The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-19

Spectacular to look upon, fire
DeMers avenue between Third and
Fourth streets during the night, aus
ed a total loss Of approximately $S4,-
900, the loss falling on the several
bodies of the secret order, and A.. B.
Rheinhart and j. Fishman, proprietors
Of stores operated on the first floor
Of the, building.
, The, fire gained its origin in the
basement Of the Rheinhavt store, sup
posedly from spontaneous combustion.
and when discovered that portion Of
the building resembled a furnace. 1t
was shortly after II o'clock last night
that several members of the order.
in the lodge oom on the second and
third floor, scented smoke and made
the investigation with the result hat
they discovered the fire. ventilators
.todge hall belching forth smoke into
that portion of the building.
Ugly Fire to Combat.
From the first 1t was evident that
the fire department had to face. a hard
nights work, and handicapped by a
temperature Of nearly twenty below
zero. the odds were great The fire
was found to have gained big head
way, apparently covering tho base
ment from n end to the other. with
the flames ready to break their way
into the main store room on the
ground floor.
Handicapped by Interior Plan.
By 1880 o'clock the flames had
entered the store room, and there
the department made a hard fight
to stay their progress. Handicapped
by inability to reach the central part
of the building, the department was
unable to stop the fire from getting
into the basement of the Fishman
store. For over an hour the fire
seemed to be making slow Roadway
and for a time it appeared that the
blaze must be conquered.
Shortly before 1880 o'clock. how
ever. the fire evidently broke through
the first floor in the central portion
of the building, and from there it
gained access to the upper floors.
Within fifteen minutes the fire burst
through the roof, and it appeared to
be only a lew moments before the
fire was leaping high into the air.
Great Showers. Of Sparks.
From that time the flames spread
a few minutes, and the three-story
brick walls. with fire and smoke pour
Ing from the windows, assumed the
appearance of a veritable volcano.
vomiting forth a shower Of sparks that
completely covered a portion of the
southern business district.
1t was at this point that the fire
was most spectacular. and as the
sparks were whisked across the city,
It appeared almost certain that fur
Their damage would be done.
The west wall of the temple vas
suficient proof against the communi-
cation of the fire to the building oc-
cupied by AL Logan, and with four
teen streams Of water playing on the
flames. they were subdued considera-
bly,. Within an hour after the flames
burst through the roof they had com-
pletely Quilted the structure, and lit
tie but the brick walls remained. The
department continued working until
6 o'clock this morning, M stream
being maintained during the. day.
however, to prevent fire from break
ing out in the debris.
Presents Striking Appearance.
The building today presents a strik-
ing appearance. The entire front is
covered with ice. some places to n
depth of nearly a foot, and the great
icicles which have been formed lend
to the structure a touch of grandeur
1t is a veritable ice palace.
The Masonic temple fire of last
night was the second in the building,
the first taking place while the struc-
ture was in course Of erection. At
that time there was heavy damage.
Hard Night for Fircmcn.
1t was q hard night for the men,
hers OF the department. and many
of them suffered from the intense cold.
Water, falling on their clothing, would
freeze instantly. and the. men soon
we're tee clad from head to foot.