The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-29
DELAY AND DANGER
Met the Ffremen AT Every Turn I'm the
Fire at Burnett's Place Last Might

Through their efficiency coupled. we
must admit. with remarkable good
luck, the ocala Fire Department sell
dom ever have much OF a loss at their
fires, unless the fire alarm comes in
too late or the fire Is located too re-
mote from the station. This did not
hold good last night. however. and the
fremen had quite loss. \ fire alarm
was turned in at few minutes after
9 o'clock. stating that a fire was burn
ing in Mr.. Jerry Burnetts tailoring
establishment
The fremen got out quickly and
trusted TO the bystanders TO ring the
bell. which was not done and so many
people We're not aware that a FIRE had
occurred till this morning.
coupling was made TO the hydrant
at the nearest corner and as soon as
the pressure was turned on the hose
gave way AT the connection and a new
section had TO be substituted. which de-
layed the fremen.
The second delay came after the fire.
men had water in the building and sew
eral inches deep on the floors. The
electric light wires from the ceiling
fell into and charged the water and
both Chief Chambers and Mr.. Emmett
Robinson, who was assisting. were
knocked lat by the shock and every
contact with the water on the floor
would shock the men till they would
have to beat a retreat.
II was some time before an electric
ian from the light plant could he sum-
moned to disconnect the wires from
the main line so the f1remen could get
at the fire. The third delay was oc-
casioned when some one. either malic-
iously or with intention of assisting
turned some of the valves and cocks
on the chemical engine just as the
chief had begun to do good work with
that part of the equipment and de-
strOyed the pressure by turning the
chemical mixture in the reserve tank
into the tank that had just been open
ed. The result was that the entire
interior Of the building was so badly
damaged ny water, fire and smoke as
to render almost valueless the entire
stock with the exception of some that
had been removed when the fire was
first discovered.
The fremen saved the building and
with but little damage except that
most of the windows were broken or
blown out and the ceiling was badly
/ scorched In places and a good big sec
tion was pulled down by the nremen
The fire occurred In a peculiar man
ner. Some Of the workmen left the
current turned on one OF the electric
smoothing irons. The iron heated red
hot and burned through the table on
which Ii rested. The wooden table
was against the wall of the building
and. unfortunately. At a place where
the plastering had been broken away
and left the lath exposed. The fire
started up this veritable fiue and in a
short time it was all in the wall and
ceiling. The vents between the roof
and ceiling gave it plenty OF air and
! IL was burning freely,
! Mr.. Burnett's stock was insured by
Mr. q. s. Scott and the building by Mr..
! ID. w. Davis, and We understand that
the insurance on the stock will he suf-
/ ficient TO cover the damage. Among
the goods damaged were a number OF
suits for customers either completely
or partially finished
| Chief Hamp Chambers wishes thru
the Star to thank Messrs. Emmett
| Robinson, C. w. Hunter, Claude Hay
craft and James Duffy for most ef-
! ficient services rendered at the fire at
considerable expense to their clothing
and danger to their lives. The smoke
and fumes in the building were awful
and the firemen were compelled TO use
the smoke helmets.