Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-04
Worst Fire IN History Of
City Swept Depot District
Forty Years Ago Today
Hotel Goes Up in Smoke.

Hotel Goes Up In Smoke.
From the Cunningham lumber yard
the flames were carried to the Ault-
brick structure, frcnted on the east side
ri Third avenus and extended from
Market to Nevada streets. A part Of
the old foundation may still be seen at
The corner Of Market and Third avenue.
The flames e into it like it was Of
wood, and 1t soon crumbled and fell,
From 1t the fire brands and blaze were
belched over Third avenue to the I. c.
building. which contained one Of the
large retail stores of the town. owned
ny Watson. The stock and in:erior
were burned, but the walls wi.hstood
the flames and heat. West Of it the NJ.
L. Rogers lumber yard wae The next
combustible property that went up in
smoke.
Sweeps Up Third Avenue.
From the burning building to .he
south and southeast, the fire swept up
Third avenue and across Nevada street.
The first building in its path wcs the
grocery store Of Craigue & Johnston.
the latter Joseph H. Johnston. This
store was where the driveway from
Third avenue to the Great Western
station is now. On the same side OF
the street. and in their order from the
Craigue & Johnston store stool ]. p.
Leonard's niuiard pJrior Henry's shoe
shop, a meet market. +. a. Placek's
tailor chop. DIETRICH & Sons large
double front dry goods store, livery
stable in the rear Of these. and still
farther north, Smiths small carriage
shop. All Of these were destroyed, but
the fire was checked at the carriage
works because there were no more
buildings to turn on that side OF the
street south of where Boone street is
now.
Another Hotel Goes.
On the west side of Third avenue.
and nearest to what is now the Great
Western right of-way, stood the VIII
liams House. owned by c. Downer. OF
Boston. The flames from 1t set fire to
the Thomas Cole residence. near 1t. and
spread west burning lumber piles and
ABE" Stanley's agricultural implement
warehouse. which was west Of the Will
liams House. The fire from the stan
ley building crossed Second avenue.
where the Great Western freight depot
is now and burned the w. r. Smith
residence. Farther south on the west
side of Second avenue was the Peter
Kreutzer home, where determined
effort was made to stay the 1re ana
where it was stopped, the dwelling be-
ing saved. This dwelling is the old
house near the Second avenue end OF
Market street. At E. G. Sleights home.
which Is now the brick dwelling just
south Of the T. D. McElroy residence.
another extraordinary effort was made
to stay the fire. BY superhuman efort
this dwelling was kept from burning
Another terrific fight was made at the
J. L. Williams home. just west OF
Sleights. It was spared and with 1t
the town.
Those still living, who battled with
the flames on that day. recall that IT
was thought generally that II the Will
liams house could not be saved the
wind would carry the flames still TAR
Their north and the town would be
doomed. So swiftly did the fire wipe
out one building after another that
practically all their contents. including
thousands of bushels Of grain. many
thousand feet Of lumber. agricultural
implements, stocks Of merchandise, ETC.,
were all burned.
Bucket Brigade Did the Work.
The fire fighting equipment Of the
town consisted Of "dinky" little hook
and ladder truck and bucket brigade,
according to Joseph Johnston. who
fought the fire that day and many
later day when he was chief of the old
volunteers for so many years.
BY the time the fire had got under
great Roadway bucket brigades were
working from every we'll in the neigh
borhood. The volunteers were helpless
to subdue the fires in the taller build
ings, but they sought to keep 1t from
spreading To do this they tore down
fences and outbuildings west Of Sec
ond avenue, and kept the roofs Of the
Kreutzer, Sleight. and Williams homes,
which became the outposts Of the fire
fighters drenched. So hot was the
Kreutzer house that some Of those who
were on 1t had to keep each other
drenched with water to keep their cloth
ing from burning.
GrinnsII Sends Help.
When the territory south of Nevada
street had been swept over and the fre
was breaking across it and spreading
north, the people of the town began
to despair and calls for help were sent
out. Summons to hurry fire fighters
and machines were telegraphed TO
Grinnell. Cedar Rapids, State Center
Des Moines and Oskaloosa.
According to the written history the
Central Railroad Of Iowa. later the
Iowa Central. and the Grinnell hook and
ladder company performed a feat Of
speed that probably could not be du-
plicated in this day Of speedier railway
motive power 1t il claimed that in
less tran ten minutes after the Grin
nell company got the news 1t and Its
equipment was on board a railroad
car. An engine was hitched to Il and
1t ran the twenty five miles In thirty
four minutes, which was going some
when It is remembered that the engine
was burning wood. Five minutes after
their arrival the Grinnell men were
fighting side by side with their local
brothers. Des .Moines sent steamer.
but 1t arrived too late. Cedar Rapids
rendered an Independent fire company
and It was ready to board train when
advised not to come. the fire then being
under control. Oskaloosa sent a com.
pany, which got as far az New Sharon.
when word was sent that 1t was not
needed.
Railroad Property Burned.
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