Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-02-10
W|EBsI |:
HAS BAD FIRE
II r.7ii75ji7i !. "
Geo. N. Gardner Building,
Occupied by Clothing
Stock, is Complete
~ Quilted.
BIG LOSS SUSTAINED
BIG LOSS SUSTAINED
The Building is Valued at
$1,000 and Clothing Stock
at $4,000.

Webster City suffered its most dis
astrous fire III years Thursday evening
when the George N. Gardner building
occupied by G. A. Coonrods Fashion
Clothes Shop, was completely Quilted
Store and Office tenants Of adjoining
buildings are also at considerable
loss due to damage by Smoke and
water
The Loss.
The occupants OF the damaged
buildings and their Insurance protec
ton follows:
George N. Gardner, insurance on
building $1,000.
II G. A. Coonrod, insurance on cloth
ing stock $4,000. D,
A. Furnis, furniture in upstairs
living r0Oms-nOt known.
D. +. Shea, insurance on building
$500.
Bossert Bros; insurance on build
ing $4,000.
>. 4. Bowen, household furniture in
apartment-not known.
+. G. Creach, household furniture
in apartment $500.
i. f. Dessert, over Bossert grocery
covered.
DIR. Buxton, Office fixtures covered.
u. w. Wagner Company, Office
fixtures covered.
The fire was first observed about
10 o'clock by passersby. 1t was
then apparently but a small blaze
close to Mr.. Coonrod's desk in the
rear Of the store room. The fire de-
partment was summoned and was on
tlle spot without loss Of time How
ever, before access could be gained
the fire had grown beyond the posi-
bility of the use of chemical ex-
tinguishcrs.
A delay was Occasioned in getting
water connection, owing to a faulty
valve in the nearest hydrant. A small
stream was secured but this was in
sufficient and two other connections
were made, one from the Chase store
and the other from the w. w. pearce
corner.
Mr.. Gardner values the building at
around So 600 and Mr.. CoonrOl his
stock of clothing at $4,000. Other
sufferers from smoke and water dam
age are to a great extent protected by
fire insurance.
The fire department worked man
fully and remained on guard until
after 2 o'clock the next morning.
Origin Of the Fire.
The origin Of the fire is unknown
and various theories are advanced.
! Some lay it to spontaneous combus-
ton and it was also reported to have
resulted from electric wires. How
ever, City Manager Long says there
were no wires in the vicinity of where
the blaze started, hence the wire
theory is exploded. 1t is reported
that one of the employees was in the
SlOIC IL SiiOtt UNAoAS sAA~
fire was discovered and he may have
been responsible 1t is not likely that
the cause will ever be known. 1t
started in the rear of the building anu
when first seen could have been eX-
tinguished with a pail or two OF wa
Ter, but the parties seeing it hesitated
about breaking into the building. 1t
Is the duty Of anybody discovering a
fire to force entrance to the building
and put out the blaze il possible.
The reason water could not he
secured from the hydrant at the cor
ner Of Second street and Wilson ave-
me was on account Of valve which
would not, work when the firemen at
tempted to unscrew it. The report
that the lydrant was frozen is untrue.
There is man employed to look at
ter the hydrants and this one had
been examined only few days ago
and appeared to be all right.