The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-13
RESTAURANT BURNS

Continued from page one)
wreckage and water The indications
are that the salvage from this part of
the building will be very little The
dining room and kitchen on the north
side of the first floor are not badly
damaged. Fred Ross, part owner, said
he believed there would be more
salvage than the wreckage indicated.
Begin All Over Again.
"It makes no difference now" he
said. THE loss is partially covered by
insurance and as soon as the weather
will permit us to clear aw@y the debris
we will begin all over again. The
Cremerie will be reOpened< as soon as
possible. If this kind of weather con-
tinues it will cause some delay"
Turn in General Alarm.
The first alarm was turned in to the
fire department at 2:44 o'clock this
morning. Perry Brush a patrolman,
was in the alley back of the Cremerie
and smelled smoke. He rushed to the
alarm box near the Topeka State bank,
gave the alarm. and stated today that
at the moment the box began the re
peat he heard the siren leaving the
headquarters at No. =.
/ At 1928 O'Clock the second alarm
was turned in and at 3:35 the general
alarm was given. The general alarm
brought into duty the day men. Chief
Hanlon said this morning that within
thirty five minutes after the general
alarm was given every man was on
1.-THE job. One fireman had to walk in
! from Auburndale and another from
the southwest part of the city.
+. While the fire department was get
hing on the job Mrs. Clarence Scott,
wife of the manager of the Creme-ie,
smelled smoke in their apartments
labove the restaurant. She aroused
Mr. 10 cd CT n
give the alarm and found Perley At
! kinson. a negro porter, sound asleep
beside the telephone. After giving the
alarm Mr.. Scott returned to his apart
ldressed, gathered up a few belongings,
| including "Queenie," their dog, and
made their escape. When they re
turned to the lower floor they were
choked and blinded by smoke. Mrs.
Scott went to the transfer station to a
away from the restaurant He stayed
! by it all the rest of the night and this
morning.
The Arthurs Are Driven Out.
| In the adjoining building, upstairs
over Fullerton Bros. MIR. and Mrs. c.
| B. Arthur were having similar expert
ences. They did not awaken until the
smoke had almost suffocated them
end when they finally made their way
out of the building they were clad only
IN sleeping garments and bath robes.
! Mr.. Arthur has been a cripple since
an accident over a year ago and it
was necessary for Patrolman Brush to
assist him to the street. Mrs. Arthur
remained on the street for some time
! in the biting cold to see whether or
not their possessions were to be de-
stroyed but they were not.
! In answer to the first alarm the
equipment from station No. 2 pulled
up in front of the building. The ne
gro porter declared the fire was in
the rear and the equipment was talk
en- into the alley. The porter was ex-
cited and instead of leading the way
ito the basement where the fire was
raging opened the door into the
| Kitchen. The firemen swept him aside
land with axes knocked the locks from
1.-THE doors and attempted to make their
way into the basement. 1t was filled
with smoke and flame. 1t was i'm
possible to accomplish anything there
land an attack was made on the tile
FLOOR. Holes were chopped through
five inches of tile and concrete and
water and chemicals were turned in.
hEven on the main floor the firemen
had to work in relays and use their
oxygen helmets Breathing was inn
possible in the smoke and heat
Floor Fell In.
I Hour after hour the firemen work ed
at front and rear of the building. Holes
were chopped in the areaway in from
and an attack was made there. The
| main body of the fire was in a place
under the floor that the firemen were
unable to reach. Eventually it burned