The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-05

Half an hour later the wind died down
to from six to eight miles an hour.
All OF the buggies and hacks and
nearlv all of the harness on the first
floor OF the Stamey barn, as we'll as all
OF the horses. were taken from the
barn Defore 1t was destroyed. A num-
Der of sets of harness, several buggies
and slelghs, were stored on the second
floor. and they were burned.
Earl Smith, small boy who INSISTED
in rakng hot canned goods from the
debris where the Covell grocery store
STOOD was slightly burned about the
hands and face by the explosion of on
Il the cans. When the water supply
gave out bucket brigade was formed
and with this and the assistance OF the
chemical engine the milk depot owned
by E. j. Covell and adjoining his store
on the east was saved and the fire stop
ped at this point.
A row of low frame buildings extends
from this point to the alley and mad
the fire gained a foothold in this build
ing the entire northeastern corner OF
the block would have been destroyed
Rain began falling few minutes be-
fore o'clock and this damaged the
household goods which were stored IN
the streets though much of this pro-
perty was carried into adjoining houses.
The fire originated in small barn
o nthe rear of the lots occupied by the
Kahr fats and was communicated
across the alley to a barn on the prop
erty occupied by c. A Mills. 1913 To-
with hay and gave the fire its second
start as the firemen were powerless to
check it after the water pressure
gave out.
Break in Main Soon Repaired.
The break in the water main oc-
CURED on Hawthorn street, in Auburn
dale district about a half-mile from
CT hraak occurred
in the lew main, laid about a month
ago. The old main is torn up at this
ii lie and is in process of being re-
laid through the asylum grounds TO the
city. When the old main is relaid the
city will have two mains in connec-
ton with the water works and thus be
prepared for just such an emergency
as occurred this morning.
An entire section of pipe, is feet long,
split open this morning under the pres
sure of ITO pounds. This new main had
been used several times for fires DUR
ing the past month.
The new water main follows the
Rock Island track to Auburndale, ana
thence to the city.
The automatic pressure gauge at the
fire station showed that at 5:4S TINS
morning there was 10 pounds pres
sure in the mains. At this moment the
break occurred, for the pressure
dropped at once to nothing. The alarm
for the fire was received at the statlon
at 5:35. At 10 o'clock this morning the
break in the main had been repaired
and there was 40 pounds pressure in
the mains.
Superintendent Jesse Shaw was alb
sent from the city over Sunday in
Council Grove, and is expected back
this evening. The foreman OF the pipe
i've gang repaired the break in the
main.
1t is hardly fair to place the blame
for the break in the water mains on
any person or department The break
occurred at an unfortunate time, wneh
the old main was being relaio anu .iie
city was depending entirely on the
new main for water. In short time
two separate mains will be available IN
case of fire. ,t,a
The entire loss from the fire In build
ings and personal property Is piac &c o oo
ab0ut $40 900 covered by about $lS'OOo
i,,e a