Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-24
W., BOZ - ~ SVV
Church Proved Barrier.

barrier in the path OF the flames and
prevented the Hambel estate feed sheds
: across the street from catching fire and
probably spreading north from them.
was the quite general opinion. Altho
the church was badly burned there was
no such quantity of infiammable ma
terial in it to blaze as was in the lum-
Der sheds and it burned much slower,
giving more time to fight it. There
was an absence Of burning brands such
as were spread from the lumber yard
by the southeast wind. owing to a good
tin roof.
Twice while the lumber yard fire was
hottest the roof of the ramshackle feed
yard sheds were set on fire, but guards
stationed on the roof stamped them out
quickly.
Insurance May Cover Loss.
After examining the interior Of the
church c. F. Reimer, the contractor. es-
itimated that the insurance of $4,000
on the building, $1,000 on the organ,
and $700 on the furniture would cover
the loss. He had not, however, made
any detailed estimate of the damage
done.
The auditorium Of the building Is
practically ruined. excepting most Of
the walls. Practically all Of the roof
over this part Of the building. and in
addition part Of the roof over the west
end Of the church. fell in. It carried
with it the false work Of the ceiling.
Part Of the south brick gable of the
auditorium fell in and crashed thru the
floor into the basement 1t was the
false work that prevented the firemen
from getting effectively at the flames
that were burning the timbers and
joists above the false work and under
the roof. It was not until the false
work fell that the seat Of the flames
was finally reached.
Organ Badly Damaged.
Reimer thought that most of the ex-
terror walls of the church except per-
haps the section on the south side
where the fire was the hottest, were in
good condition. A thorough examina-
ton of the south wall will be necessary
to determine the damage to it Foun-
dation stones of the south wall were
nearly red hot.
It Is thought that the pipe organ is
badly, perhaps irreparably damaged by
water, which soaked into it, altho the
flames did not reach it. The soaking
has so swelled the wooden parts that
they are at present useless.
Members of the church got out of the
building the libraries Of Rev. James P
Linn and Rev. Frank Fl. Camel and
part of the furniture.
Rev. Mr.. ElIett's Loss Serious.
To the owner the loss sustained by
Rev. o. D. Elicit in his printing shop
and residence in the frame building
at West Church street, Just west of
the church, was the most serious in adj
dition to the church and lumber yard.
Practically all OF Mr. Eliett's per-
sonal property in the second story of
the building, that was used as a resi-
dence, was destroyed. The upper half
of the building is a mere shell contain
ing nothing but ruins. The lower half
can be rebuilt, and the printing shop
equipment was not so badly damaged,
as part of it was removed.
Most serious among the many items
Of the loss Rev. Mr.. Elicit sustained
wasla library of more than 1000 VOL
umes that was totally destroyed. The
owner said they had probably cost him
not less than $4,000. They are so badly
ci1arred and burned they are vaIueIess
All the furniture, including a piano and
q large davenport, was ruined. Mr..
Elicit was not able to estimate his total
loss, which was not protected by insur-
ance. Local business men took up a
collection Of $50 and presented it to Mr..
Elicit.
Atkinson Loss Uninsured.
The properties across the alley west
at Nos. and s1s West Church street,
the first residence, the second the
cleaning establishment of the Marshall
town Steam Dye Works, are owned by
the Atkinson estate. The only heirs
are Lee Atkinson and Mrs. Lee E.
!; Nichless, of this city.
The residence was occupied by Mr..
and Mrs. Murray G. Hammer. the for
mer member of the central station fire
crew. A shed of the lumber yard adj
3 1otned small outbuilding of this resi-
dence in the rear.
The flames spread to the outbuilding,
totally destroying it. and to the roof of
the; house and a southeast wing of it
baaa1y damaging both. The loss is es-
RI tifhated at from $500 to $500. and is
z rnansured. Hammer, the tenant, placed
hiass1Oss at $50, also uninsured.
TIE damage to the building occupied
8 blythe cleaning establishment was very
sIl6af. and the equipment of the bust
no1o was not damaged. This building
49, regarded an especially hazardous