Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-02
FIRE At GILMAN
DESTROYS STORES
THREE BUILDINGS BURNED COM.
PLETELY, INCLUDING BANK
OF GILMAN.
EXPLOSION OF GASOLINE
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
Stove in seaser Restaurant Fires
Building, and Spreads Flames to Ad-
joining Structures - Volunteers
Handicapped by Cold Weather, Wat.
er Freezing in Hoss-Lo.s s5,cco.

A $1,000 fire loss was sustained in
buildings al Gilman early this morning.
when a gasoline stove in the restaurant
Of Mrs. L. w. Seager exploded. firing
that building. and causing the flames
10 spread to the adjoining buildings to
the west, including the Bank of Gilman.
owned by Charles H. Seager. The total
! loss is estimated at $4,000, with insur-
ance of $4,000
At about 6 o'clock Willard Scager.
son Of the owner Of the restaurant,
I went to the building to make prepara-
tions for serving breakfast. He filled
the generator Of the gasoline stove, and
then went to an adjoining room to
shake down the hard coal burner.
Explosion Shakes Building.
Mr.. Seager had hardly more than got
out of the kitchen when a terrific ex-
plosion resulted Flames shot out in
every direction. and in an instant the
entire interior Of the kitchen was
ablaze The building. a one-etory
frame structure. was easy prey for the
flames. and the entire building was
soon a blazing mass. Mr.. Seager had
no time to attempt to save anything
further than get the books out Of the
building and carry out a few chairs.
Bank Building Goes.
The Seager restaurant stands at the
corner of Main and Church streets. and
from this building the fire spread to the
one story frame building occupied by
the Bank of Gilman. just west OF the
restaurant on Church street. The bank
building burned like finder. and was
soon q mass of ruins Only the con-
tents Of the vault which included all
hooks valuable papers, and cash. We're
saved.
Shoe Store Next in Path.
Next In the path Of the flames was
the Frank Wynn building. also frame
structure. and smaller than the other
two. occupied by James Novak with
a shoe stock. The building was de-
..royed but most Of the stock was
saved.
Volunteers Handicapped in Fight.
7, lighting the fire the volunteers.
who included practically every avail
able able bodied man in town. were
greatly Handicapped owing to the Sc
yere weather. With the mercury around
"a below zero water in the hose ffoze
several times. and the fire fighters had
TO rely much of the time on buckets.
The postoffce building caught hre
once. but this blaze was extinguished
without damage to the building or its
contents.
Mayor Frank Ensminger. whose i'm
piement store is situated next to the
Sovak store. moved his stock out OF the
building for fear Of the fire not being
checked at the Wynn building. The
Ensninger store. however, was not
dana ed.
Restaurant Loss Covered.
Altho Mrs. Seager sustained the
heaviest damage she will probably suf-
fer the least loss. owing TO insurance
on both her building and stock. Mrs.
Seaeer's loss is estimated at $4,000.
fully covered by insurance. The bank
carried no insurance, and its loss is
estimated at $1,000. The loss on the
Wynn building is small, estimated at
$3.50. with no insurance. James Novak.
! tenant in the building, will not lose
over 800 on his stock, in water and
smoke damage Novak carried no in
surance.