Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-07-18

of the HickersOn building, on Main
street, Sunday morning shortly before
d IL O'Clock, completely destroyed the
building, together with warehouse at
the rear of the building, entailing total
losses to buildings and contents, estimat-
ed at $4,000
Losses were estimated as follows:
Hickerson building, owned by Walter
Hickerson, together with personal prop
erty of Mr.. and Mrs. Hickerson, (no in
surance), $4,000.
Personal property of o. c. HickersOn
Ono insurance. $500.
Warehouse, property of William Webb
Ono insurance. $500.
Farm implements, property of Eimers
hardware (no insurance) $500.
Rooming house furnishings, property
of Mrs. Julia Simpkins covered by in
surance) 5000.
Express company, $3.50 in addition to
records.
Stage company, records.
Hazelwood creamery, 1928.
Globe Printing company, $500.
Other minor losses in offices and
stores, due to damage by heat, smoke
and water, and losses and breakage in
removing goods.
Unable to Save Building.
Origin of the fire is unknown. 1t
had gained much Roadway when the
alarm was sounded at 1880 O'Clock,
and firemen were powerless to save the
Hickerson building, which was two
story frame structure. They also were
able to do nothing in the way of saving
from the flames the warehouse in the
rear.
The firemen confined their efforts al
most wholly to saving the brick struc-
ture to the east of the Hickerson build
ing, the Grangeville Hospital, which for
a time was threatened by the flames,
and the Idaho hotel, another frame
building.
Before the volunteer fire department
arrived on the scene, the whole upper
story of the Hickerson building was a
mass of flames, and was burning like
finder. All effort to save the building
in which the fire originated was nee
essarily abandoned, but three streams
were kept playing on the burning struc-
ture. in order to prevent the flames
spreading to the Graham building of
brick and stone, Immediately east Of the
Hickerson building, and to the Grange
Vile Savings & Trust building, east Of
the Graham building. The tops of these
building were drenched by water, and
flames, which at one time reached the
Graham building, were extinguished.
office of Express Company.
The lower floor of the Hickerson
building consisted of three store rooms,
one of which was occupied by the ex-
press office and the office of the
Grangeville-New Meadows stage line.
Another store room was used as ship I
ping station by the Hazelwood cream
cry, while the third was occupied as a !
residence by Walter Hickerson. 0. G.
Hickerson resided in the rear of the
express office.
The second floor of the Hickerson
building consisted of furnished rooms
conducted by Mrs. Julia Simpkins. 1t
was in these rooms that the fire started,
while Mrs. Simpkins was at church.
All the property of Mrs. simpkins, in
furnishings of the rooms, was
destroyed, but she had insurance ample
to cover the loss. 1t is said that Mrs.
had $50 in currency destroy
ed. The money was hidden under car
pet.
From the express office express was
saved, but records of the express and
stage companies were destroyed. A
large safe. in which were $500 in
Liberty bonds, $75 in postage stamps, a
ring valued at $500 and $500
in cash, weathered the fire, and contents
were found in good condition.
Bathing When Alarm Comes.
o. G. Hickerson was taking bath at
the time the fire alarm was sounded.
He dressed quickly and succeeded in
removing from the burning building