The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1909-01-16
PROPERTY
DESTROYED

Flames Lick Up Two South Side
Buildings and Damage Colum-
bia Hotel. Loss of $4,000
Covered by Insurance.
The most disastrous fire which the city
has had for some time destroyed two
buildings and damaged third on the
South Side early Tuesday morning. The
Cherokee restaurant and the South Side
bowling alley were totally Quilted and
the flames spread to the Columbia hotel
but were extinguished after several
hundred dollars worth of damage had
been done to the building. The whole
property was owned by John Andor and
he estimates his total loss at nearly
SIS. 600, partially covered by insurance.
1t is supposed that the fire caught from
the stove in the kitchen of the res
taurant The cook had built fire in
the stove and was getting ready for
breakfast. On returning from the cellar
as he opened the door, the flames burst
into his face He quickly saw that the
whole interior was ablaze and ran to
the Columbia hotel 70 telephone in
the alarm.
This was shortly before four O'Clock.
The fire department made good re-
sponse in spite of the difficulties of
dragging the apparatus across the icy
railroad tracks. However, the intense
cold of the past week had frozen the
hydrant and there was great consterna-
tion when it was found that no water
could be obtained. The flames were
making rapid headway and threatening
all the adjoining buildings.
For many minutes every effort was
made to get water. without success.
Finally hydrant in front of the Ger
man Mercantile block was found to be
in good condition. But by this time
the restaurant was wholly Quilted and
the bowling alley which adjoined it
was in flames and was beyond saving.
When the lodaers in the Columbian
hotel saw the danger. and that unless
water was soon available the hotel
would 20, there was frenzied scramble
to remove their belongings and several
of the occupants became almost hys-
terical. Everything was thrown about
and there was great excitement. With
the aid of the firemen and neighbors,
good share of the hotel furnishings
were removed to place of safety or
were placed in readiness for hasty
dismantling. .
Not until the flames had spread to
the hotel building was water secured.
The bowling alley adjoined the hotel
and the south side of the latter was
somewhat burned The flames entered
the nearest window on the second story
and also came through into the saloon
cutting the cold storage room and even
coming through the rear Of the refrieer-
ator. @%
! An explosion added to the intensity
of the fire. h, There was small quantity
of gasoline in shed back of the bowl
ing alley which exploded during the
early part of the fire.
At about quarter after six, q second
alarm was turned in and few minutes
later still another. Neither of the alarms
were necessary and were sent in by per-
SONS who became excited over a; blazing
wall which threatened the hotel. The
flames rose in the air and looked as
though the whole hotel was ablaze.
Some of the fremen succeeded in pulling
the wall over before the larger building
caught. -.s
i The conflagration furnished sufficient
excitement for one morning and the fire.
men had two hours and half of good
stiff fighting. While the freezing of the
hydrant was unfortunate the blame
cannot be laid to anyone
! There is an injunction on the hotel,
4 which added to the complications. as
the place is under the charge of the
sheriff or his deputies. The place is
pretty badly wrecked with all the
damage done by the fire and water.
Mr. Andor estimates his loss here was
fully $500. while the loss on the restau-
rant and bowling alley he thinks is
about $4. 600 more. The furnishings of
the restaurant were worth considerable
and it was impossible to save a single
thing. The ruins of this building were
still burning Tuesday morning. The
walls Of the bowling alley, a one STORY
wooden building. are all that remain.
The buildings were..all insured in the
r. H. Johnson agencies and the loss
will be fully covered. The adjustera