The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-10-23
.0NE.HA[F MILLION
II IN TIRE DAMAGE
oTTuMWA SCENE OF MOST DIS.
AsTRous CONFEDERATION.
ORIGIN OF BLAZE IS UNKNOWN
oskaloosa Called On For Aid. Re-
spends Promptly With Men and
Apparatus Headed by Mayor
Sewers and Chief McCracken.


Ottumwa, Oct. 20.-Fire starting
from an unknown origin on the third
floor of the Ottumwa Hardware Com.
Ipany's building at 54:45 o'clock yes
Eterday afternoon completely Quilted
over a half block in the most valu-
able business section of Ottumwa
and entailed property loss of over
q half million dollars. A strong wind
from the west and the explosions OF
powder and oil in the big hardware
stores between Court and Washing
ton streets incensed the flames until
they were beyond control and threat
ened to destroy the entire business
district of Ottumwa for some time.
Shortly after the arrival on the scene
of the Oskaloosa fire department at
HAS o'clock, control of the flames
was obtained and damage was con-
fined to a small portion of the retail
business district.
The Oskaloosa fire and police de-
partments, headed by Mayor Byron
w Sewers. Fire Chief Irv. FL. Nc
Cracker and Chief OF Police Link
Stoler, were called upon and respond.
ed in speedy fashion and rendered
invaluable assistance in fighting the
flames. 1t was only by the augment
! ed efforts of the Oskaloosa and OF
tumwa departments. that the fire was
! kept from spreading over the city,
with a strong Wind behind the flames,
and destroying a large portion of the
| business district of the city. Police
man John .Ruggenberg and a young
lOskaloosan, Earl Woodward, We're
among others who sustained minor
injuries by being struck by falling
bricks and flying glass when the
walls of the four story Cooper Furni-
ture store fell at . o'clock. Both
the Oskaloosa men were struck. by
falling bricks. Ruggenberg received
blow on the leg and Woodward was
struck on the hip by flying missiles.
/ Woodward was in a reritable ava
lanche of flying bricks when the wall
gave way and eye witnesses testify
that he had q very narrow escape
from serious injury or death. Z
Only words Of. appreciation and
/ gratitude are heard in Ottumwa of
/ the prompt response and invaluable
assistance rendered by the Oska-
lloosa fire and police departments.
The Rock Island Railway company
also is being commended for the
speedy fashion in which they proyid-
I ed a special train for the department
and landed them ia Ottumwa in rec
ord time. as ...--.. .. III.
At $3.50 O'Clock The oskaloosa de-
Ipartment received call for help
and the Rock Island was asked at
the same time to have q special train
on the track as soon as possible. Sey-
pnteen minutes later the fire truck,
horses, and men were loaded onto q
gondola coal car, with the end
knocked out, and IA stock car, and
the wheels OF the. train were moving
/ towards Ottumwa. AT 7:45 o'clock
| the department was unlOaded at the
Union depot in Ottumwa and a min
ute later were in the midst of the
fight. Arriving just at the critical
moment when the Court street walls
of the Cooper building were falling
and the wind was changing some
what. an opportunity was afforded
for handling the fire, and the renew
ed efforts of the fresh men from OS-
kaloosa turned the tide of the fight
in favor OF the men and the flames
were soon under control.
About 4:45 O'Clock yesterday after
noon some one passing along Main
street noticed a blaze on the third
floor of the Ottumwa Hardware Co.'S
store, right in the middle OF a block
of magnificent four story business
structures and estimated to be the
most valuable business block in OF
tumwa, and turned in the alarm
When the Ottumwa fire department
headed by Acting Fire Chief Charles
Sloan. arrived on the scene the
flames had been whipped into a fury
by a strong wind from the west and
the great danger TO property was i'm
mediately recognized. A few min
utes later the powder. cartridges, and
Ol in the big retail hardware stock
began to explode with spectacular re
suits and the fire then got beyond
control. Explosions followed one an
other with rapidity and the firemen
fought against the flames with theii
Lives endangered every minute. Nc
serious injuries eyre sustained, but
many Ottumwans are suffering today
from cuts and bruises received from
flying bricks and glass as the win
dows and walls were blown out by
the explosions. Hundreds of volun
teers were on hand and preferred as
sistance. but could give little aid
II. j. Bremhart, Commissioner o
Public Safety OF Ottumwa, arrived
and took charge OF the fight Will
the wind behind it the fire speedil,
attacked the HalLEkfelt Furniture
Store adjoining the Ottumwa Hard
ware Co., on the east, and 1t wal
soon in ruins. Then the flames es
capped to the Hay-Simmons Hard
ware Co. structure and again explos
ions lent their assistance to the worl
of destruction. The offices OF the OF
tumwa Gas Co. came next and thel
. the w. III. Cooper & Sons Furniture
store on the corner of Court and Mali
streets was attacked. The Coope
store was burned TO the ground tw,
years ago In big devastating fir,
and the new building erected to TAX
Hts place Is again in ruins today. Tn
G.. ii. Bissell Seed and Feed Store a
the rear of the Cooper building Of
! Court street came next and wa
. burned to the ground At this poin
! the fremen were aided In their figh
! By the Intervention OF Court stree
In the path OF the flames and the
. managed to hold Ii in check unit
paI ~ ka NJ