Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-07-02
FALSE FIRE ALARM
CAUSED BY MISTAKE
Auto Pumper Proves Its Value It
Doing Splendid Work Both at Fires
Here and in Turner.

AFTER searching lnVestlgatlon into
the confusion incident upon the mis-
take in the fire call early Wednesday
when the Fremont Hotel
burned with loss of $4,000, G. o.
Constable, who mas in hand the re.
organization of the fire department,
said this morning that although TIE
matter at first looked suspicious it
was nothing more than ignorance on
the part of the person who sent in the
first call.
+. Bezemot, proprietor of the
French Laundry, who was awake at
the time the fire broke out and who
turned in the first alarm, is French
man and unable to talk English dis
tinetly and equally as unable to un.
derstood it. He phoned in the call and
in his excitement told what he thought
was the right location. The firemen
repeated the call and the Frenchman
said it was right, not knowing that it
was wrong.
When Fire Started.
Bezemot says the fire started in the
paint shop of the Hutehins Paint com.
pany and that it spread with such
rapidity that it was no time at all un.
til the flames were beyond control.
Spontaneous combustion is believed to
have started the blaze.
Although the new auto pumper has
not been officially received by the
city, according to Councilman Con-
stable, nor officially tested yet, it has
in his opinion saved the city four
times its cost, which is $4,000. 1t has
also demonstrated its value in the fire
at Turner, whence the pumper was sent
at the request of the town people with
the result that it practically saved
that little city from being entirely
wiped out by fire. Taking into con
sideration the value of the property
saved at Turner and the value of that
saved Wednesday morning the pumper
has paid for itself many times over.
1t was because of the efficiency of
this pumper in throwing streams OF
water ON the tinshop occupied Jy A. L.
Frazer that a tank containing 100 gal
Ions of gasoline was kept from ex
ploding and scattering fire in all
directions. Councilman Constable has
only words of praise for the work Of
the fire department and believes that
it is better and more efficient than il
has ever been before. In completing
the reorganization, the councilman
SAYS it will be his aim to make il tht
best fire fighting organization that Is
possible.
Will Put Up Brick.
The auto pumper was sent here by
Mr.. Long Of the American La France
fire engine company and placed in thu
station as the company's property tt
be tried out by the city. 1t is not t
be accepted until tested officially anC
accepted by the underwriters from
Portland
WOrkmen began yesterday afternoon
to clear away the blackened timber
that mark the "bones" of the Ere
mont Hotel and the other shops tha
were burned. The timbers are beini
burned. The loss Of George F. Rodgers
to whom the property belonged, at frs
estimated to be about $4,000 ha
been increased to $4,000. The genera
property loss is fixed at $4,000 a
estimated by the Capital Journal. Nj
Rodgers will rebuild on the site but a
yet has not determined what kind of
structure he will erect. This ne'
building he will cover fully with il
surance.
The loss of A. L. Frazer, which wa
not known yesterday, was escertaine
today to amount to about $4,000. Ii
surance in the sum Of $1,000 was ca
ried by Mr.. Frazer and after the con
pany has adjusted the loss, he wi
move to the Eckerlen building at tf
corner of Liberty and Ferry streets an
reopen his shop.