The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-02-26
ONE LIFE LOST
in EXPLOSION
Roy Flick, Victim of Explosion
that Wrecks Garage.
BODY FOUND AMONG RUINS
Entire City Felt Shock of Explosion.
Quick Work by Fire Department
Saves Adjoining Buildings.


One of the most disastrous fires in
the history of Glasgow occurred early
Saturday evening when the Flick Mo-
tor & Machine Co. building was burn
ed to the ground, and in which Roy
Flick, brother of Glen Fick,, the pro-
prietor lost his life.
Shortly after six o'clock Saturday
evening, terrific explosion rent the
air. For hundreds of feet above the
Flick Garage was large black cloud
of smoke, sparks and debris. A few
minutes later the entire garage was
in flames.
Several men who were close by
when the exposion occurred ran to-
wards the building and some went in
side, but they were unable to see any,
one the intense heat drove them back.
The flames seem to burst from all
parts Of the building at once and the
heat was terrific.
The sound Of the explosion brought
people from all parts of the city to
the scene and it was only few min
utes before the fire department had
their hoses connected and were pour
ing water on the burning building.
The explosion had sent the roof Of
the building into the air and the walls
and interior partitions were knocked
in all directions.
At first it was thought that there
were two men in the building when the
explosion occurred but one of these
was accounted for and Roy Flick was
the only one missing.
The volunteer firemen worked with
a vim to make enough headway
against the fire to save him if there
was any chance and thousands of gal
Ions of water were poured on the
ruins. The Imperial Lumber Yard ad-
joining the building on the west had
a narrow escape from going up in
smoke. The roof and east wall of the
Office were aflame when the fire de-
partment arrived but quick work on
the part Of the fire fighters saved the
building.
With four streams playing on the
flames, the fire was put out in a re-
markably short time, and was prevent
ed from spreading to the frame build
ing adjoining. A light wind from the
west also assisted in saving property,
as the flames swept half way across
Seventh street, making it impossible
to fight the fire from that quarter
The oils and other inflamable mater
ial in the storeroom Of the building
caused flames to shoot high into the
air and made any entrance into the
building impossible.
Shortly after seven o'clock the wat.
er was turned off and the search for
the body of Roy Flick began. By the
light of automobile headlights and
lanterns the searchers pulled aside the
debris and walls. About eight o'clock
buried under a mass of debris, the
body Of Roy Flick was found. He was
found lying on his side, probably in
the position he had fallen, when the
explosion occurred. Death must have
been instantaneous, as he was lying
where he fell when it occurred.
While the origin of the fire or the
cause of the explosion is unknown, il
is believed that Roy Flick had just
returned to the garage, as he was
seen on the street about ten minutes
prior to the explosion. The explosion
probably occurred in the store room
and was caused by carbide or gener'
ated gas of some sort. It is thought
that Roy Flick must have struck 8
match as he was entering the store
room which ignited the gas and caus
ed the explosion, resulting in the fire
and his death.
William Powell, tailor, was pass
ing by the garage when the explosion
occurred and was struck with the fly
ing glass and splinters and was in
jured about the body and face. H,
was taken to the Deaconess Hospita
for treatment. Broken glass, and fly
ing debris was hurled through tn,
windows of the Imperial Lumber Co.
facing the garage and narrowly es
capped striking Clarence Hall and Jo'
Sternhagen.
When the explosion occurred, GleI
Flick, the proprietor of the garage
was but short distance away in on,
of his cars, with Martin Kaminski
When the explosion occurred he jump
ed out of the car and made dash fol
the building, but the flames and in
tense heat made an entrance into j
impossible.