The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-20
BAKER RESIDENCE
ON FIRE TO-DAY
Mysterious Fire Threatens to De
stroy One of the Most Reautl.
full Homes In keokuk
About Noon.
|A BROKEN HYDRANT
Costly Delay occasloned by Broken
Hydrant at Fifth and Orleans
Streets at Baker
Alarm.
BROKEN HYDRANTI

The beautiful home of Jesse E.
Baker at Ala Orleans avenue, was a,
most destroyed by fire shortly after
noon today, due chiefly to the fact
that the hydrant at Fifth and Orleans
streets was broken and many valu-
able minutes were lost by the depart
ment while other connections were
being made to lay line Of hose,
The origin of the fire Is
a mystery. The whole house
was filled with smoke and a great
deal Of damage was done by smoke
and water.
When the fire was discovered the
family were seated at dinner and by
the time the department arrived on the
scene the house was filled with smoke
and no one could get inside. The
chemical engine was brought into
play, but was Of little use and when
the line from Fifth and Orleans was
laid it was discovered that the plug
was broken and no water could be Sc
cured from there. Valuable time was
lost on this account and the fire
spread rapidly and was burning fierce
Iy before water could be secured
The fire started in the northwest
corner of the basement and according
to Mr.. Baker, was OF most mysterious
origin. No lights were burning in the
house and the furnace was situated at
the back of the house.
The fire ran through the hollow
walls of the house, through the par
lor and into the study on the second
floor. Very little evidence of the fire
itself could be seen inside the house,
but smoke poured through the cracks
and crevices around the casing Of the
door and windows and along the base
boards. Inside the walls, however
the studding was burned completely
out and made it difficult fire tc
fight.
The hose had to be carried into the
house and many expensive articles Of
furniture were ruined by the water
and smoke. From the large crowd
attracted by the fire, volunteers came
to assist the firemen in fighting the
flames that threatened to destroy one
of the most beautiful residences in
Keokuk. Most of the furniture and
works of art from the house were
carried ato the home OF e. Ross
Baker next door.
Interior Is Wreck.
Practically all the interior OF the
house is wreck, smoke, fire and
water and the axes of the department
members combining to destroy the ap
pearance. Every room In the house
except the kitchen and dining room
were flooded with water and grea'
holes were chopped in the floors and
walls by the firemen in an effort tc
locate the flames.
The damage resulting from the fire
is covered by insurance but Mr.. Bak
er has made no estimate OF the dam
age.
The house was remodeled by Mr.
Baker aeyeral years ago. 1t was orig
i inally brick structure, but has beer
practically built over and Bedford
stone now has replaced the brick
Thousands of dollars worth of furni
ture. rugs, carpets and tapestries
were ruined by the blaze today.
Several hundred persons were at
traced to the scene Of the fire which
promised to be one OF the largest ir
| the history of Keokuk A brisk vino
from the southwest threatened to de
feat all the efforts of the firemen tc
ex.inguish the blaze and 1t was only
by the hardest work that they were
finally successful.
The department was called back te
the Baker residence at three O'Clock
after they had thought the fire en-
tirely out and had come to the sta
ton. The fire was between the joists
from the basement to the second fiool
and difficult to reach.