The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-08

Street cars were forced to discontinue
service on West Sixth, Gage Park and
State Hospital lines because of the
hose lines of the fire department
across the tracks. A traffic police
man was necessary at Sixth, and Har-
rison streets to manage the thronging
motor cars full of persons witnessing
the fire
Fire Chief Overcome BY Smoke.
Fire Chief Joseph HanIon was over
come by smoke and fumes about $50
O'Clock. He was carried to the home
of James Brier, All West Sixth street.
He tried to walk. but collapsed and
had to be assisted. He was soon re-
vived and after a few minutes grabbed
his helmet and went back with his
men.
AS one of the Sunday school bal
comics fell near the front end of the
Sunday school, two members of the
fire department hose company were
struck and injured slightly. They
were Dean Way, who was burned
about the hands and neck. and John
Their injuries are not serious.
Fireman Overcome by Smoke.
A colored fireman was overcome by
smoke in the early stages of the fire.
A young man. Merle Harvey, sta aggered
from the building during the height
Of the fire fighting, made his way to
the James Brier hbme. 47l West Sixth.
He is in a prostrated Condition from
his efforts to help.
Paul Little, fireman, was hit by a
falling timber while in the building at
1918 o'clock and was carried to the
j. NJ. Brier home at AIS West Sixth
street, in a dazed condition. He was
not hurt seriously. The timber struck
him on the head, causing a slight
c%Y, ~, Il
was under the doctors care and was
resting easily.
Total Insurance $6S, 900.
Insurance policies carried by the
church with c. G. Blakely & Co. are
$4,000 for the building, $4,000 for the
fixtures and $4,000 for the organ. In
the last year Blakely has been urging
the church trustees to increase the
amount of insurance to more nearly
the value of the church. j. V. Abra-
hams, superintendent of the Sunday
school, estimated the value of the
church to be at last $150,000. It is
one of the best church buildings in
Topeka, built in 1881. The west wing
of the church was added in the last
few years.
Pipe Organ Destroyed.
The gigantic pipe organ of the
church, one of the finest in the state.
valued at at least $4,000 was COM
pletely destroyed. and insured for only
$4,000. Recently the organ had been
remodeled at a cost of s7.5OO.
-, Pastor Is in Colorado.
DIR. Edmund ]. Kulp, pastor of the
church, is in Colorado. He and Mrs
Kulp are touring Colorado with Mr..
and Mrs. c. S. Elliott and family. Ell
lott is member of the board of trus-
tees of the church. c. G. Blakely,
J. K. Bear. Harrison Clarkson and D.
] Rra the other
members of the board of trustees.
The Sunday school room or the west
I wing of the church which is not totally
destroyed by fire 1.-The newest part of
the church. Its valuation is $4,000.
| The thick stone walls of the building
prevented the spread of the fire, the
only danger to adjacent property being
| from sparks. A residence at 40S West
Sixth caught fire on the roof. but was
quickly extinguished by the firemen.
Good Water Pressure.
The largest amount of water ever
used in a fire in Topeka was used on
the fire this morning, according to
w. S. Stanfield, commissioner of
water and lights.
I'VE put more water into that fire
than we ever used before at any fire, -
Stanfield said. Our pressure is bet
ter than it has been for several years.
The Harrison street wells brought in
a few months ago enabled US to give
! the fire department all the water it
could use. For two hours and a half
| our pressure was sufficient. The
pressure would have been insufficient
without the Harrison street wells"
| The pressure of water thru the
mains probably made the water mud
dy AID unfit for drinking, he said
explaining the official order to boil
the water.