The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-01
F1REMEN DO WONDERFUL WORK
confne Fire to Single Business House
Water and Smoke Does Consider
able Damage at Gill Brothers.
BUSINESS TO BE RE-EsTABLIsHED
Will Open as Soon as Proper Arrange
ments Can Be Made-Carried
$24, 900 Insurance on Stock.


covered at midnight Saturday, COM
pletely destroyed the stock and build
ing of the Segal Emporium, Third
street, bringing a loss of approxi-
mately $4,000 to that establishment
and damages, caused by smoke and
water, of about $1,000 to Gill Broth
ers and a small amount to the E. A.
Barker Drug & Jewelry store. The
building in which the Segal Empor-
ium was located was owned by An
drew Clavin and George Tanner, be-
ing valued at about $1,000 and COW
cred by $500 insurance
Firemen Were Helpless.
1t; is believed that the fire had
gained considerable Roadway in the
basement of the Emporium. where it
is certain to have originated, before
being discovered, smoke being noticed
by Oscar Erwig, jeweler, Arthur
Flatner, druggist, and Whitney
Brown, credit man, of the Barker
Drug & Jewelry store just as they
were about to close the store. Segal's
had closed at 1920.
Investigation showed the smoke to
be coming from the Segal establish
ment and Flatner turned in the
alarm. Although the department
made remarkably quick response,
the firemen. were unable to gain en-
trance at either the front or rear OF
the building when they arrived, 80
dense was the smoke.
No Flames Noticeable.
,sl4s During q first few iinutes Of
the fires progress no flames were no.
ticeable, but finally shot up near the
rear of the building. Several streams
Of water were placed in use, one
from the front and several from the
top and rear.
Remarkable work was done by the
fire fighters and not only did they
succeed in checking the flames from
spreading, but the adjoining build
ings, those occupied by Gill Brothers
clothing store and the Palace Meat
market, were not even scorched, so
we'll were the flames governed, not
once being permitted to extend be-
yond their control. The Barker
store, brick structure, was not at
all damaged, although much water
gained entrance to the basement, but
this being expected, the stock there
had been cared for and was not
touched by water, the loss being
trivial.
Gills' Suffer Damage.
But the Gill clothing store was not,
so fortunate for smoke and water is
estimated to have caused damage
of close to $4,000. When it seemed
certain that the building occupied
by ellis was doomed, the salvage
corps began work, much clothing be-
ing removed before the fire was COM
pletely out. Water in the basement
was nearly one foot deep.
Palace Not Damaged.
At the rear of the Segal building.
closely connected the structure of the
Palace Meat market, which was in no
manner damaged. Joe McTaggart, of
Doran & McTaggart, owners of the
shop, moved all meats from the main
room hangers to the Ice box, there
by preventing smoke damage. Elec-
trio fans were used at Gills and the
meat market in disposing of smoke.
which at times was suffocating.
4 Carried $24, 900 Insurance.
With the exception of a few UNI
brellas and a few water damaged
skirts and coats, nothing whatever
was saved from the $4,000 stock Of
the Emporium, large shipment of
shoes and other materials having just
been received. According to ]. Segal,
proprietor, who was in st. Paul ut
the time of the fire, reaching Bemidji
this morning, insurance to the
amount of $4,000 was carried.
| "We intend to start up in business
just as soon as we can secure suit
able quarters" said Mr.. Segal, .'and
we will of course endeavor to carry
just as complete stock as before the
fire."
Firemen Complimented.
AS in the fire of the Koors Manu-
featuring company Of last week, the
firemen did wonderful work and they
are being much complimented, and
they deserve the credit. James Given
was carried from the roof Of the
building at one time, having been
overcome by smoke. He was soon re-
Continued on last pase.l