Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-27

the wall Iell ana MS experience WAS
quite dramatic and thrilling one.
Mr.. Duncan said last evening:
while was sitting there heard
a distinct report, as Of an explosion,
and then the wall fell out then there
came roar, as Of cyclone.
Il jumped to my feet and ran to the
door. AS ran the windows of my
room broke in and the flames shot half
way across the room. I then rushed
down the hall shouting fire at the top
of my lungs. Returning to my room
found the fire had made it impossible
for me to enter"
The story Of the employees at the
restaurant differ in many details from
Mr.. Duncan's, but all agree in hearing
the explosion first and then the fall of
the wall. One woman employed there
declaring that she was lifted from her
feet by the force Of the conclusion.
The window glass on the south side
of the restaurant building are all
broken out and number Of bricks
were thrown into the building as the
wall Of the Scase store fell.
A Lucky Chance.
A blaze, which might have caused
serious damage, had it not been dis
covered so promptly, started In the
third story of the Daggett building, oc-
cupied by the Donelan store. AS Chief
Livingston of the department was de-
scending from the roof Of the building
on the fire escape, he happened to
glance into the window of the third
story. About half way down the
length of the building a lot of under
wear that was piled up against the
wall had caught fire from the heated
bricks and were blazing. This was
soon extinguished.
A Narrow Escape.
An accident which might have re-
suited very seriously passed unnoticed
in the general excitement. When the
department arrived it was at once
seen that the chemical wagon was
useless because of the start the fire
had gained. 1t was driven down onto
Main street out Of the way. While
the fire was at it's highest an alarm
was turned in from house. on East
Second street, near College street.
One fireman was all that could be
spared from the big fire. Roy White
was detailed for this work. Rushing
to the chemical wagon he leaped into
the seat and turning it back up Mar
ket street started for the fire accom-
panied only by young railroad official
who had been holding the team
AS the wagon passed the alley back
of the Scase store wire struck White
across the chest dragging him back
upon the reel, and tearing the lines
from his grasp. The team, wild with
the excitement Of the moment, gal
loped madly on through the crowd, for
an instant uncontrolled But White
recovered himself and grasping the
end Of one line as it disappeared over
the dash. board managed to make the
turn onto East Second street without
injuring anyone. When it is consid.
cred how crowded the streets were
the wonder that no accident occurred
| is remarkable.
Two Previous Fires.
A building occupying the same lot
as occupied by the Taylor building
which was destroyed last evening
was destroyed by fire early in the
spring of 1880. This building was oc
cupied by wholesale drug store op
Grated by J. L. Taylor, and it was
from cask of oil in the store that the
fire started. The buildings occupying
the ground now occupied by the First
National bank building and the Dag
gett building were also destroyed.
On March %. 1897, the building oc
cupied by the s. G. Cullen & Co. dry
goods store, located across the street
from the scene of last nights disaster
was destroyed by fire with loss Of
$4,000 on livestock alone The cause
of that fire was never known.
Phillips Store Ignited.
Sparks carried from the fire started
a small conflagration on the roof OF
the Phillips Big Store, on West Mair
street last evening. Prompt action by
a number Of the employees of the con
Germ, who discovered the fire, prevent
ed any more serious damage than thai
done to the stock by the smoke, which
/ filled the building. Mr.. Phillips places
his loss through this agency at $4,000
Mr.. scase sustains Loss.
The loss sustained by the J. E
Scase Co. will be a personal one tc
Mr.. Scase, as he has only recently fin
!
those others who were members of the
stock company, which was organized
about five years ago. The, loss there
fore is sustained by Mr.. Scase himself
| He stated today that he would start il
/ business again just as soon as the nee
.essary arrangements could be made.
/ A Small Blaze.
About 1880 o'clock last evening the
fire department was called out to ex
i tinglish fire in the residence of Mrs
Christiana Cornelius, corner of Vine
and Railroad streets. The fire wa
i caused by defective fue. The dam
age is estimated at about $50. Thu
blaze was extinguished by the use o
the chemical.
4 Do Not Be Imposed Upon.
Foley & Co., Chicago originated Hon
ev and Tar as a throat and lung rem