t is
thought the loss is not more than $3,-
500, fully insured. Bashaw's livery
stable caught fire, but was saved with
only slight damage.
Whole City Endangered.
For a time it looked as if the entire
business portion of Oskaloosa and part
of it's residence district were doomed.
When the alarm was turned in the fire
had already made considerable head
way. The city has a paid fire de-
partment but it consists of only four
men, the city depending on the volun-
teer department to give any needed
aid. But the people did not respond
to the first alarm. thinking that the fire
would not be serious After the fire
men with the assistance Of the police
and a few others had fought for nearly
two hours without making any head
way against the flames general a
larm was turned in and frantic efforts
made to arouse the people. An Iowa
switch engine assisted by turning loose
it's whistle and altho the weather was
bitterly cold the mercury registering
10 degrees below zero, a crowd gather
ed and a systematic effort was made
to stay the flames. 1t was not until
so this morning that the flames We're,
entirely under control. 1t looked pret-
ty dubious for time and the question
of sending to Marshalltown, Grinnell
and Des Moines for help was discussed,
but it was realized that some time.
would elapse before such help coulfi
arrive and then, too nearly all the:
railroads were blockaded with snoN,
which made it doubtful whether aid
could reach the city in time to be of
any service.
Heat Was Intense.
So fierce was the heat that plat.