The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-10-17
BY FIRE RIVERSIDE RESIDENCES ARE
 DESTROYED

Fire On Wednesday Destroys Seven
 Residences, Damaging Another;
 Shannon Hospital Saved.
 On. Wednesday, at about noon, fire caused by the explosion of gaso- line stove in the residence occupied by the family of F. O. Seifort, on Riverside Avenue consumed that residence and six others adjoining, wiping out all of Riverside with the exception of the residence of Dr. Nc Pheeters, which was badly damaged, and the Shannon hospital.
 It was only by the most heroic work on the part of the Clifton Vol unteer Fire Department, assisted by many citizens, that the hospital was saved, the flames at one time reach ing dangerously near the building, destroying small structure in the rear=of, and only few feet from the hospital The residence of Dr. Me Pheeters, immediately adjoining the hospital was burned from the flames of raging fire in the resi- dence adjoining on the West, al though after great efforts the resi- dence was prevented from total de- .struction. At one time, the saving of the hospital seemed impossible, the fire boys finding themselves with
 
 the time that the flames were con- suming the residence and reaching the hospital, pressure was applied to the mains, and the flames were Quenched before the building was fired.
 The fire was discovered just be- fore noon, and several members of the Volunteer Fire department were luckily passing on their way to lunch zsv 1sc with the assistance of other citizens, rapidly secured the hose in the front of the Bruintel building and connect ed it with the fire plug directly in front of the burning building in which the fire started.
 The boys were making rapid headway with the use of the water From the Shannon company's mains, when the pressure failed, and con- snection was at once made with the city mains. But it was found that mo pressure could be obtained there. The loss of time occasioned by this lack of water was sufficient to give the flames a~ headWay of such pro portions that it was seen that the houses adjoining on both sideN of the two now burning could not pos ssibly be saved, and attention was turned to the saving of the furnish ing and equipment of. the Shannon hospital, from which all patients were removed at the first alarm of fire. Hundreds of citizens now as sisted the fire boys in removing. the furniture from the hopital and the burning houses adjoining, furniture being piled all along the tailings em- bankment facing the row of burning buildings.
 At about this time, it was found that pressure had been applied to the mains of the system supplying the city and assisted by many spectators, the firemen made connection with three lines of hose, and began to play the streams so insistently upon the burning houses that the fire in the McPheeters' residence was subdued, and the hospital saved without any damage The firemen then turned their attention to the burning resi- dences on the other end of the ave nue, all of them at this time, with the exception of the house on the extreme end, being ablaze, and six burning so fiercely that no hope of saving them was entertained. And hope of arresting the destruction of this last residence was soon aban- -doned, the heat of the burning resi- Sdence adjoining being so great that water had no effect when played upon the roof and walls. The firemen then turned their attention to the extinguishing of fire that threatened to destroy the electric power line running alongside the burning row of houses
 This fire was spectacular in the extreme, and was witnessed by thou sands of people, it occurring at the noon hour, when the bridge across the Frisco between the town proper and Hills Addition is alive with the passing of workers on their way to lunch. The Clifton Volunteer Fire department gave an excellent exhibi- tion of their skill and bravery, all of them hastening at the first alarm, and working with admirable quick ness and energy toward the saving of the buildings. Had the water pressure been sufficient, the saving of all the houses with the excep- tion of that in which the fire started, would have been effected.
 To add to the difficulties of Quenching the fire, a reservoir of gasoline in the rear of the first build | ing to burn, exploded, and scattered E flames to the surrounding houses. 1 MT. Elliott, employed at the Jones | Printery, was caught in the flames of this explosion, and sustained burns | that were very painful, although no serious results are expected.
 It is estimated that the total l. of property destroyed by the fire was more than $15,O00.00, in ad- dition to the household effects con sumed, although much property of this nature was carried to safety.
 The owners of houses, and inur- ance carried, are as follows: Clark, two residences lately sold to B. Jones, $2,000.00, in addition to $500.00 E carried on household furniture by |, Mr. Jones; James Smith, $1,000. %; I1 Dr. L. A. w.. Burtch, $1,000.00, in ad- dition to insurance of $50000 on ef-