American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-02-15
EARLY MORNING FIRE
IN THE AUDITORIUM
Excellent Work by Volunteer Fireman
Prevents Disastrous Fire-Fire Had
Good Headway When Discovered.

About lis this morning citizens
we're called from their slumbers By
telephone and the FIRE whistle. The
fire vas found 10 be in the Auditorium
building the entire scenery lofe OF
which vas in flames when the first
arrivals appeared on The scene
The main building Is 50x115. with
an annex Of 25x115. The walls are
Of brick. with the exception Of the
scenery loft, which vas OF sheet iron
above the first story. The fire Eas
confined 70 the loft and stage and the
rear end OF the annex Good york
alone prevented a spread Of the IRE
to adjoining buildings.
The FIRE had q good headway when
discovered Fred Lowry. pin man At
the bowling alley which occupied the
annex, had just retired. He vas
aroused BY an explosion which sound
ed like an explosion in a stove, and
flames burst through from beneath
the Auditorium stage into the annex
Lowry opened the door leading TO the
stage and found the scenery in flames
He woke the telephone operator on
duty Miss Muriel J. Wham. Who
sounded a general telephone alarm
The first people on The scenes we're
R. Foster Lamm. Paul Bulfnch and
T. C. Sparks. but many others rapid
ly arrived. The chemical. stored in the
Star garage. and the hose cart sta
toned adjoining the bakery. we're
soon on the ground. The heat vas so
intense. however, and the smoke so
dense that the chemical could not
reach the IRE. Some little delay in
turning on the water resulted from
a hydrant wrench which did not III
the hydrant 70 which il vas applied,
and another wrench had 70 be secur-
ed By the time water was secured
flames we're breaking out OF The rear
windows Of the annex. Another hose
+ cart drawn by an automobile from
the Power City garage arrived about
this time and a second stream vas
available The IRE. however. being IN
the loft Of the theatre where it could
f not be reached. looked dangerous. and
+ few believed that any OF the adioin-
{ ing buildings could be saved The oc-
/ cupants OF the Schmidt building hastt-
I ly removed everything from the build
ing. the ground floor Of which is oe-
cupied By the A R. Henderson shoe
factory, with expensive machinery.
with his family occupying the rear
/ Above are the Law offices of Bissell &
Baum. Baird & Davis. and Dr. Moth
and Dr. Rodgers. A large number of
/ people assisted in removing the con-
tents. and in spite OF the hurried work
little damage vas done
Manager Baker. Of the telephone
/ company. and his force, stayed on the
job until smoke drove them from the
telephone building. which was separ-
ated only by a wall from the hottest
part OF the ire
johnson & Anderson. on the south
side OF the Auditorium. removed every
thing removable from their building.
The Hotel Grand people did not move
anything out. but kept hose playing
on the rear Of the building. which IS
+ separated from the Auditorium BY an
alley.
The most effective fighting was done
, BY Lamm. Bulfnch and Sparks, Ehc
PLAYED a stream on the fre from the
alley. The second line Of hose was
taken to the roof Of the Schmidt
building and in readiness TO do goos
service had the roof or loft OF tbs
Auditorium fallen.
After the hrs was checked A N
Ley carried a hose line almost 10 th'
top OF the LOFT. on ladders. and spray
, ed the charred studding and rafter'
+, until every bit OF the hre was out
Many others did excellent work Al
equipment OF rubber boots, coats an'
hats is needed for the IRE lighters
and more hose IS desirable.
The building is owned by the Utsl
National bank OF ogden. There va
r insurance Of $500 on the huildiR
and $500 on contents. The loss 10 n
building is fully covered. but the $50
viii not cover the scenery and fixture
destroyed. The building was lease
10 Emmett link and c. Z. Beardslel
who conducted a moving picture sho'
and skating rink. and took care Q
such road shows as came. They hs
no insurance. and lost between tw
I hundred and three hundred dollars
y o. F. Crowley operated the bowlin
alleys. He lost about 800, most Q
y which was in new equipment Just in
~ stalled.
d The origin Of the IRE IS unknowr
/ The explosion heard BY Mr.. LoVr
was probably from a pile OF painte
scenery in a corner at the rear OF II
stage.