Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1918-02-14
$4,000 FIRE ON THE
SQUARE SUN. MORNING.


A $4,000 fire. early Sunday morn
ing, destroyed the Good Luck Store,
heavily damaged the Mexico Music Co.
stock and building, damaged DR. W. L.
Reeds office and destroyed W. Z.
Newkirk's office. Four men were in
jured at the scene Of the fire, which
was one of the most stubborn blazes
and largest that has visited this city
in several years.
The fire early Sunday morning which |
gutted the building on the south side
of the square occupied by the Good |
Luck Store and heavily damaged the
structure just east Of it in which the
Mexico Music Company was one Of the
largest and for a period the most dan
gerous blazes that has visited Mexico
in several years. Had the fire oceurr-
ed several days previous the entire
block might have been swept away
and other portions of the business sec
tion damaged as the break in the ma
chinery at the water plant practically
eliminated the reserve supply of water
for use in such contingencies.
A. Grossman, proprietor of the Good
Luck Store, where the fire started,
says he thinks the blaze probably or
iginated in the heating stove in the
center of the building.
The fire reached the second story Of
the building occupied by the Mexico
Mousic Co. through small opening in
the brick wall where the joists of the
roof rested. At one time the fire was
apparently under control and the dam
age relatively slight to what it even
tually was, but it broke out anew and
the fire department did not shut off
their streams until after 8 O'Clock
Sunday morning, fully seven hours
since the fire alarm had been turned
in.
5 The blaze was discovered shortly af-
, ter one o'clock Sunday morning. AT
, that time it was in the center of the
e building occupied by the Good Luck
$ Store. 1t spread rapidly. Foui
r streams of water were Immediately
It thrown on the hottest part of the fire
u but it had secured a fothold in certain
;, protected sections Of the building
o where water could not be thrown a
n the time.
= Practically the entire Good Lucl
p Store building was destroyed, excep
II the front and rear walls. The secon
story of the Mexico Music Co. build
ing was heavily damaged by smok
and water w. E. Newkirks office
Immediately behind DR.. Reeds wa
. completely burned and the fire wen
- through the floor into the Music Co
Store, the steel ceiling retarding il
=, spread until the firemen had it unde
" u control.
- Four Persons Injured
% Fire Chief Vernie Morris was ovel
- come by smoke about 2 o'clock and di
not regain consciousness for tW
hours, when he Immediately returne
to duty.
F. A. Foster, proprietor of the Rir
l. go Hotel, fell upon the ice covere
4 street in front of the Good Luck Stor
shortly after the alarm, and wht
picked up it was feared he had fra
tured his skull. His condition Monde
was much improved, though his hes
still panied him.
C. X. Burnell, travelling salesma
a guest at the Ringo, who had be-
- aroused by the alarm and gone to Il
> scene of the fire, fell upon the ice al
injured several ribs, as well as W
, N painfully bruised, He is from S
, Louis and represents the Americ
r Hotel Register Company.
,r C. W. Flittner, Assistant Fl
IS Chief, was working on the roof
the building standing on a ladd
of when his support slipped on the
,r covered tin and he suffered fall
r about Is feet. Fortunately he W
is unhurt, except for few slig
st bruises.
is The Losses
a. A. Grossman proprietor of the &c
lu' Luck Store, states that his stock
II voiced at $4,000 and was insured
$4,000. "If l could only get the MOI
back I've lost in the past three ye
AY at that place." said Mr.. Grossm
"But it is too late now"
According to W. H. Upham, P
est prietor of the Mexico Music Co.,
. was only insured for half the value
his stock. Mr.. Upham has been
~ business for fifty years and sta
this was his first loss by fire.
loss will likely be several thous
dollars from water.
DR.. w. L. Reeds office which
over the Mexico Music Co., was d
aged by water mostly. He rouG
estimated his loss at $3.50 which
covered by insurance.
w. E. Newkirk's real estate of
lust back of DR.. Reeds, was tot
I'LL L.