The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-16
Prompt and Daring Work Of
Officials and Citizens Saves
Helpless Ones.
Special to The Tribune.


PROVO Aug. 15.-The county in
iirmary, situated about three miles south
OF Provo was badly damaged by fire this
forenoon. The walls are left standing
and the floors of the first and second
stories are intact. Through the good
work OF Superintendent J. II. Beckstrom.
Matron Mrs, Elizabeth GlIlispie and tho
assistants. aided by citizens, who rushed
10 the iire in automobiles and buggies
nom Provo and SprlnSville all OF the
forty Inmates, most OF whom are old and
feeble. were removed from the burning
building without any of them being In
1ured, They were removed TO neighbor-
ing farm houses and 10 friends in the
CITY. Most of them Will be given tenn
porary quarters at the State Mental hos
pital. through the courtesy of Supern-
tendent d. IL Calder County Commits
sloner c. II. Ward was on the ground
early and assisted in making arrange
ments for their care.
The fire was first noticed about $3.50
o'clock by men at the Bonneville tunnel,
half mile south, who saw smoke issu
Ing from the roof. They notified the In
fire department, which responded as soon
as possible, but was handicapped by
delay in the arrival OF the engine. The
water used TO eXtinguish the fire had TO
be pumped from the East Union canal,
near the building. as the gravity supply
Of water from a spring in the mountains
is small and the house fire department
equipment was also said to be in bad
condition.
The roof fell in a short time after the
department arrived, about 10 o'clock, and
but a short tlme after the patients were
removed. The Springville fire department
also responded and the work OF the fire.
men prevented the complete cutting OF
tho building.
Ono OF the inmates, Mrs EmmelIne
Granger anger rsS aged s4' widow Of the late
at the home OF her nephew. George A
Brown. She has been Ill for several
days and the shock incident to removal
from the burning building leaves her in
a serious condition.
The building was completed in 1899.
II was a three-story brick structure and
was valued at $4,000 in the late Inven-
tory Of county property, Damage to the
loss in furniture and fixtures will prob
ably be about $4,000. The insurance was
Si3, 500
Just what caused the fire will probably
never De known. 1t is supposed to have
started In the roof from spark and
burned through the roof gaining its
greatest headway under the roof before
IL was noticed by the people at Bonne-
vile. 1t was also noticed by workmen
at Boardman's lime kiln half a mile east.
about the same time: but In different
place In the roof confirming the theory
of the fire spreading under the roof before
IL was observed.
John Doveless a. fireman was severely
but not dangerously bruised on the head
arms and body by falling brick from an
arch In the second story. A cut on his
forehead REQUIRED surgical attention.
An early meeting of the county com
missloners will be called TO arrange for
rebuilding 1t Is believed that the dam
age TO The walls Is slight: and Chairman
Ben Isaac OF the city commission believes
they can be used in the proposed recon-
structlon.