The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-29
SOLD HIS SPUDS
AND KEPT MONEY
AND IS NOW sums Mp. COMPANY
Another SUIT Brought Against NORTH
ern Pacific to Recover Value
Of Merchandise Destroyed.

On the occasion Of the burning Of
the Northern Pacific freight depot Mr.
Divide Brulette of the Mckee valley lost
a car of fine Burbank potatoes that
he wishes he had now. The carload
was valued at $40 then. and would
be worth two or three times that sum
today. But Mr.. Brulotte did not re-
ceive $40, or any other sum as yet,
for them. He wants to recover their
value, and through his attorney. Chas
e. Forsyth, has commenced action
against the Northern Pacific to col
lect the amount. The case will come
up at the term of superior court COM
mencing September 5.
The circumstances in this case are
peculiar. as compared with the other
suits that will be brought against the
Northern Pacific by those who lost
merchandise. in the fire referred to-
Mr.. Brulotte had secured a car, into
which his potatoes were loaded on the
afternoon before the depot burned.
The car had been accepted by the
company, the proper receipts. bills of
lading, etc, had been made out, and
Mr.. Brulotte had returned to his home
his receiving a check within few
days to compensate for the days OF
toll he had devoted to the production
of those potatoes.
After the car had been sealed along
in the evening. it was switched onto
a side track near the water tank to
await the west-bound freight When
the fire broke out 1t was forgotten for
a time, being out of of the reach of
the flames. The firemen fought the
hardest battle they had been called
upon to fight for many day. and
when they saw that the fright depot
was doomed they turned their atten-
tion to saving the passenger depot.
shifting of the wind increased the
danger the latter building was in by
blowing flames and cinders across the
tracks directly against 1t. A switch
engine was sent hurrying down to
where the car of potatoes stood and
the car was brought up in front OF
the depot to act as shield. II
served the purpose well, but in a few
minutes the potato car was ablaze.
and when 1t became an added menace
It was hauled away and left standing
near Yakima avenue. Here the burn
ing timbers allowed many of the po-
tatoes to fall to the ground, and more
than one urchin got a free lunch of
choice baked Burbanks.
When the fire was put out and the
employees of the company began to
get things in as good shape as posi-
BILE, they took charge of the car of
potatoes, or what was left of 1t. 1t is
alleged that sales of considerable
quantities of the contents of the car
were made by the company. and Mr..
Brulotte affirms that no part of the
money received from such sales was
ever turned over to him. He has come
to the conclusion that the company
has had the use of this money long
enough. and that he has been kept
from receiving the expected check for
a sufficient length of time, so he has
decided to bring suit.
Mr. Brulotte Is public spirited and
liberal: he Is glad that his potatoes
were the means. in part at least, of
saving the passenger depot. but he
does not feel called upon to bear the
loss of the car sacrificed to the flames.
and he is still less inclined to contrib
ute to the corporation the money they
received for a part Of his car of
spuds. The case will be an interest
ing one, but Attorney Forsyth is con-
hdent It will be settled in short order
in favor of his client.