The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-10-20

swept, as is also their undertaking
establishment and chapel, George
MacKay's architects offices and the
warehouse building.
To the north, the auto tire and re-
pair shop of ]. G. Long is also burned
out. To the south, Mrs. J. E. Chace's
building and the drygoods store Of
Parker & Guynn, which was in it, tho
saved, was badly burned. The next
building, belonging to Mrs. C. E. Pow
ell, is damaged some, more by the
| water that saved it than the fire that
threatened it. Theus Bros, furniture,
Franks, drygoods. and Williams
newsstand, to the south, and Fishel
Bros, drygoods, George Greene, drug
gist, and T. A. Blake, photographer,
have lost a good deal by hasty remov-
a! of their stocks 1t is estimated that
at least half the damage, maybe more,
is covered by insurance.
| The fire is believed to have been
caused by fouled electric light wire,
and started in MacKay's furniture
| department. 1t must have shoulder
ed for several hours and when it did
| break out it was almost like an ex-
plosion. It was impossible to keep
. the fire from the warehouse right IN
the rear Of the store, and when the
| blaze once entered this building it
went right thru it to the chapel fac
ing on Washington street.
Policeman Morgan and a colored
taxi driver were talking at the Mas
ters corner about 4:10 when they
smelled smoke. They started in OPP
posite directions to hunt the cause.
The police officer located the fire and
at once sent in the alarm, which the
department responded to in lightning
time.
The fire fighters saw at once that
they would need more help and sent
to the station for the bell to be rung
for the fifth ward and had cars run
all over town shouting fire. Central
also helped by ringing phone after
phone and asking the men to come
and help. Calls for help were also sent
to Gainesville and Leesburg.
In few minutes hundreds and soon
thousands of people were on the scene,
the more able-bodied men fighting
the fire; others, with women and even
children, helping to carry goods and
furniture out of the threatened bust
ness establishments. So zealously did
they work at this that in compare
lively short time nearly all the stores
were emptied of their contents, which
were piled on the courthouse and post
office squares.
There was certainly noble work
done; not only in labor but in risk.
However, the only accident was the
| fall of Mr.. Arch Shealy. He was up
on one Of the second story platforms
cutting away some wood work that
would spread the fire when his plat
form was burned from under him. He
fell into some tangled timbers, tin
and brick, and received a bruised back
and leg. When the boys reached him
to carry him out he was stunned and
unable to speak, but he soon regained
his faculties and is now all right.
/ Noticeable among the workers were
the Boy Scouts. They were on the
job early and did work out of all pro-
portion to their size and age.
The fire chief complains that the
water pressure at first was low, but
later on the weight increased until
four powerful streams were playing
on the fire.
It is a great wonder that the sheet
iron warehouses on the rear of the
block did not also catch fire. Their
windows cracked and their plates
were red-hot in places, but they held.
By sunrise the battle was won, and
the weary fighters leaned on their
arms, or rather against whatever was
handy, and rested a few minutes be-
fore going home, while the ruins siz-
zled as the water poured steadily
upon them.
The Leesburg fremen did a good
turn by demonstrating the effective
ness of their motor pump. They ran