South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-08
ESTIMATELOSS AT
S1S1,6OO IN FIRE
ROBERTSON BLOCK
Flames, Smoke and Water
Damage Auditorium The
alter and Three Stores.

dLGA anu Il III GAOAN
Fire OF mysterious origin caused
a loss of Sl3l,50O 20 the south half
of the George Robertson property tn
the 200 block, :. Michigan ST.. at
$40 Tuesday morning. The FIRE
started in the southwest corner Of
the Auditorium theater, main floor.
and soon the entire theater was en-
veIoped in flames. The stores Oc-
cupying the first floor of the stone
and brick structure were damaged
by water.
The loss TO building and contents
OF the stores was estimated by own
ers and managers as follows.
The George Robertson building,
$4,000.
Auditorium theater, $4,000
Vernon Clothing Co, $4,000.
Royal Womans Garment Co,
$4,000.
Bastian's Drug Co. $500.
Skylight Provides Draft.
Motorcycle Patrolman Mcintyre
discovered the fire as he was an
swering a call on 5. Michigan St,
but before the fire department ar
rived. the entire theater was a mass
Of flames. The sprinkler system
which was recently supplied with
new taps started working as soon
as the flames reached the first lead
tap. The fact that the system was
in good working order saved the
entire block, according 10 firemen-
All of the front windows in the
theater had been broken 10y the
heat before the fremen reached the
scene and when the big skyight
broke the theater looked like rag
y nf dr.nf
/ furnished by the skylight and IL
/ took 10 streams Of water 10 get the
/ fire under control.
To Rebuild Thcater.
/ George Hines manager OF the
Auditorium theater. was one OF the
! first owners to arrive when notified
! bv firenen. He said Tuesday morn
( ing that his loss was reduced by the
/ sprinkler system funcuoning sue
! cessfully. The film operators steel
] cage was not damaged by the Ilre-
All of the seats, decorations and
musical instruments were ruined.
+ The organ valued at $4,000 viii be
/ removed Wednesday and sent TO the
. factory for repairs. A $1,000 baby
grand piano is badly damaged. me
/ boxes in the southwest corner or
\ the theater We're a total loss.
A contract for the reconstruction
Of the theater was let Tuesday and
! according to Mr.. Hines the theater
will be opened i'm about five weeks.
A new floor. seats lights and dec
/ oratiOns viii be InsEatied at once.
The lease on the Auditorium the
/ alter which expires in April viii he
renewed for two years, according 10
plans Of Mr.. Robertson The build
inc was recently purchased by Rob
ertson and II was planned TO rem ode
the structure and make a modern
department store site. Thes- plans.
| however. viii be delayed until the
( leases expire.
Cause Proves Mystery
! The theater manager was unable
% find any cause for the fire. When
William Williams left the building
shortly after midnight he turned out
Ian of the lights and then searched
the theater for lost articles. which
is a part OF his duty. He said that
no cigaret or cigar stubs We're found
in the section Of the theater where
5 the fire started.
Asst Fire Chief William Smith,
investigated the building and could
not determine the cause Of the fire.
He laughed at the idea that a rat
might have chewed q match. He
said no wires could be found on
the floor near the boxes where the
fire started.
George Robertson, owner Of tho
building. said that repairs would be
made at once and that the loss -
covered 10y insurance.
Vernon stock Damaged.
c. 3. Steed. manager of the Yer
non Clothing Co. saiG IL would bee
difficult TO estimate the loss to the
clothing store until an inventory was
/ taken The only damage TO the
. store was by water. All Of the stock
stored in the basement was badly
I damaged. The stock invoiced at
S125.OOO was insured for 90 percent
Of its value. The clothing company
occupies the south quarter OF the
building.
I NJ. ]. Goldberg, manager Of the
I Royal Woman's Garment Co, said
his stock was invOiced at $4,000
and was partially covered By In
. surance The stock in the store was
damaged by smoke and water.
Drug store Loss $4,000.
Otto Basuan, manager Of the
Bastian Drug Co, estimated that
his stock is valued at $4,000. The
+ prescription department was dam
aged by water and smoke and sew
eral display cases were damaged.
Heavy rubber covers saved much of
the stock The drug store occupied
the north quarter Of the building.
4 The stock was covered by insurance.
Three fire alarms were sent In
shortly after the fire started and
+ every department in the city was
either sent to the fire or filled IN al
one Of the other stations in the city.
D The horse truck was used in hauling
extra hose 10 the scene Of the fire.
Firemen and policemen who
worked until after 9 o'clock Tues
day morning IN checking the fire
were served hot coffee and sand
witches by O. A. Clark. manager OF
the Kable restaurants, and a num-
Der Of walters.
Martens Deportation
II n.IJ g.