Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-23
DYSON BLOCK SCORCHED
CAUSE OF SERIOUS BLAZE is NOT
DEFINITELY KNOWN
Tin Roof. Still Night and Fire Ladies'
Effective Work Eliminate Com.
plete consumma alton

Sunday morning, at few minutes
before three O'Clock, fire was discovered
in the rear of c. NJ. Thompson 5 grocery
sCore in the Dyson building. An en-
deagor was made to spread the alarm
by means of the automatic system, but,
as has been the case in a number of
times of need since its installation, it
failed to respond, and the never failing
hard bell was resorted to. Although
crippled by one broken rope, this was
cfiicatious in arOusing the department,
and our siren whistle alarm (Which, by
the way, is shrieking success, when
il works) soon followed and quickly
gathered our people to the scene of the
disturbance.
Aided by an elevator shaft, the fire
spread rapidly upward, downward and
to the front. When the fire fighters
numbered for action, the building was
burning from cellar to garret-a con-
dition seldom seen. and an exceedingly
difficult situation to successfully cope
with. In the basement of the grocery
store, the blaze had gained good head
way and spread to o. +. Davis base
ment, burning under the floor toward
the front of the building. That the
many highly inflammable materials con-
tanned in both Easements did not ignite
is hard to understand. A lack of draft
and the steam arising from the quantity
of water poured down the shaft com
bined to smother the fire there before
vital damage was done to the building
proper, but the stock in the basement
is seriously damaged-Mr Davis wall
paper and window glass stock being
ruined.
The Thompson grocery store, where
those early on the ground say the fire
originated, presents a sorry spectacle.
Mr.. Thompson's stock is practically a
total loss, while this portion of the
building suffered considerably from the
| flames. 0. K. Davis and NJ. J. Felix
suffered no direct loss from fire on this
floor, though the former experienced
heavy damage from water and the lat
ter from dense smoke which permeated
every part of the building.
| The fire spread in every direction
when it reached the top of the elevator
shaft. DIR. +. E. Morley's office rooms
and Mr.. Felix's store room were com
pletely Quilted and, excepting the doc
tors instruments, the contents de-
stroyed. DR.. A. p Minshall's office
and T. h. Potts barberssshop and pool
hall were not directly treated to the
destroying element, but the smoke
| blackened the walls and furnishing woe
fully. Between the ceiling and roof, the
| fire worked through the entire space.
| Not being able to eat its way through
the metal roof, and hampered by lack
Of draft and drowned in water, ii was
finally extinguished.
| Three conditions conspired together
to defeat the will of the flames. The
night was practically without wind,
the tin roof proved an insurmountable
barrier, and our fire foes fitted their
| judgment ana sagacity against the COM
| pick hame-ereated problem in manner
well calculated to earn for them tho
warmest commentator. Had gale
been blowing, the roof other than metal.
or the efforts of the firemen less de-
| termined and wise, the building and
contents would have been totally ruined.
| The exact origin of the firp will remain
mystery. While spontaneous com
| bustion of some form is accepted as the
plausible explanation, beyond locating
its commencement in the rear of the
store the rest is plain theory and con-
| lecture.
The loss is fully covered by insurance,
with the exception of Mr.. Thompson,
whose protection is by no means suf-
ficient to make good the total loss of
his stock. DIR. Morley will set up his
office in the First National Bank build
ing DIR. Minshall and G. M. Thompson
will remain in their present quarters,
the latter opening for business as soon
as the arrival of his stock and the re-
pairing of the room and his furniture
| will warrant.
Coming as it does in the midst of
winter, the loss and especially the in
convenience is keenly felt by the un-
| fortunate gentlemen. Public sympathy
is especially rendered to Mr.. Thompson
in this regrettable setback he has ex-
perienced, and hope of his early OPEN
ing and subsequent prosperity is ex-
pressed.