Evening journal., 1910-12-31
LIGHT WIRES
FIRE OFFICE
Peoples Railway Company
Suffers $4,000 Loss in
Mo- ming Blaze
COLD WEATHER HALTS
FIREMEN In WORK

Fire, presumably originating iron.
crossed electric light wires. caused
about $4,000 damage TO the oihoe
building Of the Peoples Railway
Company at Sixth and Hawley streets
this morning. The fire. originated on
the second floor and was discovered
by a force of conductors and the dis
patohers who we're gathered IN the
office Of the FIRST floor or the build
ing. about $50 o'clock The power
house. car sheds or machine snops
were not damaged but the ONCE build
ing is total wreck. The money and
papers of the company were locked
up in the safes and were found TO be
intact.
The early morning staff Of motor
men and conductors was assembled
In the office building awaiting .heir
assignments when the smoke and tiny
flames broke through the ceiling. They
rushed for the hand extinguishers
and played the chemical contents
upon the burning sections while
others hurried TO the fire boxes IN
the neighborhood 10 send in an alarm.
Three OF the fire boxes would not
work and there was considerable de-
lay in getting notice OF the FIRE to the
department Finally the alarm was
spread and soon a number of COM
panies were on hand More delay was
experienced through the freezing OF
the fireplugs IN front Of the company's
properties and It took some tins to
get it opened.
General Manager Crooks with Fire
Chief Moran, superintendent the work
) OF the hTemen. Luckily there we're
; no high power wires 70 impede the
} progress OF the firemen The cold OF
the early morning. which froze the
water upon their coats and exposed
parts, handicapped their work con
sideIabiy but they gallantly stuck Il
out until the flames had been pui
cut and all danger OF a rurther out
break removed.
Most OF the Office fixtures we're re-
moved from the burning building ant
authorities OF the company said thil
morning that the work Of rebuildint
t-e damaged part would be commenc
. ed Immediately.
4 For the tire being temporary once
sre tfir- liIea 81 ~ on 4,-s r-~-
o le FAr 6atGt ali4 ti5 ccmrity q
aHsiis VIII not be enected by the los
o, tho odioe building The cars oi IA
+ comra1y ran throuShoul the period Q
tie IRE
Excellent work was done By "a
I. flemen in keeping the flames from III
!. car repair shops which adjoin ID
! ruined building on the west, an
2 from the machine shop with It's valua
bic machinery which connects with "a
cflce building on the south. Exactl
where on the second floor the fir
broke out had not been determine
soon after the flre this morning, br
Il Is believed that It was due TO cross
! ing electric light wires.
Firemen working on the roof Of tn
building we're IA constant danger
falling to the ground on account
the solid sheet Of Zee that covered N
& building from top to bottom. TIL
ladders also, we're covered with Il
and made their scaling most danger
Gus to the fiTehghters.
II was only by care and couraa
that they escaped without several sci
ious accidents as some we're IN daI
gerous places at times.
When an attempt was made 10 ope
= one Of the safes OF the company It wa
u discovered that It had been so warpe
by the fre that access was impossib
until II had been opened by fore
J. This was done and the return bag
l. containing the monies collected ye
le terday by the conductors, were four
r to be soaked through
le The irst story Of the building is
ID brick and will need only new ittinl
It inside but the second floor was e
N tirely OF wood and win have to be r
ss constructed. The interior Of Il
Is structure was practically gutted !
e. the flames, and the roof has tumble
8 in. It is said that the new building
Il TO be constructed OF brick aud will
2. Of freproof material throughout.