The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-12-21
100000 fire IN
fLAT|RQN BLOCK
Blaze Started in Calumet Restaurant
This Morning From Coffee Urn
Daily News and Others Lose.

The w. M. Smart block, located on
West Central Avenue, near the G. N.
viaduct and known as the Flatiron
building, was almost totally destroyed
by fire at 4:30 o'clock this morning.
The loss totals nearly 100000 while
the insurance does not total more than
half that amount.
The fire started from gasoline cof-
fee urn when the proprietor of the
Calumet Cafe, which occupied one of
the rooms of the building, lighted the
urn. He turned on the gasoline and
more ran out than he expected, some
flowing over onto the floor. When he
struck a match, there was flash and
the gasoline did the damage.
An alarm was turned in Immediately
and the fire department responded
watersoaked and with their clothing
covered by ice, worked for. five hours
was found to be frozen up but this did
not interfere with the fighting as there
were plenty Of other hydrants working.
1t required little time to definitely To-
cate the flames on account of the smoke.
The fire made rapid Roadway from the
start and was one Of the most stubborn
blazes seen in the city. Chief Slocum
work.
The walls Of the building are stand
ing and can be used in reconstructing
the block. The fire was confined to the
two upper floors, the flames doing no
damage to the basement but the entire
basement is water soaked and it will be
some time before the extent of the dam
ag there can be determined.
The firemen played streams of water
on the blaze for more than five hours be-
fore the fire was finally put out. The
firemen suffered considerably from froz-
en- cheeks but kept bravely at their
work.
Fire broke in at the west side of the
Lexington hotel several times, but was
the hotels string of hose but when tha6
came to use it.: found that the water had
been turned off.
Bert Plowman's clothing store located
in the Lexington block suffered heavy
damage from smoke and water and the
Dakota Motor Sales Co., located in the
sane me, block ic,. suffered similar damage.
ed:
| Daily News Publishing Co.
Western Plumbing and Heating Co.
L. H. Wilson, sample rooms, all locat-
ed IN the 0ai F1ss@ FLOOR.
Fred Howard, barber shop
D. G. Mitchell, confectionery.
Daily News business Office.
Calumet Restaurant.
VIM. Fahnlander, tailor shop.
+: j. Reki, piano dealer.
Myers jewelry store.
SECOND FLOOR. -~-
Jourgen Olson &C.,, real estate and
loan office.
Y; s; Army recruiting station.
W. M. Smart, real estate Offices.
Johnson & Sheets, lawyers
Living Apartments - Miss Bessie
Cover: Mr.. and Mrs. Ted Young, Marie
GRINDERS, aD. G. Mitchell, Mrs. A. J.
Mr.: and Mrs. Johnson.
The building which was owned by W.
NJ. Smart, was erected at cost Of $16,-
900. It was insured for $4,000 Mr..
build for that amount The building
was 105 feet long.
The loss to the tenants occupying the
and very little insurance, If any, was
Fred Howard the barber, saved his en-
tire equipment. He carried no insur-
Miss Bessie Cover lost everything in
D. e. Mitchell lost all, even to his
clothing and valuable diamond. He
made his get away in his B. v. DIS and
Miss Smith lost all Of her clothing
Mr. and Mrs Ted Young are unfor-
tunate; They have lost their effects in
Public DRUG, fire. then the Roell- Blakey
w. NJ. Smart lost valuable records in
his office, including vouchers, receipts
and many valuable papers. Most of his
books were in the safe.
Bert Plowman considers that his loss
Is about $500, fully insured. Some of
Mr. Plowman's merchandise was taken
Continued on page a.