Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-10-07
DISASTROUS
CONFEDERATION
Two Beautiful Homes Destroyed.
Fire Fighters Poweriess for
Lack of Equipment.


ernoon in the home of Mr.. j. a Butler,
on West Anderson street, was the be-
ginning of q conflagration which de-
stroyed also the home of Rev. John
Ewanwick and for while threatened
TO burn its destructive way through
TO the southern Limits OF the city.
AS stated in yesterdays Eagle. the
fire began in the kitchen OF the Butler
home. There had been no fire In the
range, or elsewhere In the house, aaer
the MONDAY dinner, and its origin is
a mystery. The most probable theory
is that it caught from the flue, and
owing to the lack of ventilation in the
garrett, burned for several hours so
slowly as to attract no attention. When
discovered 1t had made such headway
that no effort was made to save the
house.
A shed in the rear of the burning
building next took fire. and was the
means of communicating the flames
to Rev. John Swanwick's barn, stand
ing opposite on the south side of the
narrow alley. The barn and contents
were devoured in a short time and
then the greedy monster attacked the
Swanwick home, from which the fur
niture had been removed in anticipa-
ton of this result Short work was
made of this time-honored house also.
Across Burleson street opposite the
Swanwick place stood the home of
Mr.. J. e. Wells, and the danger to 1t
was so imminent that the furniture
was removed. But the embankment
OF the International g. Great Northern
railroad, which runs along this street.
served as bulwark against the
flames, and here their deyouring
course was stayed.
The reader unfamiliar with condh
tons In Bryan will naturally ask,
What were the fireman doing? The
answer is repetition of story that
is old to the people of Bryan. The
firemen we're helpless for lack of wa
ter service and equipment. The near
est plug Is at the corner of Anderson
and Red Top streets, just west of the
postoffice, three blocks from the fire.
The ordinary hose is too short to
reach this distance and while other
hose was brought and the connection
made the fire was doing its fearful
work. But the pressure was only
average, and to add to'the discontinue
of the firemen, the hose burst in sew.
eral places, causing the Jet to be too
weak to make any impression on the
raging sea OF fire. Even when rein
forced by the Allen Academy fire
fighters. who arrived with the chem
ical engine in a remarkable short time
after the summons was sent, the de-
partment could do nothing to stay the
on-rushing tide of fame, AT the height
of the peril an appeal for help was
sent to the A. & NJ. College fire de-
partment. and the response was
prompt, but before transportation
could be procured the fire had burnt
itself out
Mr.. Buffers loss is estimated at
$500, which was the value of the
building. all OF the furniture having
been saved with almost no damage.
Mr.. Buffers loss is partly covered by
$1,000 insurance. Mr.. Swanwick's loss
is about s1750 with $1,000 insurance.
Mr.. Swanwick is absent, attending the
association meeting Of the Freewill
Baptists at Kurten.
Mrs. Swanwick has secured rooms
with NJ. G. Nall until Mr.. Swanwick
returns and they determine on their
plans for the future. Mr.. and Mrs.
Butler have as yet made no definite
arrangements, but II is their intention
to rebuild at once.
II Is indeed lamentable that the fire
protection in some of the best resi-
dence districts is no better than it Is.
Anderson street is built up with fine
residences and should they catch fire
the result would be as yesle.day.
There Is only one plug on that street.
and It is only q block from Main
street. leaving all these beautiful
homes entirely without protection.
Whose fault is 1t? The fire company
is not paid institution, but is made
up Of citizens who volunteer to render
their aid in protecting our homes.
Then why not furnish sufficient equip-
merit for them to work with? Bryan
is striving to be city, but this can
never be until we can have the assur-
ance that we can protect what we
have already built