The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-10
Prompt Action Taken.

was mass OF flame.
Prompt Action Taken.
Two hardware stores which the fire had
not reached. We're thrown open and hun
dreds OF buckets, quilts and tarpaulins
were pressed into use for lack of other
fire fighting apparatus, A line was formed
from the railroad cisterns and tanks and
with admirable system the citizens began
a desperate fight to confine the flames to
Broadway ...
With incredible rapldity the Are spread
the length of the street. pausing only at
the vacant lot that separated the four
story Wood building from the solid block
of business structures to the west, Here
the gallant fighters took their stand.
Scores OF citizens mounted the roof and
faced the roaring mass of fame that
reached hungrily across the narrow space
and would have closed the gap but Cor
the constant efforts Of the bucket brigade
Canvas tarpaulns were hung down from
the roof and hundreds OF buckets OF water
were thrown upon them In spite Of these
precautions tine roof caught fire half
dozen times but the flames were duenched
before they could gain headway.
Residences Saved.
At the other end of the fire zone aonther
brigade fought the flames back from tho
residence section. Fortunately there was
but little wind.
At the height Of the fight gasoline
tank In the rear OF the Hub Mercantile
store. in the center Of the burning district.
exploded Wreckage was hurled quarter
of a mile md many persons were thrown
from their feet by the concussion. None
was hurt, however.
Several smaller explosions followed the
first and streams Of fire were shot INTO
the air for hundreds OF feet. the sparks
falling In the residence section. necessi-
tatine the formation OF another brigade
To prevent a second outbreak
Volunteers Heroes.
Though the heat blistered their faces
a score OF citizens volunteered at this
point TO invade the fire zone In an effort
to save the Broadway opera house. which
was beginning to smolder from the In
tense heat. For two hours this band Kept
tho roof of the theater soaked. saving the
structure.
III
won, though the fire continued to burn
during the forenoon, The sun rose o"
n scene of desolation. Seven OF the prin-
cipal buildings in town were reduced 10
wreckage and others were badly dam
aged The public square was made
depot of refuge where many thousands OF
dollars worth OF merchandise ana otnce
fixtures were carted for protection from
The flames.
Little Insurance.
A reckoning today showed an appalling
loss with but little insurance The Huh
Mercantile company. In whose store tho
condensation began, Was the heaV1esr
loser. It's $4,000 stock was a complete
loss. It was protected by $4,000 insur-
ance.
The building. owned by Mayor Fletch-
or was yaiucd at $4,000 and was protected
BY $1,000 Insurance,
The Royal cafe. r. l.. Arnold, pro-
nrIetor. was destroyed with a loss OF
ssooo. covered by $4,000 insurance The
wilcox Shoe company, the Walton Jew
1,,.,. company, the j. NJ. French pool hail.
the Ii. J. Cook Abstract company: the GIL
Iespie real estate office and George SAILS
carver suffered heavy loss.
Though many OF them had heeu up all
night duhtlng the fire, tho principal hust-
moss men of the town sathered at mass
meeting tonight and laid plans for the
speedy erection of pressed brick fac
tory 10 make possible the rebuilding OF
the business district Owners OF the build
inss destroyed declare they VIII rebuild.
The Hartford. the Springfield. the West
chester, the st. Paul and the Home Fire
of New York were the Insurance compan-
les most heavily involved in the ts~