Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-08-08
ATWOOD GARAGE
! SWEPT AWAY AT
Z IN MORNING
CARPENTER SHOP rs BURNED
AUTO AND MOTORCYCLE Go
UP IN SMOKE
FLEE HOTEL IN N|CHTIES
All Valuable City Records Are Safe
Room Where Fire Fighting Appa-
ratus Is Kept Destroyed.

Fire, originating in the garage of Il.
NJ. Atwood & Sons, on east Main street,
shortly before 2 O'Clock this morning,
totally destroyed the garage, the car
penter shop just east of the garage, and
the City hall, west of the garage, be
sides cutting small residence property,
east of the planning mill.
Cause of the fire is unknown. The
Atwood garage was virtually mass of
flames when the blaze was discovered,
and the fire rapidly spread to nearby
structures. All were frame buildings,
and were quickly consumed by the blaze.
Fire Station Burns.
The city's fire-fighting equipment,
kept ON the ground floor of the City
Hail. was rushed out of the structure,
as the flames approached, and was used
effectually by the firemen in preventing
further spread of the blaze. Tho
Revere hotel across the street from the
buildings that burned, and the resi-
,dences of c. E. Krakau and Fet Rhoades
north of the garage, were saved by the
firemen who kept streams of water play
ing on the threatened buildings.
Shortly after the fire was discovered,
the city was plunged into total darkness,
except for the illumination provided by
the flames, for electric light wires, lead
ing past the burning structures to the
building of the Grangeville Electric
Light & Power Co., were snapped, and
it was almost morning before repairs
were made sufficient to provide the
city with electricity.
Hundreds Watch Conflagration.
Hundreds of spectators lined the
streets, and watched the flames, as they
leaped skyward, lighting virtually tb~
entire town Absence of wind aided the
firemen in combining the flames to the
frame buildings on the one side of the
street.
Guests at the Imperial hotel, less
than 4 half block distant from the
scene of the conflagration, fled to the
streets, some in their night clothing,
blf+, after learning that the hotel was
not threatened, returned to their rooms
and donned more attire, before again
appearing in the streets.
Firemen and others worked valiantly
to save the Revere hotel, and other
frame buildings on the south side of
the street, as well as the two houses to
the north.
Only Smoldering Ruins.
The City hall, garage and carpenter
shop this morning were only smolder
ing ruins Large quantities of machin-
cry were to be observed, together with
the charred remains of the woodwork.
T. NJ. Atwood today estimated his
loss at virtually $4,000, with $4,000 in
surance. Mr.. Atwood only recently hail
purchased the building in which the
garage was located. Besides the build
ing, machinery, automobile and har-
vester accessories, and office fixtures,
he lost a Maxwell automobile that was
almost new, and motorcycle. Case
line, which partially filled large un-
foreground tank, at the garage, was
expected to explode, but
fortunately the explosion did not oe-
cur.
Loss of the City Hall.
The City hall, a total loss, was valued
at $500, while value Of the contents,
part of which were owned by the city
and part by the Commercial club, is es-
timated at $500. The City hall was IN
sured for $500. The city had 5000 in.
surance on contents including the safe
None of the city's valuable records
was lost, City Clerk Taylor declared to
day. He had practically all the records
in his office in the Bank of Camas
Prairie building
o1iy Fsw Records Lost.
IN tne safe IN me City hall was AZ
Continued or rage p