Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-03-06
ELLINTOOD has SERIOUS FIRE.
40 Early Morning Fire Of Unknown
Origin Does Great Damage There.
From Fridays Rustler

east, Ellinwood. suffered from 8
severe Gre at an early hour this
morning, whose origin is IN.
known. Fred Stephans. one OF
a party of men who were pre-
pairing to make an early start for
the purpo.e of going hunting.
came down town about six o'clock,
and discovered a fire in the gro.
Gerry department of the Mangels-
dorf Bros. establishment, the old
est established firm 10 the city
An investigation found the base
ment to be on fire. and a call was
at once turned in for the fire de.
partment. The CITY has DO water
system, and the fire men were
equipped with only a chemical en-
CINE. with which they did the best
work possible The flames had
made such Roadway however, that
in the intervals required to re-
charge. the chemical. they would
get away from the men. An ex-
plosion meantime. presumably of
gas, blew out the front of the ad-
Joining rooms. thus permitting
the fire to spread to then. The
one on the north was occupied by
the same firm as a dry goods and
clothing room. and the one on the
south by the McCracken Drug Co.
All three of these establishments
were in the opera house block,
owned by the Mangelsdorf people.
This entire block was DESTROYED.
also the building next on the
south, owned by Mrs Rohl6ng. and
until a few days ago occupied by
a dispensary of soft drinks.
At $40 o'clock a call for help
was phoned to this city, and the
local company called and bv a
special train. proceeded to Elm
wood with our chemical. thus as.
sisting in checking the further
spread of the flames. The call was
sent at $40 from El'inwood, at
7:O8 an engine and two flat cars
with the chemical loaded on start.
ed and at 7::20 they we're in Ellin.
wood. tThis was certainly quick
service on the part Of the COM
pany, and the railway people,
Had not our company been called
it is likely the entire block would
have gone. as single handed NJ
company could have stopped thu
fire with no other apparatus thar
a chemical. Thus for once We
must give the little chemical en-
CINE credit for doing good.
As near as can be ascertaineC
the losses are as follows:
Mangelsdorf Bros. on building
5 70, 600, on stock, $4,000 opera
house fixtures $4,000. with an in.
surance of about $4,000.
McCracken Drug Co.. on stock
$751; insurance $4,000.
Mrs. ROhlfipg, on building S..
600, insurance $4,000.
Some few things we're saved by
the Mangesldorf folks but nothing
to speak of. They had practically
all their spring goods in. and wer,
carrying an enormous stock.
The McCracken people savet
only the soda fountain. All th,
business establishments in tht
same block below the burnec
buildings moved everything out
suffering more or less loss thereb!
The telephone company lose abou
$500 by burned and cut cables
and had everything ready to taxi
their switch board out. They ar,
working with only the toll lin,
wires. The lumber yard scros:
the alley suffered no loss. but
buildings on the opposite side o
the street did. Several plate glas
windows we're cracked by the hes
and the only thing that saved th'
buildings from burning was drop
ping the canvas awnings and keeI
ing them water soaked.
This is the second serious frt