The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-02-05
Hotel Burns in Blizzard.

Hotel Burns in Blizzard.
Amid the Juror of the fiercest biz
2ard that has swept northern Nebraska
since the year of 1883, the Norfolk
rooming house burnt to the ground
last night, The structure, which for
year past, has been run under the
name of the Pioneer hotel, was the
first real hotel erected in Norfolk for
the accommodation of the travelling
public.
The hotel was part of the prop
erty of the late Mrs. c. f.. Farley who
died November II, 1908. Since that
time it has been managed by her son,
NJ. NJ. Farley, who returned from
Mexico prior to her death.
The origin of the fire is entirely un-
known. 1t started, however, in an up
stairs room
About 7:20 Thomas Woods, lodgcr,
entering the hotel, commented on the
smell of smoke. Investigation found
the entire upstairs abla2e.
Unable to get the central office on
account of the fire Mrs. Farley, her
the street to the Fred Reed home in
the Timcs-Tribune building, where she
turned in the alarm. The call received
immediate attention, Mrs. Farley stat
ing that she had barely hung up the
receiver before the whistle blew.
The fire department was quickly on
Ine scene and two streams of water
hp i,,r
building.
Besides Mr.. and Mrs. Nj. Nj. Farley
and the little child there were some
twenty guests that occupied the
house. One or two of these lost their
personal belongings. Two trunks, a
sewing machine, and several bureau
drawers were the only salvage of the
blaze.
Farley, at first estimate, placed his
loss and that of his guests around
$4,000. Insurance will cover $500.
Mr.. Farley was on the verge of sell
ing the hotel. An Atkinson party
was 10 have come down today to look
it over.
Much relief was felt that the blaze
started when it did and not at later
hour Had the fire caught the Occu-
pants abed it is probable that some
would have been unable to get out of
the old building.
Draped like whitecaps with the
clinging snow, the members of the
fire department stayed at the scene
of action until the last spark had been
eXtinguiShed. On account the velocity
f the wind it was not at all improbable
that a flying spark might have ignited
the adjoining building or those across
the street.
George Farley sheltered his brothers
family in his Braasch avenue residence
The roomers scattered over town.
A Pioneer Building.
The old hotel which went to its
death in the big storm was one of the
first buildings erected in Norfolk. The
west part of the building was put up
on First street by Landlord Wagner
in 1870. 1t was the first hotel on any
pretcntiOns in Norfolk In 1894 the
east part of the building was erected
on its present site by Charles Hahn.
Wagner soon afterwards bought Hahn
out and brought his own building up
to Second street and Main, joining the
two buildings. The hotel remained in
the Wagner family until about two
years ago. 1t was for a number of
years the principal hotel in Norfolk
and nearly all of the towns visitors
in the early days were housed in it,
Were Expecting an Alarm.
At the time the fire whistle blew
Norfolk firemen were taking steps to
prepare for an emergency call. Chair
man Winter of the fire committee held
a conference with Chief Krantz, with
the result that the latter had started
to call squad of firemen to the city
hall in case overtaXed heating plants
should result in a blaze. The eX-
pected call came while he was so en-
gagged.
While the old hotel was virtually de.
stroyed the firemen prevented the
flames from spreading to the brick
building adjacent and to the frame
buildings across the street. Water
was turned on these buildings at
once and the icy protection saved
them. Norfolk firemen never fought
a fire under more trying circum-
stances but they never left their
posts, They were given a hot supper
afterwards.
The hotel is virtually a total wreck
1t was a rambling two story struc-
ture and covered a good deal Of
ground.
AFTER TIMBER THIEVES.