The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-01

NCOnIlnueQ from Page One.)
to freeze the water almost as soon as
1t fell. The clothing became like
plated armor and 1t could be heard to
CHATTER as they walked.
The large aerial truck was called
INTO service on the west end of the
building and f1remen carried up the
long lines of hose upon this. This
was an exceedingly dangerous task,
as all the water falling upon the
rungs of the ladder froze and made
the footing exceeding precarious.
although the fire was watched by a
large crowd of spectators there was lit
tie OF the spectacular to it. The flames
did not shoot very high and there was
more smoke than blaze. But the fire
burned just the same and the building
was filled with smoke so that it was
impossible to get on the inside.
High Wind Made Work Difficult.
On account Of the wind it was i'm
possible to cover the flames from the
ground and the only effective manner
of getting at the fire for some time
was from the aerial truck. Finally a
line of hose was carried to the top of
the Chesterfield hotel and the water
forced across the alley which did much
towards allaying the fire.
After the attic had been DESTROYED
the flames shot downward and at the
west end of the building were persist
ent in their efforts to devour every
thing in sight. The baggage rooms and
the United States Express offices were
threatened but most of the contents of
these two rooms were removed before
the fire got down to the first floor 1t
was hard to get at the fire on account
of the water simply rolling down the
slate roof into the cutters below and
finally falling back upon the ground
and freezing AS the fire descended
downwards the rooms on the second
and third floors were lightened. At
first only a light could be seen in the
rooms and later the entire room would
be transformed from darkness to an in
tense yellow light. The heat was most
ly confined to the interior of the build
ing and it was possible at all times for
the spectators to walk entirely around
the building. The wind did not spread
the flames very far from the building
but cleared the smoke away.
Was Plenty of Water.
There was a large crowd of spectators
witnessing the fire notwithstanding the
cold weather. Many of those who
watched the fire stood outside in the
cold but most of them thronged the
corridors of the Chesterfield hotel
There was considerable anxiety around
the Chesterfield as this big building
would have been the next one in the
path of the fire should the flames have
spread. The crowd was a we'll behaved
one and would have doubtless been
willing to have assisted the firemen but
they were unable to do so.
The fire department did not exper-
fence the customary lack of water
pressure last night but were well sup
piled in this regard. According to Fire
Marshal Wilmarth a pressure of about
125 pounds was maintained all through
the fire. This with the aid of the two
steamers one at First and Kansas ave
nue. and the other at Second and Kan
sas avenue, was sufficient to force the
water high all through the conf1agra-
ton The Santa Fe pumping station
was connected up as was also the old
pumping station at the foot of Harri-
son street. Mr.. Wilmarth was well
pleased with the water service.
The Topeka firemen cannot be given
too much praise for the work which