Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-09
THE FAMOUS STORE
GUTTED BY FIRE
From Mondays Daily.

TAD O'CLOCK tb1s morning nTs uIohe
out In the basement of the Famous
store. and II was ~ O'Clock before
the blaze was under control As near
as can be learned Oscar Brown was
In the basement attending to the fur
mace fire, and in some way some en-
celsior on the floor ignited either from
a match or spark from the furnace.
It IL said the had the fire put out at
one time, or at least thought he had,
when 1t started up and spread 10 rap
Idly that he ran mp the stairs almost
smothered Saturday afternoon CON
signment OF glassware and silks WAS
received and late that night force oil
clerks were busy unpacking, and eS.
celsior and other inflammable material
was left on the floor for removal to-
day. At any rate, before the clerks
could realize 1t, flames shot up through
the stairway leading TO the basement
and the employees had to make quick
headway TO get out of the building,
many Of them leaving their personal
effects. A still fire alarm was turned
in few minutes before eight. At
tnat time the fire team was out prac-
ticing and there was delay In reaching
the fire by the department, and II must
have been l5 minutes past o'clock
before water was turned on and by
this time smoke was belching from
every window, and the center Of the
roof, where the skylight is located,
The first stream OF water was turned
In at the rear-the basement, whicl
was complete mass of flames, as
well as the center and rear OF the
main floor. The next stream was
poured In from the front, but this be-
ing found Ineffective, hose was taken
to the side window and stream start
ed where the flames were the worst.
But water only seemed to feed the
Are element, and flames snot through
tremely dense. The flre at times
would go down. to break out few
minutes later with more fury for two
hours, when the roof became thor
oughly ignited and the fremcn were
unable to reach the right spots owing
to the sheet iron roof and corrugated
Iron ceiling. water failing to reach
the flames from either tho inside or
outside. and the smoke was so dense
that access to the roof was denied.
However three streams of water wero
poured into the building from diror.
ent supposed advantageous points
rear and roof. Eleven o'clock
arrived and still she burned, and great
anxiety was expressed for the adioin.
ing store, occupied by Harry Schrader.
The insurance carried on stock and
will probably reach close to
$4,000, although the exact amount
could not be obtained. The building
this city and n Mr.. Ford residing In
the east, his agent being Frank Gal
lotti. Mr.. Wiehe carries SO 500 lnsur-
ance and Mr. Ford $4,000. and jointly
the two carry rSnt insurance TO The
amount of sl.400 In two policies held
by Frank Gallotti. This rent lusnr. |
ance insures the owners OF tho bull /, |
ing against loss of rent from party
occupying the building In case OF fire, /
which would carry over the period to.
CURED to repair the same.
About II o'clock a second attempt
was made to fight the fire from the
roof axes being used to cut through
the sheet iron, but heat and smoke
prevented progress In this direction.
and 1t was not until about 1890. when
the roof fell in from the front part half
way back that water really became
When the roof cayed in
the flames shot up higher, than ever.
but only for a few minutes. and 1t
was soon evident the hremen would
win the battle and the blaze be con,
lined TO the building.
As streams OF water continued to be
poured In until after t2 O'Clock and
the store was flooded. an inspection
Al the time of this writing is out OF
Lhe question, and the amount of sal
wage is hard to estimate, but indica
lions are that II will not amount to
over 10 per cent--possihle not s. This
VIII only be known by thorough over
hauling of the water and FIRE ruined
stock.
Mr.. Rachofsky was seen about noon
Ind he could give no information re
sarding the fire more than stated
,bove. as he was not at the store at
he time and all he knows is the
'tatement OF the clerks and Oscar
Brown. Regarding stock Mr Rachof
Ky thought he carried stock worth
rom $4,000 TO $4,000. The August
invoice showed stock OF $4,000 and
he purchases since that time will run
'lose to $4,000. and from both the
'bove should be deducted the sales OF
september and October. MIR. Rachel.
ny could not give the exact amount
u insurance but thought there was
like s5l. 600 on stock and
small amount on fixtures. Accord.
ng to this the total insurance ON
took, fixtures and furniture will run
'etweep $4,000 and $4,000.
The insurance is divided between
he Local Security Co, lockwood 4
'erkins and Frank Gallotti The lat.
er carries $4,000 on stock aud fix.
ures, divided between seven compan
es, and slo500 ON the building, 5000
n favor of Ford and $500 In favor