The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-11-14
The Lamont Fire.

This city was visited Wednesda,
morning early by fierce fire that
for some time threatened to wipe
out two whole blocks in spite of al
that could be done and it was some
time before it was assured that the
blaze was under control.
Just how the fire was started ma!
never be known and then it is JUS
possible that it may be found out
Theories as to the origin differ. L
seems that some boys had started &
bonfire earlier in the evening in the
alley on the east of the lumber
sheds. The marshal discovered this
and made the boys extinguish the
fire and leave there. Some thin!
that some sparks or live Goals from
this bonfire may have blown into
the lumber shed and the breeze fan
ned it until a blaze started. Others
believe it to have been set on fire
purpOsely.
The blaze when first discovered
at about 1880 a. m., was in the ole
shed which adjoined the big lumber
shed on the south. In this shed
were The household good CT Mrs
Matte Cook, which were being stor
ed therein. All of them were con-
sumed.
There was a strong wind from the
north but the fire, after having
caught in the lumber shed, spread
from the south to the north end in
less than five minutes.
When the fire was first discovered
an alarm was turned in and the fire
bell and fire whistle soon had the
town awake. The fire boys respond
ed shurriedly and in snort time had
the hose connected and streams of
water playing on the blaze. The
water pressure was low at first and
it was seen that something must be-
done as the fire was rapidly goins
south and threatening the business
blocks of B. D. Fleet, W. H. NOEL
roy. p. A. Silsbee and others. A
call was made for more help and
many men jumped into the work. y
bucket brigade was formed and the
small strings of hose that are used
Ly the merchants for watering tho
streets was brought out and con-
nected to the sidewalk hydrants and
every available pump was worked
The weather was cold and the fire.
men were sure stickers to go into
it the way they did Many Of them
were drenched to the skin and many
of them ruined the clothes they
wore. There were several big husk-'
les of men who had the pleasure Of
standing and looking on while TIE
others worked. They probably
would never have cared had the
whole town burned One woman
was seen carrying water and she did
some good work. 1t was case of
having to work fast and furious by
the boys to save the town. But they
did and they rest assured that the
Commercial Club of Lamont and the
fully appreciate their noble
work .
At one time it. was thought the
fire would surely consume the two
blocks of buildings on Main street.
Men were on the roofs Of all adjOin-
ing buildings using water to extin-
euish the large fving nieces of burn
ing wood. r. r. Harrington and
wife. who live in the rooms above
Johnson's iewelry store, moved ev-
cry piece of furniture into the stree
The iewelry stock was moved and
mary other business men got help
reodv to move at any moment.
The largest building destroyed
was the lumber shed belonging to
Frank Dalbey. 1t was 2Ox120 it. in
size and was filled with all the
finished lumber, lime, etc. All
hardwood. castings, bases, etc, were
kent in this shed. 1t was entirely
consumed and the adjoining sheds
were badly scorched. A car load
of cedar poles near the large shed
was also consumed. Two sheds be-
longing to j. N. Brown and two
store houses belonging to B. D. Fleet
were entirely destroyed. together
with the contents. Mr.. Dalbey's loss
was about $1,000 most of which was
insured. Mr.. Fleets loss was about
$500 partially insured, Mr..
Browns loss was $500 with no in
surance.
K After the FIRE was considered to
be under control the Commercial
Club ordered lunches for the boys
who were fighting fire Several of
them who had ruined clothes were
given new ones by the merchants.
Many of the fire fighters had tnelI
hands. faces and limbs blistered by
the flames but they kept up their
work until they had conquered the
flames. r. "A. DEMO passed SUBJ
scription paper among the mer-
chants Wednesday and raised : C
which will be turnes over to the ORA