The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-05-10
NEW DEAN ELECTED WAS like OLD Times
VOLUNTEERS FIGHT FIRE UNDER
TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES.


Fire truck out of commission and a
double alarm, two calls for fire at al
most the same minute, made combi-
nation at three o'clock Monday after
noon that narrowly missed serious
consequences.
A blaze of big proportions started
| 10 the CTookham Auto Company gar
age, No. III South Second street and
q big fire was started in an instant
Fed by the oils and other inflamable
material in the garage the fire soon
spread into the adjoining rooms, No.
| 1915 on the north occupied by &. -.
FIory as paint shop, communicated
| 10 the second floor rooms of the build
ing, burned through into the Rhyns
burger egg and produce iepos and
4 came near communicating with the
Waters & England Livery stable on
the west
! For moment the fire threatened
| the entire quarter block east of the
Downing hotel but determined eff
fort on the part of volunteer fire de-
lpartment made UP almost on the in
lstant controlled the flames after
hard fight and damage to the buildings
is not Of great extent, probably not
over thousand dollars or so,
Contents of the garage and the paint
shop however and practically ruined
or consumed and several automobiles
in the buildings and garage are more
or less damaged.
Just how this fire started Is uncer-
tain. Ben Crookham and his machin-
list G. A. Gilbert were working on a
car in the shop at the time. Mr.. Gilbert
says he heard strange noise behind
him as e.was bending to his work.
He looked up and saw flames shooting
over his head and they seemed to be
starting in the corner of the room
back OF him. He yelled to Crookham
and they attempted to get the cars out
but almost before they turned around
the flames had taken possession of
the garage and had burned through
to the next room.
Some one called the fire department
but no help was available as the emer-
gency equipment was being used at a
call that had come only minute be-
fore for barn on the L. e. Hardy
property, No. 1919 South Fourth street.
A taxi near by was Communicated TO
act as hose truck. No one was at the
fire department headquarters, all the
men being summoned to the barn and
volunteer department was made up
on the spot. They grabbed what equip
mcnt they could find and fastened to
the now roaring blaze at the garage.
Other willing hands sprang to the as
? sistance of those workin3 Wits the
, lpieces of hose. Bernie Donnelly form
: er department man juLircd in aid
: Tom Lewis unmindful of clothing, per-
: sonal comfort or anything else icaped
forward and set pace that soon won
4 out. The boys had streams playing
from both front and rear of the build
ing In the mean time c. d. Flory at
tached a small garden hose to SER
: vice faucet and had this playing in his
( apartments until he was choked off by
. smoke.
Word was taken to the men at the
scene of the South Fourth street fire
and the force of regular firemen was
divided. A part of the equipment was
hastily transferred and hurried to the
. scene of the bigger trouble. The fire
had-a big start and for time it looked
doubtful if it could be controlled. The
buildings were or brick however, and
~ 70
floors and partitions. This fact en-
abled the boys to put up an effective
fight against the odds that confronted
them.
The first fire was in a barn at the
Hardy home on South Fourth street,
Children and matches made a trouble
> some combination at this place, and
the building was well wrapped in
flames when the department arrived.
They were in the midst of the fight
az ainst this fire when they were told
OF the larger trouble "up town"
, And of course the double alarm had
to occur just at the time when the reg
ular truck was out of commission and
in the shop for repairs. That makes
three fire alarms since the engine of
the truck went back on the boys.
Emergency equipment was fitted out
and placed in the trailer" and the Do-
: lice patrol furnished motive power.
This precaution was taken Sunday
night Immediately following the '.Dack
fire" where the truck became disabled.
That three calls would be received
while the department was inconven-
{ fenced and embarrassed no one sus-
!; nnctad