Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-10-12
SAFES IN THE
FRISCO FIRE
SOME LESSONS LEARNED AS
RESULT OF EXPERIENCES
THERE.

Since the great fire OF San Fran
cisco burned itself out, the safe cX-
perts have been the most important
persons in the ruined city The tinan-
cial existence and commercial future
OF many individuals and firms depend
ed upon the contents Of vaults or safes
warranted proof against any assault
OF man or the elements AS soon as Cir
cumstances permitted, the safes were
dragged out OF the debris and allowed
to cool In many instances the eager
ness OF their owners proved fatal
the safes were opened before they had
cooled sufficiently and, when air was
admitted, the contents burst into
flames. In other cases, the safes re,
manned buried in the hot debris till
their contents were baked and charred
beyond recognition. The only chance 70
rescue anything from a safe buried IN
hot debris is to get it out as quick
ly as possible and to cool it by wrap.
ping it in wet sacks or blankets. Then
it is fairly probable that, on being
opened. the contents will be found I'M
injured or not hopelessly ruined. But
if the safe is allowed to remain in the
IT'S AoIlClItS a. \
cooked" and crumble into ashes as
soon as the safe is opened and air
admitted. Even coin is melted into a
lump of bullion. A safe that looks ali
right outside. being neither cracked,
dented, nor warped. may yet be cook
ed and its contents useless. If the
books and records are burned. the
owner may find himself ruined where
as. if they are in reasonably good
condition. he may be able to begin
business again without any very SER
ious loss
II is sad TO have TO say that the
San Francisco fire has demonstrated
the worthlessness of many safes and
vaults guaranteed by the manufacture
ers to be proof against burglars and
fire. The manufacturers, dealers, and
agents have in many instances been
shown to have sold 'fireproof safes
that were OF little more value thar
wooden boxes and the "fireproof' com
positions with which they are lineC
might as we'll have been sawdust. 1t i:
to be sincerely hoped that the manu-
facturers of and dealers in these worst
than worthless devices may be put GU
of business for all time.
Some of the "firproof'' vaults il
office buildings have turned out equal
valuelesS for the purposes for which
they We're intended. They had impos
ing steel doors. with locks, bolts. an
elaborate combinations. but thei
backs were the walls OF the building
The intense heat of the coniagratior
the shock of the earthquake or III
conclusion of exploding dynamit
brought the wall down and there wa
a burglar and fireproof vault u
safe without any back.
F. NJ. Smith. the "borax king" ha
three safes in building at the co
ner of Sansome and Bush Streets. On
OF these, containing securities an
diamonds was found uninjured, bl
The papers and books in the other tN
We're consumed.
The banks and safe deposit compa
les were, naturally. slow in openir
their vaults and strong rooms, NJ
wishing to jeopardiZe their invauab
contents by haste. In every inStanC
their contents were found to be Vi
harmed. Several of the companies O.
ened their vaults on May and tn
renters of safety deposit boxes wei
delighted to find their treasures il
tact. For many days previously the
had been making anxious inquire
but had been turned away by watcl
men and United States soldiers. Som
OF them took out the money or jewe
~ contained in the boxes, while OIL
ers after porting over their treasure
for little while, put them back agair
feeling that their keepsakes and val,
able documents after passing safel
through such ordeals as the eartl
quake and fire, were secure.
In one bank on Market street tn
safe deposit boxes were unframed. bu
a large vault, extending under tn
sidewalk and the floor of the ban
was broken by the wall from a neigh
boring building that fell upon it, crush
ing the ceiling of iron and cement an
allowing ingres to the flames. In thi
vault were stored silver plate, laces
and other valuable articles, too bulk
to be placed in the steel boxes. Man
of these articles were in large I'll
boxes or even in trunks and suit cases
They were ranged from iron shelves
from which they fell and became pre-
10 the devouring flames.
On the same day MAY y, only Sc,
enteen days after the fire died out. tn
American National Bank resumed bu:
4hSSo III llit uIdl lGIS llldl II OccuplS
previously in the ground floor of tn
Merchants Exchange Building on Ca
lfornia street. being the first bankin
corporation TO return to the old bus
ness center. The building was swel
by flames and al the combustible m;
terial in il was consumed, yet in les
than three weeks a bank was abb
10 open again in it, 1t proves how ral
idly modern steel and concrete eartl
quake and fire-proof structure can /
rented tor use. On the opposite sid
OF the main entrance the San Fra
cisco bank resumed operations a fe
days later.
Preservation Of Records From Fire
Prof. Edmund O'Neill. dean of III
College OF Chemistry at the Universit
OF California. offers some suggestion
TO persons whose records may hay
been destroyed partially by fire. +
says: The destruction Of organic ma
Ter by fire is dependent upon w
points-increase of temperature ar
the presence Of air or oxygen. If g
cess OF air be present on the elevate
of temperature to igniting point. Il
whole mass will burn up completed
If the air is kept out, but an elevat.
temperature is maintained for son
time, the paper will be slowly destrc
ed. Volatile matter is given off al
finally the residue of carbon. more
less pure, is left behind. This carbo
aceous residue is very friable and d