The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-11
Cal. city Seed Company, Duncan.
sehell Furniture Company and
keokuk steam Laundry
Suffer Loss.
WILL BE A BIG LOSS
Fire Originates on Third Floor Of the
Seed company's Store and
rhreatens the Whole
Block.

visited keOkuk for a long time &C.
Cured this morning shortly before
noon, when the department was call
ed to the Gate City Seed company's
store at 319 Main street. The loss Is
estimated at various amounts running
from $4,000 to $4,000, partially COW
cred by insurance.
1t is not known how the FIRE orig
mated but Chief Anderson and A. M.
Davidson, president Of the company,
say that It must have been caused by
a defective fiue. Only the third floor
was touched by the flames, but the
first and second stories were wreck
ed by the smoke and water.
At the Keokuk Steam Laundry,
mex. door to the seed company, all
the work, except that which was
wrapped and ready to deliver, was
soaked by water and will have to be
done over.
The Duncan-shell Furniture COM
pany, which was on the other side Of
the burning building suffered slight
damage from smoke.
A. M. Davidson, president OF the
Gate City Seed company declared
this afternoon that he could not ac-
count for the fire unless it was caus-
ed by defective fiue. He said that
he had sent boy to the second floor
early In the morning to clean up the
place and that. he had burnt up lot
Of old papers and trash.
The third floor Of the building,
which was burning fiercely when the
firemen arrived, was filled with a
large number of onion crates which
were stacked up In piles reaching al
most to the roof, and all along the
west side of the building. A lot of
furniture belonging to C. j. Smith,
cours reporter. was also on this floor.
When the flremen arrived 1t could
not be learned at once where the fire
was, on account of the dense smoke
pouring from the third floor. Four
lines of hose were laid and the water
was turned onto the pile of crates.
In breaking window while standing
on a ladder. Captain Tigue of the
Tenh street station, suffered deep
cut on his right wrist. and was helped
down by his comrades. After having
the arm bandaged. the injured man
returned to the fire and fought the
flames again.
Several Of the firemen were almost
overcome by the smoke but after
being assisted to the fresh air were
able to go back and help out their
comrades. Ben Inman, of the Des
Moines fire department, who is in the
city visiting relatives, was one OF
the most active men and jumped into
the work and did valiant service
Chief Anderson was loud in his praise
of the Des Moines man.
The fire was confined to the third
floor Of the building in the stack OF
crates. all Of which were dry as tin
der and it is considered remarkable
that the depar .ment was able to con
troll the flames. The entire roof OF
the building is badly charred, as IS
the floor between the second and third
stories. A large number Of the crates
were also destroyed.
Mr.. Davidson declared this after
noon that he did not know exactly
how much insurance there was on the
contents of the building as he had
not yet looked up his policies. He
also refused to estimate the damage
On the contents, but said that prac'
'lcally all the seeds which had been
soaked by water were ruined.
The building was owned bv Mrs
NJ. l.. Smith. mother of Court Report.
er G. J. Smith and was insured for
$4,000 The insurance will cover her
loss.
Late this afternoon. Chief Anderson
mad his men at the scene, refusing
70 leave until he was sure that there
was no buried fire in the debris on
the third floor The department re-
ceived a couple of boxes of cigars
from Mr.. Davidson this afternoon as
an appreciation of their work