The Dickinson press., 1917-01-06

FIRE IN SOUTH
DICKINSON
BERNS DEPARTMENT STORE DE-
STROYED EARLY THURS
DAY MORNING
Total LOSS of About SIS, 900 on Brick
Building and Contents-Fam-
lilies Lose Homes.

Ane bernS department store building
and contents, located on Broadway
south Of the N. p. tracks, was COM
pletely destroyed by fire early Thurs
day morning, the entire loss being
estimated at about $55,000. The fire
was discovered little after 2 o'clock
by Frank Englehart and Ralph Kessel,
who were returning from a dance on
the south side. They noticed light
In the basement of the building and
upon investigation discovered a fierce
blaze raging at the rear and gave the
alarm to the people living on the Sec
ond floor. The fire department re-
sponded to the summons but were
greatly handicapped in their work on
account Of hydrant Immediately in
front 1;1 OF the; building being frozen up.
This necesstatetl delay in stringing
a line Of hose to a distant hydrant
and the blaze was beyond control
within a very short time.
-Four families occupy flats on the
treme heat and 50 much smoke they
did not have time to save anything,
some members of the families barely
escaping in their night clothes, while
others had time to gather sufficient
wraps together to keep them warm.
Mr.. Berns' loss in the big depart
kncnt store will probably reach
$4,000. He had just completed in
ventory on Wednesday and the footing
had not been made at the time of the
fire. He carried large stock of gen
eral merchandise, all of which was en-
tirely destroyed. He carried insurance
to the amount Of $11 500 on the stock
and fixtures. In addition to the loss
in the store Mr.. Berns lost all house
hold furniture and clothing from the
apartments on the second floor. This
loss is estimated at $500, with very
little insurance. j. w. Anscnberger
and family, who also occupy rooms on
the second floor, lost furniture and
clothing to the amount of 5000. There
was no insurance on this property.
Harold Beedle, pharmacist at the
South Side drug store had $500 insur-
ance on about 81 900 loss Of household
furniture and clothing. Harry Ress-
ler and wife had just started keeping
house in the flat short time ago witt,
4 new outfit Of household furnishings
and sustained a total loss of about
$700 with no insurance. Mrs. Ressler
lost a very valuable diamond ring in
| the fire.
The building was a tWo-story brick,
with full basement, 60x80 feet. 1t
was erected in 1906-7 at a cost of
$4,000 and was owned by Peter
Braun. He carried insurance to the
amount Of $500, having cut down his
policies to cover the property last fall.
The building was modern in every
way, having a first class heating
plant, electric lights and water and
was one Of the best business rooms
on the south side.
How the fire originated is mys-
terry. When first noticed the fire was
burning through the first floor from
the basement and Mr.. Berns and the
other tenants Of the building are un-
able to account for it. The infam-
able material which was first ignited
made quick, hot fire and large guam
titles of oil in the store made intense
heat when the flames reached the
point where it was stored. The brick
walls on the front and east side fell
in, while the blind wall on the west
and the south wall remained partially
intact. The frame dwelling house on
the west was damaged to some extent
by falling brick but it did not catch
fire. The fire department remained
at the scene of the fire until about ten
o'clock in the forenoon and kept a
constant stream Of water playing on
the ruins.
i No arrangements have as yet been
made for replacing the property de-
stroyed, and Mr.. Bcrns' business plans
for the future are uncertain.