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

| side of the United States express Of
fee there was nothing of consequence
on the first floor.
So coated with ice was the big aerial
| truck that it was impossible for the
| three big horses to pull it to the station
I this morning. Finally the six inches of
| ice On the wheels was removed by pour
| ing coal oil on the wheels. The horses
then were hitched and this morning at
| II O'Clock the truck was finally brought
| to No. 2 station.
| Cufton Mukes, colored, of No fire
station was overcome with smoke on
returning to his station and became
very sick. He was placed under the
| care Of physician and is now recover
| ing.
Caused by Wiring, Says Wilmarth.
aside from our efforts to save the
building we fought mainly to save the
flames from reaching the adjoining
buildings. We concentrated our fight
in that direction at the Chesterfield
hotel for the wind was tanning the
flames In that direction and sparks and
embers were being carried On high and
falling thickly down. I knew that with
the high winds that If the fire once got
away and over to the Chesterfield hotel
well, then goodbye. I hate to think of
what might have happened with that
for there is no telling where the flames
would have carried" said Chief Will
marth IT don't think that the loss will
amount to 100000 but it is impossible
to say at this time what the loss will
be-"
All Of the fire departments in the city
responded with the exception of No. 5
company which was called in from Its
station near Washburn college and
maintained at headquarters station No.
2.
The company responded to two
10 OF 6T1ip L.
stance the glare from the Rock Island
depot fire on windows caused the mis-
taken impression that the reflection
was in reality fire and the runs We're
fruitless. The first of these alarms
came at II o'clock from Second and
Harrison streets and the second eight
minutes later from 211 East Fifth
street Prior to this there were two
alarms, the first one at $50 from S13
Kansas avenue and at 1918 at 910
Monroe street, the latter being a still
alarm to No. 2 chemical company.
Neither of thes two fires resulted in
any damage.
II think that defective wiring must
have caused the origin of the fire."
said Chief Wilmarth. Il hardly think
it probable that it could have been
caused by spontaneous combustion.
There is nothing left. however. on
which to build any sure opinion.
Put on Roof at Once.
sumption of business in the building
in few days. A temporary roof will
be placed over the building and the
office rooms all of which were badly
drenched with water. but otherwise
not materially injured, will be in use
in less than week The telegraph
department has taken UP temporary
quarters on the second floor of the
Chesterfield hotel and will probably
remain there for several days. The
Office of the general superintendent
has been transferred to the Park
hurst-Davis building and will have to
remain here but few days. The
ticket office was opened up for
short time this morning in the
Chesterfield hotel but by noon the Of
fee in the depot building had been
cleaned up and the tickets were being
sold as though nothing had happened.
A few of the officers will not be able
to find quarters until their rooms are
refitted up for them and they will
probably suspend business tenn
porarily.
A Rock Island coach has been
backed down in front of the passen-
ger department and a large placard
bears the information to the public
that that is the Rock Island waiting
room. The baggage room is occupy
ing a part of the freight depot ware
house. The United States Express
company is still doing business though
their business last night was trans
ferred to Mcfarland, all the Topeka
express being taken there and then
returned this morning.
Several little acts of vandalism were
reported today. Perhaps the biggest
was that which occurred in the office
of the general superintendent. The desk
used by George B. Hetherington, chief
clerk to the general superintendent was
broken into and it's contents rified-
Just what was taken is not definitely
known but there are $50 blanks for
passes which are good at any place on
the system. These will be bulletined
and if anyone tries to use them they
will be arrested.
The ticket Office was also riffed after
it had been closed down by Dick Col
Inns who had thrown the valuables into
the vault. Just what was taken at this
time is not known and probably will
not be for several days.
Many Records Destroyed.
Paul Walker, assistant general attor-
ney of the Rock Island road, places the
estimate of the loss of the building at
100000. This it is thought by the Of
ficials is almost fully if not entirely
covered by insurance. The building was
% years old, having been constructed
in 1886 about the time the Rock Island
road first entered Topeka.
The first floor of the building con-
LdAueu me llckel oIIce' DdSSeSo ioo..i'
United States Express office, two wait
ing rooms, division freight office, office
of the city passenger agent, and the
storeroom for all electrical supplies and
other supplies used in maintenance.
On the second floor were the offices
of the general superintendent, the law
department in which was located the
library of NJ. A. Low and the division
engineer of the Kansas division.
On the third floor was the newly es-
tablished accounting office, the tele-
graph department, the district engineer,
the master carpenters office, the real
estate office, the tax commissioners
office and the offices of the claim de-
partment.
The records of the different depart
mentS were all entirely destroyed with
the exceptions of those of the ticket
$500 ,,.l.;L,l. ,-o.o sr,..l - Nri.rl.4