Iditarod pioneer., 1915-01-30

firm to the scene of the fire, and the efforts of the fire fighters was directed to putting out incipient fires which were continually springiug up from the flying sparks. The fact that there was considerable snow on the roofs of the houses undoubtedly saved many of them from destruction, as when the fire was at its tIercest embers as large as a din ner plate were hurled for considerable dis tances. and constant watchfulness alone saved many buildings
 Mir Willmcr's loss will amount to several hundred dollars The cottage of Dan Hart nett was seriously scorched but the loss is small and Frank keenans loss was con fined merely to hreakages incident to re moving his goods. Blodgett's place was not damaged.
 Cause of Failure of Apparatus
 Naturally, the failure of the fire apparatus at the crucial moment has created much dis cusSion, and there IS a demand that the matter be investigated and the appliances put in shape for use al any moment and in srE kind of weather. IL has been the GUS m of Mr. Byers, under instructions from inc fre committee of the city council, to .. ,p re engine at the Tre station each o:v . >re that 1t Is in working order This had 'n done on the day of the fire. at ? clcck in the afternoon. Everything at that time seemed to be in working order It Is learned. however that it has not been customary to start the pump in freezing weather, owing to the danger of ice forming in the valves and pipes. The last time the pImp was tested WAS ten days or more ago, and at that time it was in perfect working condition. On Thursday last the tempera- ture was in the nelghborhood of zero, and consequently the pump Was not tried dur ing the afternoon test.
 Chairman Currn's Explanation
 All sorts of surmlSes were made &s to the cause of the failure of the apparatus to work. John C. Currin, chairman of the fire committee of the city council, said yes terday:
 Tn my opinion the failure of the pump to perform its work was caused by ar acci- dent to the feed pipe at the time the sue ton was lowered into the water This pipe IS kept suspended above the river on scaf- folding, and is lowered by means of two blocks. It takes two men to lower the sue tlon, and in doing this last night in the dark ness the blocks were not lowered simuta- neously, causing the valve to be sprung This allowed the air to flow freely in the feed pipe, and obstructed the suction neces- sary to raise the water
 This defect will be remedied today, and have no doubt that by tonight the pump will be in working shape again
 Il am as greatly disappointed as anyone else at the failure of the apparatus to work, but am confident that the machinery is all right and will respond in future when needed"
 Mayor Awaits Information
 Mayor Baker, when seen yesterday and asked what action if any he proposed to take in view of the failure of the fire ap- paratus, said that he awaited an explana tion of the matter from the officers in charge. He was greatly disappointed at the result of the demonstration, but Was not willing to discuss the matter until he was made acquainted with the cause of the difficulty
 It is quite likely that a meeting of the council will be called at an early day to discuss the matter and to take steps to provide satisfactory fire protection