The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-12-24

on my trousers l forgot TO notice
which side should be worn in 'front.'
and afterwards discovered that had
them on hind part before"
DIR. Roskind rang the bell so effec-
lively that half the town was awak-
ened. So much excitement was oc-
casioned, in fact, that alarms were
turned in by frenzied citizens through
out the night, the last slarm being
rung in about 5 o'clock. This caused
the firemen untold worry, as they pic
tured half a dozen fires raging In 9TH
er parts of town, the wrong numbers
having been sounded by the thorough
ly aroused citizens.
The firemen responded to the alarm
just as promptly as possible, the frst
stream of water being turned on Few
minutes after the alarm was turned
in. When they arrived they found
the fire raging fiercely in the back OF
the Singer building. The plugs had
frozen up, and this delayed matters
In addition the ladies were forced 10
fight over a partition, which ran
through the center of the building.
The water froze as it fell, and 1t re-
ouired the greatest heroism for the
firemen to stick to their posts.
I'VE arrived about five minutes al
ter the alarm was turned In" said
Chief Ritter Monday morning. THE lire
was burning briskly in the rear OF the
Singer building, and in my opinion
that was where it originated. The
plugs were frozen up, and we mad
trouble in getting water A PARTITION
through the building proved quite an
obstacle in fighting the fire Soon the
I flames spread from the Singer build
| ing to the rooms above, which were
occnpied as Offices. The building is
himsily constructed, and once the
lanes reached the second story there
was no way to stop them. The flames
licked out a little further and little
further until they reached the firewall
of the Adkisson building. There they
we're choked. 1t was the worst fire
since | have been in office
Ed Guest, an efficient member OF the
IRE department, stated today that dur
ing six years of service he had en-
eountered no such fire as that which
swept the Brown block on Saturday
night.
/ Regarding the fire loss the following
statements were made;
Or. Roskind: u estimate my loss
at $4,000, part of which is covered
b. insurance. lost instruments val
ued at $500, five diplomas, my entire
outfit. Including my personal ward
robe had eight suits of clothing
burned, as | slept over the building. /
lost a diamond stud valued at $500,
and many other articles of value"
T. L. Cunningham: Il estimate the
loss sustained by H. G. Hill Co., OF
whose store l am manager, at about
s., 500, although the damage will not
be definitely known until we take
complete inventory of the damaged
goods"
RAYMOND Adkisson: "Adkisson
Brothers sustained a loss of two OF
three hundred dollars from water. We
sustained no fire loss, We will open
nm lust as soon as the insurance Is
adjusted"
John L. Jones: 81 lost all my office
fixtures. and also manuscript on
which | have been working for seven
years. | estimate my loss at $4,000
with no insurance"
j. A. Ketchum: MY loss was about
5000. fully covered by insurance. II
can get the building repaired reason
ably soon will keep my shop closed
until that time"
Mrs. Dowdell, who occupied one o.
the burned Offices uptsairs has Sc
cured new uarters. She lost practical
ly everything she had and carried ne
insurance. A Samuels circulated
petition this morning in her behalf ant
quite handsome subscription wal
made.
The Singer Sewing Machine com
pany carried no insurance. The los'
was carload of sewing machines, val
ned at several thousand dollars, ant
office fixtures. Some of the machine'
we're not a total loss.
Dr. Roskind, who turned In the mr.
alarm, stated today that in his opinion
the fire originated in the office of d.
voorhies. However, the general opin