Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-01-27

Eugene Field
ANOTHER STORY OF A FIRE.
The life of newspaper reporter is
one of sadness. In a village of sew
eral thousand inhabitants, news, such
as will interest the readers Of one of
the weekly papers, is not plentiful,
and when something of Importance,
large or small, occurs, especially on
an evening or the following day after
the edition has been printed, it is a
yeritable occasion of sorrow and LAM
eptaffon.
One feature alone compensates that
presumption, wherein the paper which
has lost out in getting SCOOP" has
from six to seven days to work out
its salvation and make story which
people will read again, concerning
the same thing. The people of Man.
chester all know that the coal elevat-
or in the Illinois Central yards was
totally destroyed by fire Wednesday
evening at about 6 o'clock. Everyone
either heard the weird screeching of
the fire whistle and the stirring
jangle of the bell, which called to-
gether the fire department and that
the truck and hose carts were drawn
to the scene of the fire, which was
extinguished after having burned it
self nearly out. The company is a
looser by nearly three thousand dol
lars. Then, too, town folk generally
knew that an explosion of gasolene
caused the ignition, and that the
quantities of fine coal dust, thickly
settled on every girder and timber
of the frame building, served to
spread the fire more swiftly. All that
is now history, and people are won
dering If the. railroad company will
rebuild and ofswllat manner OF build.
ing 1t is to be.
You know, when fire alarm is
given, every patron of telephone is
of the opinion that he should ask
central" where the fire is, and some
times you have to wait your turn be-
fore receiving an answer. There are
only three girls to answer as many
hundred calls when fire breaks out.
By the time the fire boys have start
ed the heavy trucks rolling down icy
or muddy streets, long procession
of kids are streaking it for the fire
and any number of women forget to
tie on a bonnet or put on galoshes
only desiring to watch the fire at as
close range as possible.
Did you notice how the sidewalks
were lined up with folks Wednesday
night between Marion street and the
tracks on Third street? AS Howard
Smith was anxiously waiting to know
whether the burning brands flying
through the air were going to settle
OF the roof Of big barn in which
Mr.. Smith had several thousand dol
lars of valuable horse flesh, couple
OF hundred girls and women stood
bareheaded or with shawls around
them, watching the pillar of fire il
Illuminate the sky for miles and as the
top of the 40-foot structure sunk dowr
into bed of white-hot Goals, a long,
drawn-out sigh Of relief was heard
from the onlookers. The houses just
north of the elevator were closely
watched, for fear the sparks and
burning pieces of wood might ignite
the roofs, although the drizzle and
half-rain during the afternoon pre-
vented any danger of such alarm.
But after the fire was out, and the
people turned back to finish Their
interrupted suppers, the thoughts OF
1.-THE gossipers were turned loose
"How do you 'spose it started" and
wasn't it beautiful to watch the thing
burn" were the most frequent excla
'tmations given voice, and then dis
crssion Of what might have happened
q had 1t not rained, and il the depart
ment hadn't responded as quickly az
1t did, was kept going until the little
groups of people were divided ant
went to their homes.
A fire is always a topic of mucf
conversation, not only in small tow
but in great city. The village sci
l dom affords an opportunity for it
volunteer firemen to distinguish him
self for bravery, nor Is there los
OF life as is reported in large confla
grations, but just the same, whei
that ungodly whistle blows and thu
7 fire bell rings, it sets body's hear
) and nerves throbbing and thrilling