Arizona republican., 1918-04-29
S25,000 LOSS IS CAUSED BY
 FIRE AT MESA
Origin Not Known of Early
 Morning Fire Which De stroyed Four Business Houses; Stapley Loss Big
The Fire Damage

The Fire Damage
 0. <. Stapley company, stock
 and building Sl2,000 Mesa Cafe, stock and fixtures,
 E. K. Bilkiss ................ 2,500 Mesa Cafe building, P. A.
 Tharaldson Phoenix. %. Unestimated C. F. Andrews, shooting gal
 lery and root beer stand. ..... 1200 Building Kleinman Bros.
 Mesa ... ............ .Unestimated sam Cohen, root beer stand. 400 Building, Johnson estate .Unestimated Fire at 3:S0 o'clock yesterday morn ing, which for a time threatened the entire business district of Mesa and caused a call for assistance to be hurriedy sent to the fire department of Phoenix, completely gutted three buildings on the south side of Main street, west of Macdonald, seriously damaged a third with flame and water and caused a property loss or fully $25,O00.
 After a hard fight with the flames. which had secured considerable head way when discovered, the fire was placed under control and before the on the scene, although it responded promptly to the call for help. The motor apparatus. after fast run had reached the Pacific creamery at Tempe when word was sent that the fire was under control and that the Phoenix department was not needed. The largest loss by far was to the O. S. Staplcy company, which store is just west of the Mesa Cafe where the fire originated. The fire spread to the roof, got into the store and destroyed the front. Fire and water wrought serious havoc to the stock of merchandise.
 The loss to stock and building is estimated at from S12,0O0 to S15.OOO.
 Discovered by Officer
 The fire was discovered by Con stable Pickens who was eating lunch con at the American Kitchen, just across the street from the Mesa Cafe. Alarmed by the crash of falling glass. the constable rushed to the street and found the interior of the Mesa Cafe To be in flames. The heat had caused the plate glass front to all outward. The officer gave the alarm and was at once joined by several men who soon succeeded in getting
 
 proceeded to arouse business men whose stores were near the fire.
 Three streams of water We're soon playing on the flames, but they did not appear to check the progress of inc fire, for it crept eastward and enveloped the building in which was located the C. E. Andrews shooting gallery and root beer stand, and also the adjoining room in which Sam Cohen had just been placing fixtures for a root beer stand.
 So threatening was the fire that word was sent to the Phoenix fire department and an appeal for help made. The Phoenix department re- sponded immediately and sent the motor apparatus on a fast run to Mesa It had reached Tempe when it was halted by word that the fire was then under control and the ap- paratus returned to Phoenix.
 Spreads to Stapley's
 Nlth the fire spreading to the east ward and enveloping three store buildings, the flames also crept to the west and soon the 0. $. Stapley building was on fire. The flames had secured foothold in the store and had caused considerable damage be- ANit NAltg were bIOuBnt unueF con- trol. In the mentime, water had wrought almost equal damage.
 The greatest damage by the fire was to the o. $. Stapley company which also owns the building whicI they occupy. Their loss is covered by insurance.
 The loss on the Mesa Cafe is total The restaurant fixtures and stocl were insured to some extent. E. K Bilkiss. the proprietor of the cafe is said to have placed his loss a from S2.5O0 10 $5,OO0. The buildins is owned by r. A. Tharaldson O Phoenix, and is completely gutted This loss was not estimated.
 The loss on the C. [. Andrew, shooting gallery and root beer stan, is total, and he carried no insurance It will fall heavily on Mr. Andrew as he had just completed the fixinl up of the place and had invested con siderable money. This building i