The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1908-12-19
Big fire
AvERTED
Blaze at the Mcdonald Drug Store
Threatens Business Sections.
Quick Work and Presence of
Mind Save the Day.

The business section of the city had a
narrow escape from a serious confia-
grafton on Sunday morning. Only
timely discovery and rare presence of
mind prevented the fire in the basement
of the Welton Mcdonald drug store from
getting such start that even the
splendid fight which the Dickinson fire
department put up would not have pre-
vented its spreading to alarming pro-
portions. As it was the flames were
confined to the rear of the basement and
a loss of only about 81, 900 was sus-
tained.
The fire was discovered by the proprie-
tor, Welton Mcdonald. 1t was at about
s 80 O'Clock and he was alone in the
store. the clerk having gone out to
breakfast: Just few minutes before.
Mr.. Mcdonald had been down in the
basement. building a fire in the furnace
and burning up quantity of paper and
rubbish. He had burned most of the
waste but not far distant from the
furnace were packing boxes, excelsior
and materials which had collected from
unpacking the holiday lines.
He was called up stairs and left the
furnace apparently all right. He had
scarcely got to the front of the store
when he smelled smoke. Running back
to the door leading to the basement,
clouds of smoke were pouring up. His
presence of mind in closing the doors at
the foot and top OF the stairs and shut
ting off communication between the two
floors, is largely responsible for nothing
more serious resulting.
He then turned in the alarm and locked
the store doors. The fire department
made a quick response and soon had two
streams of water pouring into the base
ment from the rear. The water pressure
was more than sufficient and for nearly
half an hour hundreds of gallons of
water were turned into the place, finally
drowning out the the flames and all
danger was over.
The fire burned through the first floor
in the store room just little. Just
over this spot is the paint department
with hundreds of gallons of paints. oils,
etc. Had the fire broken through just
little more there is no telling where the
conflagration would have stopped.
The fire department did excellent
work in keeping the flames where they
started and the proprietor showed his
appreciation of their good judgment in
turning no water into the block above
the basement, by presenting them with
$50 as well as setting up the cigars.
The loss is 1886. II on the building
and $4e7. Al on the stock as per the in
surance adjustment completed Wednes-
day night.
The Merchants National bank carried
all the insurance on the building and
the most of the stock. Geo. Leach of
the Norwich Union was the first adjuster
on the ground and W. J. Tipperty of the
Aetna, second. The Hanover represen-
tative. one Of the r. H. johnson COM
panies, was also here for the adjust
ment.
Mr.. Mcdonald is we'll satisfied with
the settlement He did not claim any,
thing unreasonable and therefore it did
not take long to settle upon a figure that
was perfectly fair to all interested. The
special agents complimented Mr.. Nc
Donald on his generous gift of $50 to the
fire department.
Reputable old line insurance COM
panies always take pleasure in paying
honest losses.
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