The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-01-10
For One Brief Howr Il Looked a
Though Destruction Were
Sure
CATALAN CO. STOCK
ALMOST TOTAL LOSS
Damage by Fire and Water to
Merchandise and Building Il
Close to $4,000, All Covered
by Insurance Except $40, 900

by Insurance Except $50, 1000
The Miller building, northeast corn
er of Yakima avenue and Second ST.,
the largest and most imposing private
ediffce in the city, had a close call
from total destruction by fire Mon
day afternoon. The alarm was given
at 2:25 p. M. and within a remark
ably brief period of time the total
tire-fighting force of the city was pres
emit together with the automobile en-
CINE and all other paraphernalia.
Smoke was to be seen coming from
the basement of the building both oil
Yakima avenue and on the Second
street sides. With the possible ex-
ceptfon Of the owner of the building
and those occupying the ground floor,
fear for the destruction of the build
ing was not general. Confidence was
everywhere expressed that the fire de-
partment would be able to success
fully grapple the critical situation, and
that belief was later found to have
been well placed.
A Cowardly Fire
The fire was .cowardly in that it hid
itself behind stirling volumes OF
smoke. The basement was the fire
center, and upon it the f1remen direct
cd their valiant fight. 1t was impos-
sible for any person to go into the
basement within Is minutes after the
alarm had been given, so the neat
best thing was done, water being
turned in upon 1t from ten or a dozen
lines of hose. For more than an hour
that method was employed, and at the
end of that period things looked very
dangerous. From 8 until 4 o'clock
was a critical hour. and to all ex-
cept the most optimistic the building
appeared to be doomed,
At 4 o'clock Edward G. Dawson,
chief of the fire department. asked
Alex Miller, the owner, to instruct all
within the building to get out. AT
that time smoke was pouring forth
In dense columes from the basement
windows flames had burst from the
rear windows of the Catalan store
on Second street. and more smoke
was coming from the many windows
on the Second street side clear to the
sixth floor. 1t appeared that the fire
had extended from the basement.
through the floors and up the walls
inside to the second and third floors,
Ten Minutes Made a Difference
From gloom to joy was the transit
ton of the feelings of casual onlools-
ers, as well as of those whose thous-
Ands were at stake, within the next
ten minutes The adage that it is al
ways darkest just before dawn, if such
a comparison may be made, was veri-
fed. The fire In the basement could
{ no longer Withstand the effect of the
tons of water that had been directed
upon it, and from 4:10 the winning
fight was prosecuted with enthusiasm
1t was nearly 6 o'clock before it could
be safely said that the fire had been
corralled and had actually been give,
Its death blow.
Origin Of the Fire
The fire started in the north part
Of the basement when one OF the en-
ployes accidentally tramped on q
match lying on the floor igniting it..
the sparks from which communicated
with a mass of cotton batting near
by. The emergency hose was brought
into requisition, but was not sufficient
to hold the fire in check. The alarm
was given by Max Marks, employed
on the first floor. who had gone to
the basement and discovered the
danger.
Following are the firms on the
ground floor. Corner room. Catalan
company, dry goods and ladies' fur
nishings; Dunbar & Nelson, jewelers..
and the Pioneer Drug Store. fronting
on Yakima avenue; Columbia River
Land company and the Hutchings Art
company. on Second street. The north
storeroom on Second street. formerly
occupied by millinery store. was va
cant.
Catalan Company Lose Heavily
The greatest loser is the Catalan
company. 1t carried a stock of more
than $4,000. with an insurance OF
approximately $4,000. Harry Cahal-
an. president of the company, put the
loss as almost entire. being saved only
by the insurance.
Dunbar & Nelson removed their
stock of jewelry across the street into
the Ackenhausen storeroom. Their
loss will be only that of the trouble OF
moving and accompanying annoyance.
There was no loss to their stock.
The Pioneer Drug company took
things calmly. and removed nothing.
Their confidence vas sublime and not
misplaced.
The loss sustained by the Hutchings
art company and the Columbia River