The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-12-18
NIGHT BLAZE bUIS
MEDICINE STORE ON
South MAIN Street
STOCK OF DR.. N. E. MARTIN Is
ALMOST ENTIRE LOSS FROM
THE FLAMES.
INSURANCE WILL COVER II
Valiant Work by the Fire Depart
ment and the New Fire Truck Pre-
vented Any Fire Loss to aurrouna.
ing Buildings-Hard to Handle.
(Friday's Daily.)

has visited Columbia this year, and
one which threatened at times to Do
much more damage than 1t did, was
that which destroyed the proprietary
medicine store of DR.. N. E. Martin On
South Main street Thursday night
about ten o'clock. 1t was one of the
most stubborn fros that the laddsss
have had to tight since the big ones
of year or more ago.
The origin of tho fire ID . mystery.
DR.. Martin left the store late in tie
afternoon. went to the Elk's Clus,
and there spent most Of the evening.
The alarm was turned in shortly after
ten o'clock, and was very promptly
responded to by the fire department.
At first it seemed but q trivial affair,
and one that would be easy to put
out. However, the amfles were in the
back of the long building, and it was
very hard for the nremen to get to
them. A big stream was turned on
the front, where there seemed to be
only = smouldering fire. Chief Rit-
ter, however, soon located the seat Of
the trouble and had = big strsaa
pouring upon the back through Wat
sons stable. Another crew of tho
firemen was sent through the Brown
building out upon the top Of The
burning store, cut hole through the
top Of it, and put stream upon It
from that side. This force of the men
also kept the tops Of the surround
ing buildings thoroughly wet to pre-
vent the flames from spreading 70
them. As result Of those prssau-
tionary measures, not = plank of any
Of the nearby stores was even scoreh.
Cd.
The hremen fought the IRE frsn
about ten o'clock on until two o'clock
this morning. The engine had three
long hoses attached to it, and at times
as much as 1000 gallons of water per
minute was being thrown upon The
flames.
In addition to the Martin store
some damage by water was done to
the barber shop just south of it and
the bowling alley north. This, how.
ever will be very small.
DR.. Martin had not finished putting
in all Of his stock when the fire came
He estimated Thursday night that he
had about $4,000 worth Of medicines
In it. This will probably be covered
by the Insurance. As $4,000 had been
written only . day or SO before by
Looney 4 Morgan. The medicines
are not a total loss. IS many OF the
bottles were not broken, only their
labels and wrappers being damaged
by the water. An insurance adjust
er will be necessary to even approx
imately estimate the real amount of
the damage. A. to the house. in
which the medicines were. 1t 10 hte
property of Mrs. Maggie C. Brown.
She had $4,000 in insurance upon it.
This will cover her loss fully, ~ 1t 10
far from atotal loss.
The work of the are department
cannot b too highly commended. 1t
was the subject Of enthusiastic CON-
ment by all who saw the IRE. 1t was
very difficult to get ct on account of
the location. and equally - hard to
keep it from spreading to nearby
buildings. Chief Ritter and every
man on the force fought valiantly and
did not cease their efforts until sv-
cry spark had been put out. Tour
hours were required to do II.
The new IRE engine and truck also
came In for commentator. 1t was
the nrSt big FIRE that has been fought
with 1t since II was bought. and IT.
work stamped It - worth the price
in this one case alone. Many were
of the opinion that had It not been
owned. anl the nremen had to rely
solely spoa the grsvity pressure for
water. the are would have done nusA
more damage than ID DID. The grav.
ity pressure 10 only about 50 pounds
to the inch. while the sssins vay
frequently was putting ~ - -
pounds behinl the water.