Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-04
OF GOODS IN STORAGE
IN BoLLINGER PLACE DESTROY.
ED, AND MANY oTTuMwANs
SUFFER LOSS.
$4,000 $4,000


the cause for the great loss of proper
ty entailed early yesterday in the
fire that totally destroyed the plant of
the Wooden Shoe Brush Works, barn,
storage rooms and residence of H. e.
Bollinger, 1907 West Mill street, and
the house owned by Mrs. Cynthia Cup
ton, of Carpia, N. D., as we'll as an i'm
mense amount of household goods
stored in the storage rooms of Mr.. Boil
linger, the extent of which cannot be
learned.
The alarm was turned into the sta
ton at a. NJ, and a run made to the
Brush works of John Wiser on West
Mill beyond Clay street. The factory
was found to be ablaze when the de-
partment arrived on the scene and i'm
mediately the chemical and hose in
number Of streams were played upon
the fire. The water pressure is claim
ed by the department as well as Mrs.
Bollinger and number of other wit
nesses as being not sufficient to break
a pane Of glass when the hose was
played upon the windows. The de-
partment was unable to stem the pro-
gress of the blaze which found much
material with which the Brush fac
tory was stocked The fact that all
the buildings burned were of frame,
made the fighting of the fire difficult
task and the blaze gradually made adj
vances until it got beyond the power
of the department to overcome it. Two
ladders from the chemical wagon
were burned owing to the fact that it
was necessary to carry the hose to
the top of the dwellings in order to
get the force of water on the flames.
Flames Spread Fast.
From the Brush factory the fire
reached the barn and storage Of Mr..
Bollinger which stands at the rear of
the Bollinger premises, adjoining the
factory. The eleven horses were
taken from the burning barn as well
as practically all Of the harness, but
so rapidly and fiercely did the fire ex-
pand throughout the structure that
two wagons and buggy were badly
damaged before they could be placed
in safety.
The firemen worked with a vim to
stem the tide of the blaze which by
this time threatened the destruction
Of the entire property in the block and
did ignite the Bollinger home, destroy
ing it almost totally although the
household goods were saved. Then
taking westward course while the
firemen and other willing helpers were
busily engaged in trying to give bat
tie to the fire which had become a
seething furnace of destruction on the
east side Of the factory and on the
Bollinger premises, the house owned
by Mrs. Gupton, at 1925 West Mill
street. and occupied by Mrs Hayes,
took fire. This house and it's entire
contents were swept away like wisps
Of straw, SO fiercely did the fire burn.
Nothing was saved from the house and
no insurance was carried on the goods,
nor is it known that the house was in
sured
Partial List of Loss.
1t is impossible to get complete
list Of the stored goods destroyed but
1t is known that some sixteen loads of
household effects of all descriptions
including an organ, some thirty stoves,
chinaware and furniture were totally
destroyed. AS to the insurance of
Of icy water in which the traveller Is
immersed up TO MS Thighs.
Scott Lauds Feat of Cook.
Capt. Robert Scott, who commanded
the National antarctic expedition in
100000. today said in an interview:
when saw When I saw DR..
Cook in 1901. he gave me valuable in
formation which proved of great serv-
ice to me on the Discovery expedition
He impressed me as being well fitted
for polar exploration"
! In conclusion Capt. Scott said that If
an American had succeeded in reach
| ing the pole it must be remembered
that country Is on top in pioneer eff
forts. Great Britain still holds the pre-
mier position in antarctic exploration,
he declared and he added that 1t is to
be hoped Englishment would not let
slip the honor of the conquest of the
south pole by neglect as has been
shown latterl yin north polar explora-
ton.