The Dolores star., 1913-05-09
EARLY MORN
ING BLAZE
Red Front Saloon Burned and
Drug Store Damaged
WORK OF INCENDIARY
Water System Saves Business
Block---Loss Small and
Covered by Insurance

Early Monday morning, while the
citizens Of our quiet little town were
wrapped In peaceful slumbers. the fire
bell on the Town hall suddenly beVan
to clAng and soon all was activity.
Herbert Durchholz was responsible for
the commotion. Waking about 2
o'clock he noticed n bright light at the
rear Of the Red Front saloon aud, upon
closer investigation found that the
building WAS on fire He at once doi.
ned some attire and hit the board walk
ut n $50 gate for the Town hall, shout.
ing fire at every jump.
The alarm Was quickly responded To
by the members Of the volunteer hose
company aud a run made for the
scene OF the confiagration. Soon three
streams cf water ~ere playing on the
fire. The fire had started on the
platform nj the rear Of the saloon burn
ing h hole in the weather boarding and
following It up to the ceiling caught
the paper and canvas aud spread to
the drug store burning between the
ceiling aud roof where IL was q hard
matter to get water onto 1t. fne fire,
however, was kept confined to the
saloon and drug store, which Is one
building with Il partition between.
The saloon side of the building Is a
total wreck excepting the barrel room
which seems to have been fire proof
The roof of the drug store fell in doing
considerable damage To show cssse-
and other glass furniture. Harry Par
shall WAS in the store getting out some
hooks when the roof dropped but
fortunately escaped without injury
The origin Of the fire can only E
surn,ised. Whether the work Of All
incendary or the careless throwing Of
n lighted cigar or cigarette stump into
infiamable material Is not known.
THIS Is the first fire Dolores has had
since our water system WAS completed,
and the fire lsddies have had but little
practice with the apparatus. but when
they got to the fire II WAS only fea
minutes until the hose were stretched,
I he excitement aud bewiliernient, that
usually plays a prominent part at such
I mes, all over and all we're down 10
business, under the direction Of Chief
T II. Akin, working like professionals.
There WAS no foolishness nor any de-
s,roying Of property uselessiy rs IL
usually the case with volunteer hose
companies. The fact that the fire Wa
In the center Of the business block aud
that three streams Of water with n
hydrant RT-sure Of over sixty pounds
were kept IN action for an hour and
the only windows broken were those In
the saloon that burned, those In the
door Of the drug store aud the door Of
the Blu. Ribbon saloon, gees to show
that the boys who had hold Of the
nozzles we're there to extinguish the
fire with the least possible destruction
to property aud had no desire " hatever
to demonstrate how many windows
they could break Ia n given time or
how far they could shoot water
through u glass front.
After the fire had been extinguished
the chief told the boys to go to the
Town hall aud answer to roll call aud
then to the Southern hotel where hot
coffee awaited them. All were wei
aud cold and when they arrived at the
hotel u brisk fire was burning In tn.
Office stove aud II was only fw
minutes until Mrs. Williams invited
them to the kitchen where coffee and
lunch was served.