The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-06-07

The studio of d. b. Henley, at 134
East Front street was totally destroy
ed by fire, the gents furnishing store
of Deas & Duke, underneath, suffered
several hundred dollars damage, and
the pressing club adjoining the studio
and the livery stable OF NJ. l.. Thomp
son, to the rear of the Deas & Duke
building for a time threatened, by a
fire originating in the studio early to
day.
Prompt work on the part of chief
Potter and his brigade of fire-fighters
together with the new automatic
pumper, probably saved at least one
fourth of the block.
The damage done by water to the
stock of Deas & Duke has not been
estimated. The proprietors of the es
tablishment said this afternoon that
they had not made a careful inspec
tion of the store. eve are waiting
for the arrival of the insurance ad-
juster before examining the stock.
they said.
Can't Estimate Loss.
Mr.. Henley's loss cannot be esti-
mated either, as he is out of the city
on a fishing expedition, and has not
yet learned of the fire.
1t was exactly $40 o'clock this
morning when a policeman standing
and the corner of Main and Front
streets saw a sudden burst of flames
on the roof of the Deas & Duke build
ing He rushed to a telephone and
called the fire department. In less
than three minutes, Chief Potter and
his headquarters crew were on the
scene.
1t was seen that the fire was on the
second floor in the rear of the build
ing A line of hose was carried up
the steps, and the firemen broke into
the studio of d. B. Henley, and into
the pressing club, which occupies the
front rooms on that floor. Nothing
was disturbed in the pressing club.
The studio. however, was filled with
flames. fumes and smoke.
Chief Potter then left the building
and accompanied number of his
men to the top of the Hill building,
which adjoins, with another line of
hose. From this point, water was
poured onto the roof of the burning
dies were in the studio trying to
drown the flames which were spread
ing every second. At one time it be-
came so hot, and the fumes were so
strong that the firemen were driven
from the studio into the hall but this
was for few minutes only.
The fire burned upwards and by
flooding the place, the laddies pre-.
vented it from burning through the
floor and extending underneath to the
Deas & Duke stock.
Attacks Livery Stable.
In the mean time it had attacked
the Thompson livery stable to the
rear of the building. and it was nee
essary to extend third line of hose
to the alleyway there.
1t required the department only
20 minutes to suppress the flames.
Thousands of gallons of water seep.
ed through the floors and from the
roof, flooding the store underneath
1t is believed that more than half oil
the Deas & Duke stock was partly
water soaked at least.
Chief Potter declared that this
mornings fire was the hottest he ever
had been called upon to fight. 81
1t had not been for the automatic fire
pumper, I believe that at least one
fourth of the block would have beer
destroyed by the fire."
The building is owned by Deas &
Duke, and is fully covered by insur
ance. The stock of this establish
ment, also is insured. Whether th'
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