The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-02
ESTIMATED LOSS s2i,OOO.
Comparatively Little Insurance Gov
 ering Property Involved.

 Comparatively Little Insurance Gov
 ering Property Involved.
 Estimated losses are as follows: Building S15,00O.
 Mena Grill, $2,000.
 B. J. Stuart, $1,500.
 Lyric Theatre, $I,000. Mena Billiard Parlor, $500
 F & M. Drug store, $500,
 American Legion, $400 Howitzer Company, $50.
 F. M. Reeves, $50. But little insurance was carried on the burned building, and it was all handled thru the agency of the Kelly Stratton Company.
 Insurance is divided as follows: Joseph Kalavoda, on building, $5,- 900.
 Lyric Theatre, $2,2O0.
 Mena Grill and Confectionery, $3,- 900.
 The Mena Billiard Parlor, the form CT Vandiver drug store, Attorney B. j.. Stuart, the American Legion and Col. K. M. Reeves had no insurance pro- tection.
 Joseph Kalavoda, owner of the building which bore the brunt of loss in Fridays fire, is a resident of Cuba, Kas., and is now in Texas. He has been notified of the fire and is expect ed to come to Mena on his return trip north. M. A. Stratton, of the Kelly Stratton Company, which looked after the property, was ad- vised some time past that Mir. Kala- voda intended to stop over in Mena and inspect the property, and it is believed the fire will hasten his con- templated visit. Until he reaches the city nothing will be done towards re- building. Mir. Kalavoda bought the property about year ago. Former | ly $10,000 insurance was carried, but the new owner reduced this amount to $5,000.
 Water Damage Is Heavy. The loss at the Mena Grill is hard to estimate, for there was a consider able quantity of perishable goods in storage and until these are examined no correct figures are obtainable. The damage from water is heavy, but the loss of trade is worse, according to Manager Jack Stith. The fire caused the family of MT. Stith to get other living quarters, for their rooms in the burned building were untentable Friday night. Mir and Mrs. Stith and children changed to new location On De Queen street.
 1 After viewing the ruins of what had been popular place for recre- ation Gus Powers was moved to ex- claim, What next ?" His business was one that was not protected by in- surance and while the loss from fire and water is not great, the stopping Of business hurts. A few nights ago, a sneak thief got away with the cash lin the register, the next night worth , less check was accepted, and on Fri- day night the fire started. It isn't surprising that Mr. Powers was won- dering what new form of attack i'll ! fortune would use.
 Bank Closed a Few Hours.
 The Farmers & Merchants Bank was closed Saturday morning to per nit time to get things in shape for business. Friday night when it seem- ed that the bank building was doomed, nearly everything in the bank out side of the vaults that could be han dled, was carried over to the First National. 1t had to be carried back again and it required time to get everything strengthened out.
 Buck Sevier Saved Bank Building.
 Buck" Sevier is given credit by the bank officials for an act that is be- lieved to have kept the building from loss. Sevier, realizing the wasted ef- fort in throwing water from the street into the burning building, secured ladder and mounting the top of the bank structure used hose with good effect on the fiery furnace just over i the billiard parlor. It was while de- scending the ladder that led to the smaller one-story building in the rear of the bank, that the ladder fell with Capt. Buck" on top. The fall gave him a genuine black eye, a severe cut on the right side of his head, badly bruised hip and sprained leg, but he | was able to be downtown saturday morning.
 The long wall of the burned build ' ing standing without supports or braces, was believed to be dangerous to passersby, aY accordingly that side of the street was roped off Sat urday morning and traffic diverted to the west side of Mena street. l The Kelly-Stratton Company noti- ! A4tN oJ WiLC o1tAAudg ilOIliifik dll lI~ i suranee companies having policies on the building and business places af- fected by the fire, and adjusters are expected in Mena by Monday to start work fixing the losses.
 First to Reach the Fire. Robert Norris and son, Oliver. are credited with being the first at the starting of the fire. Their attention was called to the smoke and going up stairs they found in the center room over the Lyric theatre, small fire blazing merrily. Some boxes in the room were blazing and the fire had gone up the wall almost to the cell ing. Mir. Norris, with others who hur. ridly came in, endeavored to extin- guish the blaze and were making some headway with the small amount of water carried upstairs. Having but one bucket the amount of water on hand was not sufficient and before more could be secured the blaze was out of their control 4 water con neetion in the renr of the building had been cut of and Mr. Norris believes had it been possible to secure water without having to go downstairs he and the others could have stopped the fire then and there By the time the first water from the fire hose w.s available. the flames had good start
 George Petty. IT.. if omcialiv u corded ss having rang the fire alarm.