The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-12-21
AFTERMATH OF FIRE.
INTE RESTING DEVELOPMENTS
FOLLOWING BIG BLAZE.

cradle Library of choice music, some
expensive works and some excellent
Everything owned by the
club went up in smoke of the big
fire. The loss to the club, represent
ed by the cost of the, material alone,
amounts to several hundred dollars.
viii Reynolds, manager of the club,
had only this week finished paying
for additional possessions and club
party.
The Jones-Reigel building was on
fire sevral times and the fire was
stopped only with difficulty. At one
time the third floor of the building
was well ablaze and the fire burned
back six or eight feet from the south
windows on the Penn School of
Commerce floor This big building
was saved, however, through it's fire
shutters which kept the flames off
the window frames.
Oskaloosa Eagles will rebuild bet
ter and upon more convenient lines
than those employed in the building
destroyed. Members are already
discussing ways and means that will
take definite form in the near future.
- -
Not enough people were on the
ground following the first alarm to
lend the firemen assistance in hand.
ling the hose. Help was needed
and needed badly. A second and a
general alarm was sounded that
brought out crowds not awakened by
the first alarm.
- - -
Bob Stringfellow's restaurant on
South A street, just across the street
from the fire, was open to all fire
workers. Robert served hot coffee
and lunch free of charge to the fire
fighters.
- - -
Handling the hose in the zero
weather of the early morning was no
child's play. Those engaged in the
work complained of the bitter cold.
John Whitmore of the Lambert store
furnished mittens, free of charge, for
those working with the hose.
- - -
Free coffee and sandwiches were
distributed among the firemen by the
Lacey Hotel Cafe and was duly ap-
preciated.
- 1880
Oskaloosa fire department appreci-
ated the willingness with which the
townspeople came to their assistance
when called upon. With a fire of
so great extent, firemen were at a
premium.
- = -
Fridays fire lays stress on the
fact that our fire department is lack
ing a sufficient quantity of hose with
which to meet an emergency. Every
foot of hose owned by the depart
ment was in use and more could
have been employed to advantage.
- = -
The local w. C. T. U. furnished
twelve gallons of good coffee to the
fire fighters through the agency of
John Hawkins Fern" restaurant.
- - -
Jimmie Fitzgerald will be in bust
ness again as soon as he can make
arrangements for another outfit and
secure a location.
= - -
One of the biggest questions arts
ing as a result of the fire is, Where
are the club frequenters going to
spend their evenings?" There were
those whose home was at their club,
literally,and now they have no home.
- - -
A big crack has developed in the
south wall of the Jones & Riegel
building since the fire.
- - -
Graham & Schmidt's Leader Store
viii be in operation again as soon as
quarters can be provided.
- - -
In order to give mercantile estab-
lishments power and light. the Oska-
loosa Traction and Light company
was forced to string temporary lines
around the fire district. Traction
and telephone linemen were kept
busy all day repairing the damaged
service.
- - -
If several ffremen do not suffer
illness, they bear remarkable consti-
tutions. A number were soaked to
the skin with water, and stood play
ing water on the fire, until their gar
ments were frozen stiff.
- - -
The fire fighters are loud in their
praise OF the water pressure for yes
terday's fire, but have expressed the
opinion that much more good could
have been accomplished with fire
engine. Where the stream reached
only to the third flor, an engine
could have forced steady stream
over the building, and down into the
scat of the blaze. The wind broke
much of the force rt the water.
- - -
One thing that was missed yester-