Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-11
FIRE IN BUSINESS
DISTRICT CAUSES
LOSSOF 100000
Building Occupied by Mitch
ell, Lewis & Staver and
Carlson-Lusk Plumbing
Company Destroyed.

the Carlson Lusk tin and plumbing
shop on South Eighth street, causing
a total loss of 100000. The fire, it is
believed, originated in the rear of the
Carlson Lusk tin shop destroying the
entire contents of this shop and the
plumbing department below The loss
to that firm was $26, 600 and a loss of
approximately $1,000 was sustained by
F. r. Coffin, owner of the north part of
the building. The Mitchell, Lewis &
Staver company, implement machln-
cry and automobile dealers, which &C
cupied about two thirds Of the build
ing, suffered an entire loss of stock es-
timated at $4,000, while the loss to r.
G. Barnes owner of that part Of the
building and a resident of California,
is estimated at $4,000.
The loss suffered by both firms Is
fully covered by insurance and the
building was also wen insured. F. r.
Coffin announces that he viii rebuild
at once and it is believed that Mr..
Barnes will also rebuild his portion
of the building as the Mitchell, Lewis
& Staver company wishes to continue
IN business in the same location.
Other Buildings On Fire.
The fire which destroyed the bust
ness building and wiped out the heavy
stock Of goods, broke out about $3.50
o'clock, At the time a stiff breeze was
blowing from the northeast and for a
time a portion of the business district
was threatened. Twice the old Della
mar hotel at Eighth and Grove streets
caught fire but the flames were ex-
ttnguished Fire brands over foot
long were carried as far as the ore
gon Short Line depot. The Shaw build
ing. directly across the street from the
blaze, was in danger for nearly an
hour but a crowd of boys stationed on
the roof with buckets kept it wet and
also poured water on the awnings
whenever they caught fire. The win
dows in several of the store buildings
in the block we're cracked or broken
to such an extent that they viii have
TO be replaced. The Carlson-Lusk re-
tail store across the alley from the
fire was threatened several times but
the firemen on top of that building
with a heavy stream of water, drove
back the flames time and again as
they leaped toward the building.
The entire fire-fighting apparatus OF
the city was called into service to bat
tie with the flames. Eleven lines of
hose were used and a total of 1000 feet
laid out from the different high pres
sure hydrants The big engine pumped
water from the large open tank sup
piled by the Cruzen water on Eighth
street just across from the city hall
The fire was tackled from every angle
l. 1 . he l.
ing. The hose lines were laid in such
a manner that the streams could be
switched to any other buildings which
might catch fire.
Wind Died Down.
Although a heavy wind famed the
flames when the fire first broke
through and sent it across the roof over
the entire building, it died down short
~ afterwards thus eliminating the
danger of spreading through fire brands
being carried to other blocks. Wher
the department was first called out i
was somewhat handicapped through
failure to secure sufficient water from
the high pressure hydrants, which wa'
due to the fact that the gong at thu
pumping plant failed to sound. TIT
pressure was soon secured, however
and the fire fought to better advan
tage but it was soon evident that tn
entire structure and its contents wer'
door ed.
The heat from the blaze was terrific
and the crowd kept we'll back out o
the danger zone while The prick wall
crumbled and fell in sections short''
after the roof went down II VA
nearly IL O'Clock when the fire vas suf
ficiently subducl to stop the engine
aud take off a portion of the hose lines
the others being kept on the remain
DIR of the night to prevent any fresl
start the f.re might take.
Saved the Automobiles.
B. ]. Doran, who has charge of tn
Mitchell. Lewis & Staver warehouse
was in the building when the flame
broke through the tin shop. He imme
Aietelv rushed out and turned in a
alarm and returned to the secon
story to try and fight the flames bu
was driven out by the heat. He the
rushed to the automobile department
and ran out the three costly machine
in the show ROOM thus saving a heaY
loss. but he was unable to get anythin
more.
The fire wrecked building ana stoc
presented a sorry spectacle today onl
the east wall of the building is lei
standing and the debris is packed sew
erai feet above the basement. Tn
Mitchell. Lewis & Staver company
safe was not damaged and thus tn
account books Of the firm were save
as were also a number of books /
a cabinet from which the blaze wa
held. The company owns warehous
at Eleventh and Borah streets fror
which the business will be conducte
for the present.
Origin Is a Mystery.
Thus far the origin Of the fire is sti
a mystery and win likely remain So 1t
sudden rush after first starting wa
due to the wind A night operator a
the Western Union. stated that he ha
looked across the street but a fe'