The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1917-09-01
FIRE FIEND
AGAIN HITS
HARD BLOW
WOLF HOTEL AND PLUMMER
LIVERY BARN ARE TOTAL
LOSS.
$4,000 Property Goes Up in Smoke
in Most Disastrous Fire in
Many Years.

The most destructive fire the city Of
Dickinson has known in many years
occurred just before the noon hour
last Monday when the Plummer livery
barn and the Wolf hotel, on East
Willard street, were burned, entailing
a total loss of around 100000. The
fire originated in the north end Of
the livery barn, from some unknown
cause, and within very few moments
the entire building was a mass Of
flames and roaring like furnace. A
stiff breeze was blowing from the
northwest and within very few mo-
ments the flames reached the Wolf
hotel property adjoining and the build
ing was completely Quilted before the
fire could be checked. The frame
buildings were very dry and the heat
was so intense that fremen were un-
able to get at the hotel property
until the flames from the livery barn
had subsidized to some extent and by
that time the fire had reached the up
stairs rooms of the hotel, sweeping
everything in it's path. However, with
the aid of every piece Of fire-fghting
apparatus the city owns, and with the
assistance of the Northern Pacific fire
crew, engine and fire car, the fire
was kept from spreading to adjoining
property and the east end OF the hotel
building, although practically total
loss, was left standing.
Residence properties on the west
and north, across the alley, caught on
fire two or three times but were ex-
tinguished without great deal of
damage being done. The Dickinson
Creamery buildings were scorched
considerable and about $500 damage
was sustained on the ice house walls
and roof, including damage by water
to stock of sugar, milk powder, eggs,
etc, which were stored in an adjoin-
ing building
The Walton & Davis Co. buildings
were directly across the street from
the Wolf hotel end the company en-
ployees kept constant stream OF
water playing on the roofs, Of the
buildings. - :, ,,,t,5ss - *
The livery barn is complete loss
Besides the building two horses were
cremated, one belonging to John Clark
who was employed at the barn, and
the other belonged to customer OF
the place. Three horses were lead
to safety. Five loads of hay were in
the NOW which is partially responsible
for the extreme heat and thick smoke
A buggy, some harness, range be-
longing to H. K. Nichols, and other
livery barn equipment, were sacrificed
to the flames. The barn was about
65x133 feet, one of the largest anc
most substantial livery barns in this
section of the state. The building is
valued at about $4,000 and owner ano
proprietor of the barn, L. J. Plummer
carried insurance to the amount o1
$4,000.
The Wolf hotel property was an ell
shaped building, two-story frame, ane
contained about thirty sleeping rooms
The lower floor was used as lobby
billiard room and confectionery. Mr.
Wolf estimates his loss at arounc
$25 1000 and he carried insurance tt
the amount of $4,000. He dropped
a policy of $4,7O0 a few months ago
Quite number of articles we're re.
moved from the building at the east
entrance before the flames. reached
that point, and a number of roomers
at the place were able to secure a
portion of their personal effects.
DIR. G. G. Jackson, assistant state
veterinarian, had his office in the
livery barn and all of his office fix.
lures, books, etc., were lost, with nc
insurance. His loss will amount tt
about 5000.
The fire laddies certainly worked
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