The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-02-03

ilent workers quickly extinguished
them and thus prevented greater dam
age. Noah Gamers house, back of the
DE Grubb, caught fire no less than
twenty times from the shower OF
sparks. Andy Johiston's barn south
OF the railroad tracks was ignited once
by flying embers. Two flaming shin
giles fell OH the roof of John Killian's
home, back of the old Lyric theater in
the south part of town, and sparks
were carried as far as AL ProvOs
home, beyond the Methodist church.
Fire was discovered under the floor
of the building to the rear of where
the Peerless stood, Known as Reds
old garage, as late as nine o'clock on
Tuesday morning, more than two
hours after the burning buildings had
collapsed
fF'iiae ,tfiieerl6n or tIifs Wild Changed
from time to time and drove sparks
and firebrailds across Main street to
the southwest occasionally. During
sparks fell on the roof of Dell Hart's
real estate office and started a blaze.
The single line of hose in use was has
tily dragged across the street and a
stream quickly extinguished that fire.
Telephone and light wires were sew
cred by the firemen and number OF
homes were deprived of both light and
telephone connections. Lights in the
De Grubb hotel were cut off almost
Immediately after the fire started and
the guests there were aroused to dress
in darkness, many of them at first un-
der the impression that it was the De
Grubb that Was burning.
Nearly half an hour elapsed from
the discovery of the fire until it broke
through the walls separating the Peer
less and the Palace buildings. Little
effort was made to remove furniture
or effects from the Palace at first, be-
cause all who were on the spot ex-
pected the immediate arrival of the
fire hose. Delay was experienced in
getting the fire truck started, how
ever, and by the time water was
turned on, both buildings were wrap
ped in flames and the roof was falling
in.
The odd actions of individuals ex-
cited by the nerve racking alarm of
fire usual to such experiences were
repeated in several instances Tuesday
morning. Ray Weed had several sacks
of flour and sugar in his bakery that
he could have saved, it is said, but in
stead of carrying them out he picked
up show case containing few
dOughnuts and a loaf or two of bread
and ran across the street with it, only
to drop the case to the sidewalk and
shatter it, A. w. Wickersham, propri-
etor of the Palace, dressed himself
carefully in his great fur coat and hat
and came down stairs in his bare feet
Mike Mahoney was one of the first
out of the building. He heard call:
Mike. help, Help, Mike!" coming
from the pool hall and rushing in
there found the call came from Mr.
Wickersham's parrot He grabbed the
cage and carried the bird out to the
street. AS soon as the cold air hit him
it is solemnly asserted. the parrot said
IT'S too damned cold here. Mike, let's
go back"
Mrs. Burden had just laid in stock
Of spring millinery valued at about
$500. She and Mr.. Burden carried the
hats out to the sidewalk in front of
the building and returned to save
some of their furniture and other eff
fects. When they next thought of the
hats, they found that the heat had
consumed them. Ed. managed to save
his piano by strenuous effort. but he
had to move it three times to escape
damage from the widening circle of
heat and from flying embers.
The local relief committee met Tues
day night to plan measures for asst
| ing those who lost their possessions
in the fire and canvass was made
Wednesday to gather clothing and col
lect funds for that purpose Response
70 this appeal proved ready and gen.
y