The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-05-13
A $4,000 FIRE
IN DIES MONIES
The New York Wall Paper Company
Is Heavy Loser.
HOTEL GUESTS ROUTED OUT
Flames Started Shortly Before Mid
might and Were Not Under Con-
troll Until 2:3o This Morn
ing--No One Hurt.
HOTEL GUESTS ROUTED OUT

| Des Moines, May 11.-Fire starting
from an unknown source at 1855
O'Clock last night Quilted the building
at Fifth and Court avenue, occupied
by the New York Wall Paper and Sta
tionery company, damaged the Central
State hotel and the building occupied
by Swift & Co., and wrought damage
ltotaling more than $150,000. The
losses are we'll covered by insurance.
| The flames were practically under
control at 1880 a. m.
Fireworks on the second floor of the
building added fuel and spectacular
beauty to the fire, and the explosions
lof the giant crackers shattered the
windows and hurled debris to the
lstreet.
This is the second fire in the same
building within the last month. About
four weeks ago flames sprang up In
the evening from an unknown source
and caused loss of about $4,000 to
the stock, leaving the building undam-
Jagged.
This fire is the second of the group
of three that veteran firemen have ex-
Ipected since the Body fire a few
weeks ago. There is legend among
Ifremen that big fires come in groups
of three and last night, among the
crowds of watchers, this was often re-
lferred to.
| AS in the Body building fire. the
Iorigin of the flames is unknown. Mem
Ibers of the company last night were
at total loss to account for it.
Contents OF Building.
The basement OF the building was
jailed with paints, oils and wallpaper.
The first floor was devoted to Of
lfices and stocks OF blank books, writ
ling paper and the entire stock Of en-
lvelopes.
The second floor contained the FIRE
works, hammocks, toys and heavy sta
ltionery
The third floor was entirely filed
with wall paper.
The fourth floor contained wooden
WARE and wall paper.
| Explosions First Warning.
| With fusillade of explosions the
fire announced itself just before mid
might.
The second floor of the building
contained a heavy stock of fireworks,
in preparation for the fourth of July
trade and the fire apparently started
Iamong these goods. The explosions
of giant crackers shattered the win
dows in the building and alarmed Pc
ldestriaps blocks away
Patrolmen Bellizi and Charles Dav-
is were the first to turn in the alarm.
and owing to their inability to secure
lquick telephone connections the.
flames secured a big start before the
lfiremen could reach the scene. s
Fireworks Spread Flames.
When the fire department arrived
the building was mass of flames
and smoke. Explosions reverberated
along the block and skyrockets and
Roman candles whizzed and hinged
Through the empty window sashes.
IStreaks of fire shot here and there
within the building as the liberated
fireworks were discharged. N
The scene was one of beauty that
was not lost upon the hundreds of
people who crowded each other
Iagainst the fire lines and thronged the
sidewalks and the court house yard.
The flames found their origin in the.
rear of the second floor and were al
most Immediately at work upon the
fourth floor also In some unexplain-
liable manner the third floor remained
dark while the second and fourth were
masses Of flame.
Reserve firemen hurried to the aid
of the men from the central station
and soon the department had twenty
two streams of water pouring in upon
the flames from every possible point
of vantage
Hotel Lodaers Awakened.
Meanwhile the dodgers in the Cen
trail State hotel, adjoining the burning
5 building on the east. were awakened
and FASTENED from the building. 1t
was 1 o'clock before the flames broke
: through the walls and into the hotel.
1 but long before that time the sleeping
!, apartments were filled with smoke and
/ gas, The firemen visited every room
a and assured themselves that no one
S was within.
/. The building was the property of G.
A. McCune. 1719 Arlington avenue.
land is valued at $4,000, and was fully
: insured. Ralph B. McCune. his son.
stated this morning that his father
5 recently refused 100000 for the build
ing and lot on which 1t stands. Mr.
McCune recently announced that after
Oct. 1, when the wall paper company
. PLANNED TO remove from the building,
e The would remodel IT,,
81 Small Loss TO Swift q CO. 81