The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-12-28

one OF the officers of the company, who
said he would arrive in Norfolk on the
first train. Mr.. Boas also telephoned
to Mr.. Bradford of Sioux City, one of
the firm, who said that the property
was fully insured
Out of the fire were saved the office
of the institution, at the northeast cor.
ner of the grounds, which was pro
tected much by the wind and por
ton at the north end of the COAL which
had been stored in shed at the east
edge of the yards, half block long.
Great Work by FIRE Boys.
The Norfolk fire department once
again demonstrated their really re.
markable ability to fight flame With
unlimited personal sacrifice, and at
considerable risk, they took up the
task of checking that lumber yard fire
just as If their very lives depended
upon it-and they did all that human
power could do in checking a spread
Like warriors they fought the flames,
marching right up into the very claws
OF the fire, and shooting strong
streams of water which slowly but
surely won the fight, and when the fire
had been extinguished there remained
large mound Of unburned coal, many
punches of scorched but unburned
lumber, an Office and houses on all
sides Of the yards to tell the story of
the fire departments effective work.
Chief McCune and his assistants,
John Krantz and Charles Pilger,
forged into the burning yard and d.
rected with admirable deliberation and
judgment the efforts of the fire lad
dies At times fire company could
be seen silhouetted against the sheet
of flame, standing on a perilous pile
of coal or burning lumber and with
out regard to personal risk or sacri-
fee, centering a line of hose into some
particularly pernicious corner of the
burning mass.
Many of the firemen stayed all
night long, facing the cold north wind,
and dozens of them utterly ruined their
clothing from head to foot. They did
it all, however, without single MUIR
muir.
THAT" said a bystander, as hero
ISM"
Stayed at the Game All Night.
The Mast Hose company stayed at
the fire fighting game all through the
night, quenching new flames that
broke occasionally, and the West Side
Hose company remained pretty nearly
all night long. When morning
dawned the Queen City Hose company
and the Hook and Ladder department
were called to relieve the weary work
ers, and their attention was needed for
the greater portion of the day.
Garden Hose Effective.
At the home of M. R. Green, south
across the street from the burning
yard, a garden hose proved effective
| in keeping the house from burning
The intense heat that swept across the
street made the siding smoke and a
number of bystanders attached small
hose to the kitchen hydrant, climbed
to the roof and cooled off the building
The home of w. G. Berner, also south
across the street, became very warm
and was in constant danger.
There no doubt would have been
live electric wires flying around in
the air but for caution on the part of
firemen. Poles near the yard were
badly scorched and would probably
have snapped off but for streams of
water that bathed them now and then.
An enormous crowd of people gath
cred to watch the fire and remained
for several hours with chattering
teeth.
Alarm Starts Runaway.
The fire alarm caused a fierce run
away which resulted in no damage.
The delivery team of Antilles & Smith
became frightened at the noise and
excitement and dashed up Norfolk av-
enue at rapid gait, but after circling
about several blocks were headed off
in an alley behind the store.
Second Lumber Fire.
The burning of the Edwards & Brad
ford yards made the second serious
lumber yard fires in Norfolk within less
than year, and under very similar
circumstances. Last winter, on a
very much colder and equally windy
night, but along toward midnight, fire
was discovered at the north end of
| the Chicago Lumber yards. The gale
and fire put up stiff fight against the
| firemen but the department won and
saved most of the stock. The sheds
| in that yard were covered with iron,
which prevented the spread, while the
roofs over the Edwards & Bradford
sheds were of frame and were quickly
eaten up.
A meeting of the Queen City Hose
company, scheduled for Friday night,
was postponed till next Friday night
on account of the fire.
The lumber company sent all fire
men to the Eagle restaurant after the
blaze had been brought under control,
to enjoy a supper.
BUSINESS MEN SHOVEL COAL.