Gilpin observer., 1911-01-26
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN NEW YORK STORE
Clothing Department Completely Ruined and
Shoe Stock Damaged Loss Estimated at
$4,000 Covered by Insurance.

What threatened to be the worst
fire Central City has experienced in
years occurred Tuesday evening, when
the interior OF the clothing depart
ment of the New York Store Mercan-
tile company was gutted by flames.
The fire started at about nine O'Clock
in the clothing department and was
discovered by w. c. Fullerton, who
was passing the Harris building, oecu
pied by the New York store. He
bursted in the front door and seeing
that the flames had gotten such head
way that 1t was impossible for the
work of one individual to check, he
gavo the alarm of fire. Marshal Geo.
Launder, who is always near at hand
whenever assistance is needed, hurri-
ed to the scene Of the fire. He rush
ed into the clothing side of the build
ing and grabbed bunch Of clothing
and carried them to the street. When
he returned the flames had advanced
SO rapidly to the front part of the
store it was impossible for him to
again enter.
The alarm brought the fire depart
ment to the blaze in astonishingly
quick time. By the time the depart
ment arrived the interior of the
clothing department was roaring
furnace and the flames were burning
furiously. The chemical engine could
not be used to any advantage to
protect the clothing stock and sew
eral streams of water direct from the
fire hydrants were turned into the
clothing room. The pressure was eno-
nous and it was but minute or two
until the firemen had the flames
completely under control.
The flames were confined mostly
to the side of the building occupied
by the clothing department. In the
shoe department. adjoining the cloth
ing side of the building, the chemical
engine was used to great advantage
and tho damage to the stock was
comparatively light. But a small per-
tion OF the stock was injured in the
shoe department.
In the dry goods department the
damage was caused mainly by smoke
and water. 1t was not necessary to
use any Of the fire apparatus in this
part of the store as the firemen were
enabled with the use of the chemical
to prevent the flames spreading to
the dry goods.
The stock in the clothing depart
ment is complete loss. 1t is doubt
full if the goods that could be sold
would bring two or three hundred
dollars. The loss in the clothing side
The insurance on the Joint stock is
$4,000. The value Of the entire stock
OF the New York Store is estimated
at close to $50, 900. The fire occurring
during the month Of January, just
when the work of invoicing was COM
pleted and when stock in a large es-
tablishment is naturally low, is all
that saved stock that ordinarily is
worth $4,000 or $4,000, from being
at the mercy of the flames.
The building in which the New
York store is quartered is owned by
the Harris estate. The loss to the
owners of the building will amount
to between $4,000 and $4,000. The
upstairs was not damaged by the fire,
although the rooms were smoked.
How the fire originated is a mystery,
but 1t is supposed to have been
caused by gas from oil which had been
placed on the floor. The fact that the
fire burned more toward the ceiling
than near the floor. would lead to
this theory. In the shoe department,
the stock was not injured five feet
from the ceiling. but pictures and
Autographs on the walls nearer the
ceiling were burned to crisp.
Joe Floyd, L. J.. Rachofsky and
Frank Schmidt, clerks in the store,
had just finished oiling the floors OF
the three departments and had re-
paired to COUGHS to partakc OF some
light liquid refreshments when the
alarm OF fire was given. According to
the gentlemen. they had not been
away from the store ten or fifteen
minutes when they were apprised of
the fire. Abe Rachofsky. president of
the New York Store Mercantile com.
pany. was attending n meeting OF the
Knights Of Pythias lodge. when the
fire as discovered. He as deliver
ing dissertation on the improve
mont Of the tungsten lamp over the
ordinary incandescent, and had prom.
ised to take the members of the
lodge up to the store to demonstrate
tho illuminarv efficiancv ~ tho