Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-12-21
3 BUILDINGS
IN SAN BENlTO
BURNED DOWN
E:.tire Business Block of
City Threatened. Call on
Brownsville and Harlingen
for Assistance

Three buildings were wiped out and
the roofs OF two more partially destroy
ed by fire of unknown origin which
broke ont last night at 1884 ia the
rear Of the Lasater Grocery store IA
San Bcnito. The Lasater Grocery store,
Mayficld barber shop and DcsInger
butcher shop were the three buildings
which were destroyed and the Downs
Dry Goods store and SymondS drug
store escaped with part OF the roofs
damaged by the fire.
Al 1910. ten minutes after the blaze
had been discovered call was sent 10
the Brownsville fire department for
aid. II was necessary for Fire Chief
Weller To call ~ Mayor Cole and Sc
cure permi ssion to leave. ard also nee
csSary to call the Fort Brown fire de-
partmcnt and leave the city in its care.
At 1905 the Brownsville fire track
left the station with fire chief Weller.
Captain Walker and four f!rcmcn on
it,
The truck in spite of its five years
OF constant use. made record rua.
covering the twenty miles from here 10
San Bcnito in less than half AN hour.
The truck made the trip in perfect
shape firemcn stated, and averaged
: eac,wecn - and 65 mites an hour for the
rp-
A. the hum OF the motor ia the biE
truck became audible in san Eenito.
streets were cleared of automob les and
other traffic. and hearty cheer went
MP n the truck pulled up IN front OF
the burning building. However. the
uarlingcn truck. which is Of the same
make ~ the Brownsville truck, but
somewhat smaller. had been on tn"
job a few minutes and had the flames
under control.
The two brick buildings. Downs
store and Symonds drug store. were
responsible for saving the block. fire
men said this morning. The FIRE stoppcd
II these brick buildings and was soon
brought under control OF the fire en-
gincs. thus saving the remainder Of the
business section of San Bcnito. Browns.
willie fircmcn proved cf service in rs nG
chemicals 10 eXtinguiSh an oil tank.
but II was rot necessary for the en-
xinc to pump any water.
The fircmen were handicapped by
lack OF sufficient water. Th" Harlinges
engine was forced 10 stop pumping
every few minutes 10 allow water TO run
into the mans again. The small chem
zeal truck. which is the sum total of
fire fighting engines pos ss"sscd AZ pres
cnt BY San Bcnito. proved of little use
and narrowly escaped hcing cons umci
by the fire. However. that city will
probably not bc caught ia a similar
prcdieamcnt. aS a first class American
Ia France fire truck H. expected To
sirivc in Ssn Bcnito within the next
few days
Gan Bcnito citizens expressed their
hearty appreciation of the prompt and
willing AID given them by their Hcgh-
borning cities. Harlingcr and browns
vile. This j. the third time the Har-
lingcn five truck has gone 70 the aid
OF San Bcniio when fire threatened the
city. and tine willingness of the fire
men OF both fiarlingcn and Browns
willie Ia assist was appreciated Is ci;i-
yeuS OF san Bcuito
The buildings destroy "a were all
frame structure. and damage has been
estimated at $la.O0O. most Of which
is covered by insurance. The reflection
Of the fir" was seen from various
points near Brownsville. and more
than a dozca automobiles followed the
tracks Of the flying truck to witness
the conflagratiou. The Brownsville
CREW lcf; san Bcnjo at l2:i5 aud
reached this city at l;I5.