The Mena weekly star., 1908-11-19

i -s+f N"~+ ~~A021 k1& oNtNGk AfQui
 The burning structure.
 The heat was 90 intense that
 # broke every window and SC,
 hre to window shades ou The north
 side of the Odd Fellows hall and
 scorched and biis cred the entire
 front of the hotel. despite the
 wide street between. These
 buildings undoubtedly would
 have burned but for the pfotec-
 ton given them.
 The Bremen lost l50 feet of
 hose by it beiug burned and two
 or three men were blistered by
 she heat. They ran a line down
 from De Oueeu street to Mena
 street alongside the Odd Fellows
 hall, and the three s0-soot sec.
 tions opposite the fire were
 ourued as they lay on the ground.
 The cause of the fire is not
 known, though it is thought it
 was of an incendiary origin.
 Judge Lindsay slept la the Odd
 Fellows hall Saturday nig ht.
 He says be was awake about 4:S0 Sunday morning aud while lying m bed saw a yellow light flash into the window. He first thought the Mena hotel was atire. but on getting up found it was the Auditorium. At this time Judge Lindsay.says the fire was not over six feet square, and about 20 feet from the Mena street cor uer on the Port Arthur side By the time he conld turn ia an alarm and get back 10 the win. dow the flames had ruu at least fifty feet along the Port Arthur side of the building. The glass soon began to crack in the Odd Fellows hall windows and some of the curtains caught fire, SO the judge was kept busy for some time protecting that property.
 The auditorium skating rink asd dancing hall was a building of unusual architecture. It was 75x 40 feet in size and was con- structtd so that its immense roof was supported without posts and without the usual bridge form of supports. On top of the walls were raised half circle arches 75 feet wide at the base and about the same in height, and over these was nailed the shceting on which was placed a composition roofing material. Because of its peculiar construe- tion the building attracted un- usual attention.
 The big floor 75xl40 feet was of hard maple and was laid with | a view to make perfect surface for roller skating and dancing. Ii was owned by Dr. w. P. Parks, N. K. Oneal and Leslie Miller and was designed and constructed | by w. NJ. Palmer. It was one of the sufferers from the hail storm of last week, the roof be. ing badly punctured by the ice. II was insured for $2500, S2000 l of which was with l.. c. Acrumsn | and $500 with Dennis, Kelly and 1 Stratton. There was also a S250 policy covering the skates and furniture.
 IL was intended to have the l Auditorium open for skating and dancing Saturday night, but Leslie Miller, the manager, fud- ing the floor too damp from the recent ram closed the doors at s o'clock and went home. There | was one stove up in the building, ] hut this was at corner oppo- site where the fire is supposed i to have begun.
 The loss on building and | equipment is estimated at s4, 500. 1
 A few feet from the Audi torium or the north was frame | building belonging to G Jackson. Nothing could save this and it went up in hurry. Jacobs and family occu- pied part of the building and lost every tbing they had. having | only time to escape with their lives after they were alarmed.
 Ia the rear of the Jackson was small frame belonging to w. B. Jones X Son. In thIs was stored a carload of. hay belonging to the firm and about GO sacks of stored there by Lon Golf. MT. Jones reports his loss at about $l50, not insured. and Golf about $S5, though much oi the cement can be saved.