Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-12
FIRE AT COUNCIL BLUFFS
CAUSES LOSS ESTIMATED
AT $500. 1000.
OCCUPANTS NARROWLY
ESCAPE DEATH IN FLAMES
Fire Is Most Disastrous in History OF
City-FIames Brought Under Control
Only Alter Assistance Is Received
From, Omahs-lnsurance Van Cover
About Half Of Losses.
tn es.Renuhlicnn.

Special to Times Republican.
Council Bluffs. March l2.-Ffre which
was discovered at 3:l5 Sunday morning
in the four-story Sapp block. al the
corner of Broadway and Scott streets
destroyed four business buildings be-
fore il had been brought under control
about noon. and il is doubtful if il
would have then been checked but for
the assistance Of The Omaha fire de-
pawment which sent four companies
and apparatus TO the aid Of the local
department. The total loss is estimat-
ed al $4,000 with insurance OF prob
ably 80 per cent. altho the owners OF
the buildings and stocks destroyed are
unable as Yet to make any statement
Of their losses and insurance. Aoso-
lutely nothing within the four buildings
burned can he salvaged except a por-
ton Of the walls. 1t was the most de-
strIctive and the most costly fire the
city has ever experienced.
Four Buildings Are Destroyed.
The four buildings are owned by +.
A. Wickham, a wealthy contractor OF
Council Bluffs All four buildings had
been recently reconstructed and new
fronts placed On the first floor of the
Sapp block IS located the Commercial
National Bank. The officers OF me in
stitut.on are assured the heavily con-
syructed vaults and steel safes have
amply protected their cash and records
The second, third and fourth floors
were occupied by offices.
The building adjoining on the east
was occupied on the first floor by the
Norchwesinrn and Union Pacific rail-
roads ticket offices. The second and
third floors contained offices.
The third building from the corner
was occupied on the a-st and second
floors and basement by the Kresge To-
cent store. the second and third floors
with offices.
The fourth building consumed was
occupied by the Gunnoude & Zurmeuh-
len wholesale and retail cigar store.
There was also a barber shop on the
FIRST floor. The second and third floors
contained offices and roomers.
Adjoining Gunnoude & Zurmeuhlen's
store IS the dry goods and general
store % the John Beno company. the
city. The FIRE did not enter this build
ing but the cellar was filled with water
ana smoke penetrated every corner Of
the I'VE floors and their loss will be
hesvy but no member OK the Arm
would estimate today the extent Of
their loss. ..
Several Narrowly Escape Death.
a list Of the offices and roomers. ali
IF whom lost heavily. being unable to
save anything and several narrowly es
Gaping death, being rescued by iremen
J. as follows:
". r Sapp. office.
Dr.. VI, P. Warner, physician.
Drs. G. ". and Harriet Hamilton.
physicians.
Robert Brown. real estate.
DR.. Il. A Woodbury.. dentist
Or. J. A. Saunders, physician.
Or. II. y. Boyne, dentist.
Or. {. Il. Bower. physician.
Or 2. o, Williams, dentist-
J D. Johnson. roome-.
p L. Lemon, rea! estate.
J. y. Cassidy Company, bonds.
?. J. Schno0r. real estate,
Boyer Adjusting COMPANY.
W. H Shurz. lawyer.
Mrs. Kate Peterson. Toomer.
Mrs. Julia 4. Daugherty. rn0msr
Mrs Mary Gilmore. rooner.
". ?. Baker, office.
+. Y, Packard, oTfice.
Mrs Frances Saunders. roomcr.
&. F. Evans real estate.
Or. ". f OKeefe. physician.
Mrs, Mary MORRISON. roomer.
=. e. Peterson. office.
Cause OF Fire Unknown.
The Gauge OF the fire Is not KNOWN.
Il appeared 10 have started in the fur
mare room located at the foot ri the
elevator in the Sapp block. 4 terrific
explosion occurred in the basement Of
the Krasge store which. the hremen
and police declare gave the blaze add
ed impetus and bit for which the '0ss
n z,lr have been less
InadcG uate water pressure vas noted
and policemen win their reyclv"r-
fred bullets thru the second and third
story windows % break them ana
make way for the streams Of water.
The lis: o. -oomers in several instances
are the heads OF families of several