Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-12-26
Local Contractor Suffers
Heavy Loss in Christmas
Night Blaze.
AWAKES TO FIND
CEILING ABLAZE
Famil! Taken Cut Just Before Ro0f
(0llnpscS Loss viii Aggregate
S3,10i'. with Insurance OF $1,000,
New Apparatus Used,

An almost miraculous escape from
the flames which last night DESTROYED
TIER home al Twentieth and Oak
was the Christmas gift of the
family of \. r. Monk, contractor, |
Which. however, suffered the to. II
loss OF the home and lis contents.
Mr.. Monk was painfully burned
about the head, other members Of the
1?mily not being injured, although all
were prostrated because of their mar
row escape from horrible death
We had retired early, said Mr.
Monk last night, "becausa VIC had
az akened early Christmas Day.
I fout $3.50 tonight i awoke to find
the entire roof and ceiling OF the
house mass Of flames. | succeed.
ed in getting the family out jus; be
fore the roof fell in. My own burns
ale painful, but they are not serious"
None of the contents of the hous
were saved, members Of the family
being compelled to seek safety out
doors in their sleeping apparel, SO
thoroughly had the flames done thei~
wtrk before the blaze was discovered.
r lie cause of the fire is not known.
but it is believed to have originated
from a defective flue, in the upper
lcrtion of the house, and Is have been
smouldering some hours before II
actually broke into flames of arfat
Fury and which had spread OVER the
entire attic.
Mr.. Monk and his family were
given shelter by neighbors. The lo'.s
is estimated by Mr.. Monk ct $4,000 on
house and furniture, and insurance to
the amount of only $4,000 was car
red by him.
New Apparatus In Use.
The new automobile fire truck OF
! the central station made its first run
TO the fire at the Monk home las!
| ght, and was found fully up to the
~ requirements by the members of the
department. Chief Breiner operateC
the machine and had no IL ouble with
it at any. time during the run or the
| l., iurn to the station.
The value of the new apparatus al
fire-fighting machine could not bf
given ia fair test last nightfi however
bt cause the house was virtually de
stroyed before the fire was discover
cd. Nearby property was protect
ea, however, because OF the rapit
ADVENT of the boys in the new truck
End property owners and residents II
that section found opportunity t.
CO mment upon the speed 18th whicl
the truck reached the scene after tn
alarm was turned in.
| Only UntOward incident.
The destruction of the Monk hom
last night was the only untoWard IN
c;dent of Pine Bluffs Christmas cele
b, alton up to l O'Clock this morning
Nothing else occurred to mar TN
celebration of the day. the records Q
the fire department showing no othe
Il call, and the sheriff's and police az
%, tments reporting only imnor IN
fractions of the law.
Drunks, inconsequentiai AFFAIRS
f;,stcuffs, and things OF that KIN
we're all the police was called upo
to handle the past couple. OF days, a
though the enforcement of the proc
lamaticn against the discharglng
fireworks kept some of the officer
j, on the Jump. Nothing of seriou
nature in this respect occurred. no"
e,er. and after being warned the re
offenders were allowed to go the
$ way in peace. Persistence IN dli
charging fireworks will be followe
! Nv an arrest and settlement
&C urt, however, according 10 Pohe
, Chief Stewart last night.