Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-08-13
FIRE
At An EARLY HOUR
Commercial Annex and Two
Residences Burned; Other
Buildings Damaged

About three O'Clock this morning
FIRE broke out in the Commercial Ho-
tel Annex and In forty-fve minutes
that building andftwo adjoining resi-.
dences were completely destroyed. and
the Bradley Opera House, the William
Hunter residence and a cottage be-
longing to Mr.. Hunter were badly dam
aged. The four first named buildings
were the property of Mrs. May Brad.
ley, and her loss is estimated at
$4,000. The damage done to the
houses belonging to Mr.. Hunter is es.
timated at about! $1,000. 3D..
The origin OF the fre is mystery.
but it is believed to have started from
a carelessly dropped match or cigar.
ette. The building was constructed
entirely of lumber and when the fire
once gained headway it ragged like a
furnace. 1t was only a few minutes
from the time that 1t was discovered
until the building was entirely envel-
oped. and the flames were soon COM
municated to the adjoining buildings
Very fortunately there was no wind
and the flames mounted straight into
the air. Had there been even a slight
breeze other buildings would certainly
have been destroyed.
Night Watchman Fred Sutton was
the first TO discover the fire. He had
passed the building a few minutes be.
fore and had not seen any signs of
fire. He walked as far as the corner
OF Fifth street and then crossed the
street TO the Elk Cafe. There he
was accosted by a stranger who asked
him where he might secure room.
Mr.. Sutton started to direct him to
the Commercial hotel, and turning his
head in that direction he saw the fire.
He hurried to the EyS and turned in
the alarm and he says that IL was not
more than five minutes until water
was playing on the building. He says
that the work of the fire department
was as quick as could be expected un
der any circumstances, and to this
quick and effective work he attributes
the saving of other buildings in the
immediate vicinity.
II was the first occasion for a thor
cugh testing OF the new combination
chemical engine, and 1t work like {
charm. There was also a good heaI
Of water and two good streams from
plug worked by the fire engine wer
! brought into play together with tw
. streams from other plugs.
? Chemical machines were brough
t from the Verdi Lumber Company var
and from the Elko Lumber Compan
I yard. With the former Taylor Johu
? son saved one of the VIM. Hunter res
dences from certain destruction, an
p with the latter Roy Corbett saved tn
: Bradley Opera House. The interio
Q OF the opera house was all ailame 1
the rear end when Mr.. Corbett arrive
Y and his quick action saved that bull,
o ing from being gutted. There wei
;. many volunteers to help the fire d
y partment and their heroic and effe
}. tive work saved the flames fro
d spreading. The opinion was repeated
" expressed In the crowd of onlooke
that the fire engine paid for itself
r. the property that II saved For
Y time II looked as though the Willia
@ Hunter residences, the Bradley Opei
House and the Commercial hotel wei
o doomed. The heat was so intense tn
@ the windows on the exposed side
8 the Commercial were cracked an
8 broken, and Mr.. Hunters residenC
half dozen times seemed about
break into flames. Several times Il
roof OF one OF his cottages took n
r but each time II was extinguisbed b
= fore Il got headway.
Senator a. w. Keddie had a narro
=, escape from serious injury He WI
on top of the Hunter cottage fghtir
!, the fire when he broke through u
:, roof and fell to the ceiling. Only h
:. head remained above, but he succee
H. ed in climbing from his perilous POI
=, tion without injury.
Two heavy losers in the fre we
=, Miss Louise Pasche and Miss Cla