Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-03
BAD FIRE AT SOUTH OMAHA
Firemsn Fight the Flames Through
Worst Of the Blizzard.
UNDER DIFFICULTIES
Indications Are the Loss VIII Reach
= Total Of over Forty Thousand
harms -Four Hours-Citi-
sens Aid Ftremen.

Fire Of undiscovered origin which started
IN the grocery store OF n. Reuben. SOS
North Twenty fourth street. before IT was
/ checked. Quilted the hardware store Of J.
I O. Sans and the shoe store OF J. r.
O'Leary. the two buildings next to the
north. The damage will probably amount
/ to between 5000 and $4,000.
! The fire department did heroic work. Al
though the next building 70 the north Of
the OLeary store Is the three-story brick
structure known as the Lavender block,
which was expected TO stop the conflagra-
ton. the fremen had the fire under control
by that time. although they could not pre-
vent the destruction Of Mr. O'Leary's stock
either by fire or water
The hremen worked under the greatest
difficulties. A strong wind was blowing
from the north and clouds Of snow COM
mingled with clouds OF smoke made it al
most impossible to see the buildings a few
feet away. Then the water froze almost
as IL came out Of the nozzle and the fire.
men when they came for a few minutes OF
relief out Of the fire zone looked ike por-
tons Of an iceberg with their helmets and
overocats covered with frozen water A
business man who was out through all the
fire in speaking Of the work OF the firemen
said that they BY their heroic work saved
the block and certainly at one time so
terrific blew the wind IL seemed almost
impossible TO stop the progress OF the
flames.
second Fire Breaks Out.
To make matters worse. while the fire
was in progress. at ass another alarm
came in for a fire at Twenty-seyenth and
Monroe streets and a company had to be
detached TO attend to It. Chief Mekale
felt then he had the greater conflasrati0n
under control and without asking assist
ance from Omaha. as some were suggest
ing. he was able to handle both fires.
The fire on Twenty street wa
noticed BY Police Officer GauRhan about
lu:R. He had Just passed Reuben's store
on the other side OF the street. when h
saw a burst OF flame through the window
He Immediately rushed to an alarm boz
and informed the department. but by tbs
time the nremen got to the place tbs
store was completely enveloped in flames
and the fire was spreading north and south
For a time il was thought that the 1r
was going to take northerly direction
4 and It cut midway into the Central Bowl
/. ing alleys, but the strong gale from tn
north changed the venue and notwitn
standing the efforts OF the firemen IL go
into the Sans hardware store, and It wa
only a few minutes before it was also fl
possession Of the O'Leary shoe store. s.
fierce at this tine was the wind that
seemed almost impossible TO save tn
! block As mentioned. hope was placed Fl
: the power Of the three-story brick Taven
der block to resist it's progress. but thi
necessity did not arise, as the fire wa
under control when it had consumed tn
contents Of the shoe store. The fire wa
under control by about ais.
, Losses Are Heavy.
The losses may be segregated as follows
: II. Reuben. 1900; ]. G. Sans, $1,000; J. +
to'Leary $4,000.
In addition to these principal sufferer
the basement OF the dry goods store O
W. w. Fisher. who has dry goods stor
Z in the Lavender block, was flooded. Occs
a stouinE damage to the extent OF abou
xaOO. Several hundred dollars damag
: also has been caused 70 the Central bow
ing alleys.
The three buildings which have bee
= Quilted belong 70 Mrs. Annie Partridge
Omaha They had been purchased by n
= south Omaha National bank as a site Il
a new bank before its amalsamation wit
the Union Stock Yards bank. They.
the early part OF the month OF Octobe
sold the property 70 Mrs. Partridge Il
= $4,000
II should be stated that the fireme
w,uld not have been able to remain at II
= post of duty owing to the severe wealth,
j. IL IL had not been for the thoughtful gel
crosby Of some Of the South Omaha cit
zens. The Economy restaurant, Twent,
o fourth and N streets, came to their a
~ with hot coffee. hot soup and luncheo
=, while M. Culkin & Co. supplied them vii
gloves and mittens when those they hs
been wearing became frozen 20 the
hands. soaked as they were with water
=. Chief McKaIe, speaking OF the fire. sa
\. IL was the first that had been experienc,
in the business district for years.
M The fire at Twenty and Monr,
% streets. resulted in the destruction of Il
v cottage OF George King and causing dar
"a age estimated at t5.OOQ.
A.. A. w. OLL a.