Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-20
$4,000 FIRE LOSS
WRECKS LA SALE
PHOTOGRAPH STUDIO
WHOLE BLOCK MENAcED WHEN
FLAMES ATTACK BUILDING oc.
CUPlED BY SEEBCLD-ExPLO.
SION BLAMED FOR coNFLAGRA.
TON.

La Sale, ILL.,, July 20.--(Special) -
A fire which Ia believed to have had
It's origin in the explosion Of guam
tity OF Photographic film or chemical,
Quilted the interior OF the Seehol1
studio on t'ie second floor OF the Red
Cross building at l3O Marquette
street in this city Yesterday afternoon
caused damage by flames, smoke and
water to other Offices In the structure
and brought loss estimated at be.
tween 100000 and $4,000 Located
in the heart of La Sales business sec.
ton, the confiagraton attracted a
throng Of spectators, who looked on as
both of the city's fire departments
swung into action in the battle TO
check the spread of flames which at
one time menaced adjoining struc-
lures.
The fire was discovered at 2:A0 and
had its origin in rear room Of the
Stebold studio. Mr.. Seebod discov
cred the flames, which spread with
lightninglike rapidly. This, it is
thought, was due to flaming film CT
chemicals spread over the room as
they We're ignited in some manner.
Seebold gave the alarm as he raced
from the building, and in minute
; later the general exodus frCm the sec
ond floor was under waJ
The fire was the most JpectGCalar
La Sale has seen since the destruc-
ton OF old Music Hall ana the Ma
Jcstic Theater Almost simultaneous.
ly with tho outbreak dense clouds OF
smoke were pouring from doors and
windows on the second floor of the
structure and the flames were eating
their way skyward.
In the front OF the second floor Of
the building are the Offices OF htt0r-
ney 3. w. Hethrington and Dave Rear
don. the latter real estate operator
While Reardons quarters suffered
comparatively little. smoke and water
wrought considerable havoc in the
Hetherington Offices.
When the blaze was at its height
occupants CT the building, aided vi
volunteer helpers, made frantic ef
forts to save everything possible. OF
fee equipment was hurriedly removed
to buildings outsiae the danger zone
AltHbub II Dul lew al ilIltJ tOulu lJt It-
moved from the Seebold office, flee,
books and records in the other quar-
tiers were rushed out.
The entire first floor of the building
Is occupied by the headquarters Of
tho La Sale chapter Of the American
Red Cross. A steel ceiling prevented
a downward spread of tho flames as
they ragged on the second floor At
taches of the Office worked frantic
ely and had every record and pape
out of the building and in places #
safety before they were exposed tC
damage
As the fremen pumped tons of
water into the floor above the main
floor OF the structure resembled 4
miniature lake.
The Blakely dry goods store adj
joins the Red Cross structure on the
south and it was feared that the
flames would reach this building. The
stock on the north end Of the sec
ond floor was hastily removed, but not
before the smoke had caused consld-
cradle damage.
The Miles hotel is located just north
OF the fire scene, with an alley be
tween the two buildings. While smoke
caused some slight damage there, the
hotel building was net seriously
threatened.
The Red Cross building is owned by
the La Sale State Bank.