Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-25
Council Bluffs
FIRE DAMAGES ELKS' HOME
Flames and Water Cause Loss of
Several Thousands.
HIGH WIND CAUSES WORRY
Gale Fans BlaEe and Apprehension
IL Intense-CFoased wires start
TrOubIe-Insurnnce VIII
Cover Loss.

The crossing OF high and low voltage
electric wires caused by the heavy wind
which at the time was blowing a veritable
gale, was responsible for a fire in the
handsome club house Of Council Bluffs
lodge of Elks on First avenue, adjoining
the Grand hotel, Saturday afternoon.
The damage, the exact extent of which
cannot be determined for some time, prin-
cipally caused by water, is estimated at
from $1,000 to S7,5oO
The crossing of the electric wires per-
mitted the high voltage to enter the build
ing over the low voltage wire, with the
result that the strong current burned
hole in a gas pipe in the small room or
closet back of the organ loft containing
the lodge paraphernalia. The gas became
ignited and the flames burned their way
through the wall separating the lodge
room from the reception room on the sec
ond floor to the attic.
Owing to the density of the smoke the
firemen experienced considerable diff
Guilty at first in locating the seat of the
blaze. The blaze, however, was confined
to the attic and the principal damage to
the interior of the building was from the
water which poured in torrents down
through the ceiling into the handsome
reception room on the first floor and into
the large hallway.
The costly furniture and furnishings in
the main reception room were carried at
! the outset of the fire into the rear rooms
ready to be removed into the yard If
| found necessary and they suffered but
/ little damage.
! The furniture in the lodge room was
only slightly damaged by the smoke and
the entire damage TO the building and fur
nishings is amply covered by insurance.
Covered by Insurance.
Henry II. H. Van Brunt. member of the
board of trustees, who has charge of the
insurance carried by the lodge, said that
although unable to state the exact amount
of insurance as the policies were locked
up in the safe in his office, which was
set with a time lock and could not be
opened before Monday, he thought it was
900 on the furniture and from $4,000
to $4,000 on the building.
The fire was discovered shortly before
4 o'clock, at which time the club house
was well filled with members, who were
wholly unaware of the danger which
threatened the building. E. II. Haworth
one of the members who happened 70
pass on First avenue, noticed smoke roll
ing out from under the caves on the east
side of the building. He at once gave the
alarm and the fire department was soon
on the scene Some delay was caused In
raising the extension ladder owing to the
heavy wind, which was blowing a gale
from the north, but once the firemen sue
ceeded in turning the hose into the attic
the blaze was quickly got under control
The fire attracted an immense crowd
and ii was but a few minutes after the
alarm was sounded before members OF
the lodge FASTENED from all points to dc
what they could in saving the furniture
and effects. with many willing hands II
took but a short time to get the hand
some furniture to a place OF safety be-
fore the water commenced TO pour dowr
through the ceilings.
An hour after the fire Secretary George
Wise had a force of men at work taking
up carpets, mopping up the floors anC
covering up the furniture. The care
rooms, reading rooms and billiard room
were not damaged. Secretary Wise's office
was but slightly damaged.
Whether the building will be CLOSED
during repairs will be determined at {
meeting of the officers and board Of trus
tees to be held Monday.
Three Other Alarms.
The men of No. l Fire company spen
three hours Saturday morning extinguish
ing a mass of rubbish in a vacant lot a
Eighth street and Twelfth avenue, which
is believed to have been set on fire by
boys. Tho lot is used as a dumping ground
by the city and residents in the vcinit!
were afraid the high wind would blow the
burning rubbish onto their houses.
Sparks from a chimney or a passing 10
comotive set fire to the roof of the X c
hotel on South Main street ABOUT nool
yesterday and gave the fire department
run. The damage was confined to a few
shingles.
At 1880 o'clock Friday night the depart
ment was called to the Pioneer Implemen
company building on Main street ant