The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-12

couId not dawn upon the men until DR..
keith arrived and gave the official an
he was taken at once to the ambulance
ana an inquest was held today.
Leaves Family of Five Children.
A death-like solemnity fell over the
anxious crowds who we're croWding
around the depot for blocks trying to
near the nrst piece of information and
In rev minutes the thousands of spec
tatorS broke up in groups and lines
and plodded homeward to all parts of
the city thoughtfully and Sorrowfully.
1t is a bad blow to the city to endure
Such a loss of property and such a loss
of employment for so many employees
but when human being is sacrificed
and sad family is deprived of its
fatherly love and care the loss is felt
more keenly and sinks deeper into the
hearts OF sympathizing city
John Munson lived at 2S5 AFTER ave-
nue., Oakland, and he is survived by a
WIFE and hve small children, ranging all
the way from the age of 2 to 10 years.
He was sc years old and Joined the
Woodmen but a few days ago.
Water Pressure Good.
The water pressure during the fire
was good-Very good. 1t started out
at $50 pounds from the water plant
and ITO pounds in the city. Naturally
when the steamers were attached and
the ire plugs for blocks around were
put into use the gauge showed loss
at the fire headquarters. But this loss
was on the city side of the fire and up
to the lineS of hose the pressure could
not have been better. The Harrison
street station was not used at all and
the big pumps out at the waterworks
did yeoman service The lowest pres
sure of the evening was 60 pounds
and this quickly jumped up TO an av-
erage of 50 pounds. The two fire en-
gIneS We're used each throwing two
streams of water and seven single d1-
rect pressure streams were played on
the fire from the time of the first con-
nection. This is a hard drain on the
water mains, but they held out in fine
shape. The streams from the steamer
reached to the top floors of the struct-
ure and the first streams threw good
stream into the second and third story
windows. The aerial truck was hoisted
at the northeast corner of the building
on Kansas avenue and stayed here un-
til the walls threatened to fall -Four
men remained on this ladder during
the entire time and it was through
their efforts that the fire was held in
check thus saving the International
building on the north. Superintendent
Shaw of the water department was
seen several times during the fire and
he was we'll pleased with the flow of
water He said: Il don't see what else
could be expected tonight. If it was
not for that gas and the terrific spread
and range of the fire am sure that 1T
With the exception of the work of
the firemen in saving the International
building just north of the
ParkhurSt-DaviS structure, the pluck
lest fight ofsthe evening was on top of
the power house of the Topeka Cold
Storage Ice & Fuel company, just west
Of the hottest part of the fire. The lit
tie breeze from the east blew the heat,
the sparks and the burning timberS on
top of the cold storage plant and when
fhrnIIOh
Of the P-D building it looked as
though the frame ventilators towering
five stories into the air would catch
fire at any moment and the whole
it's thousands of dollars worth of
equipment would be wiped out. AT
first men with buckets and sacks
mounted the roof of the building and
1uenched the numerous blazes IN TINS
manner, but soon the heat became so
fierce that in a hundred places the
wood commenced to smoke and
shoulder and a touch of fire would
nave thrown the whole thing into one
pig blaze. A small hose was stretched
% the top of the building and two men
Kept it playing on the different parts |
# the roof as they would break out |
INTO blaze Later the firemen ran |
wo lines of hose to the scene and by |
constant soaking and sprinkling they |
aved the plant. w. w. webb, repre-
enting one Of the insurance compan-
es that holds the insurance on the ice
liant, was wild with joy when the
building was safe at last. His COM
,anies lost considerable on the Park
lurst-Davis building, but they constd-
red themselves lucky to escape from
he Topeka ice plant adjoining. While
he men were working on the roof and
n through the galleries of the plant
portion of the Parkhurst-Da wall /
ell to the ground tearing out the cleo |
rio wiring. This left the building in |
darkness and the men depended upon |
he blazing building for light.
In accordance with the governors
that churches observe Lin
,oln Day with appropriate services,
First Church OF Christ, Scientist, cor
Ter of Polk and Huntoon streets, will |
1old a special service, to which all are |
cordially invited, Friday evening, Feb
,uary 18th. at o'clock. Subject. |
Freedom"
Oakland in Mourning.
Mr.. Munson has been in the employ
f the gas company for nine years. He
ears All of Oakland is in mourning
ver his death. He was one of the
most popular men of the place. He
caves a wife and five children, three
iris and two boys.
The Oldest girl is about years of
ge. The girls are Virginia, Julia,
nd Alice. The boys are Tom and
ohm.
His parents are living in Scandia.
he Munsons have lived in Oakland
OF several years. Mr.. Munson was
orn in Republic county, April 49,
874 He was married in Oakland
ONE twelve years ago to a Miss Han
on. He was a member of the North /
'opeka I. o. o. F. and was insured for
bout $4,000.
Mrs. Munson has lost both a hus-
and and mother by fire. About five
ears ago, her mother was burned to
cath in a fire which destroyed her
ONE at Chester and Center streets in
oakland.
The Munson house is fairly well fur
ished and gives evidence of the thrift