Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-09-06
BUILDING IS
RUINED MASS;
'22 CARS BURN
Fire Department, by Heroic
Work, Saves Nearby Struc-
lures Threatened by Blaze
Miller Company Expects to
Rebuild; McAdams Finds
Temporary Business Place

Fire completely destroyed the Main
Street garage, Of which waiter NC
Adams is proprietor, at midnight,
Sunday, entailing an estimated loss OF
Si4.5OO. and for n time threatened
IL wine out n considerable portion of
the north side of the business district.
For half hour the Won Berge build
ing next door to the garage, and in
which is located the City cafe, the
Crea building housing the pool hall
Of Fuller & Case. and the Parker
building. i'm which are located the
Wood Hardware store and the Voll-
mer-C Clearwater offices, were in immin-
ent danger of destruction and 1t was
only by heroic efforts of the volunteer
fire department that these buildings
we're saved from the flames. At times
the roofs were ablaze.
Origin of Fire Mystery
The fire origin of which is un-
known but which is thought to have
started by defective electric wiring in
an automobile or by spontaneous com
bustion, was discovered about ii 40
d. m. at which time the entire rear
part of. the garage was mass OF
flames Efforts to save the garage
were 4seless. and all hands turned to
saving adjoining buildings Work OF
the fire department in this regard was
most effectual and ELECTED the highest
praise No damage was done these
buildings. hut plate glass windows
in the Randy Kitchen. across
the street from the garage, were
cracked by the intense heat.
The fire fed by large quantities OF
oil and grease in the garage, was
most spectacular. Flames leaped high
against the black sky and illuminated
the entire city.
Fire Walls Effective
Not until the fire walls of 'be ga
rage collapsed, a half hour after the
tire was discovered. and fell into the
Dosement of the building, was danger
To adjoining structures past. Brick
and concrete fire walls on either side
of the garage, were of much value in
spread of the flames.
The fire was punctuated by frequent
violent explosions of gasoline, in auto
mobiles consumed by the flames.
Total loss is estimated at $4,000.
with probably $4,000 insurance. OF
twenty-five automobiles that burned,
some are known to have been Insured.
Mr.. McAdams' loss i'm machinery, fix
lures. stock and tools. is estimated at
$4,000. with $500 insurance. The ga
rage building, owned by the Miller
Hardware & Implement Co. was in
sured for $4,000, which about covers
the loss. Mr.. McAdams carried
$3.50 insurance on five used automo-
biles that were destroyed.
Other Cars Burned
Other cars were owned by A. w.
darlington, y. f. Robertson, r. 0.
Brown. A. l.. Slichter. Mrs. McCarty,
Abe Sellards and Victor Peterson,
while the remaining automobiles be
longed to travelling statesmen and other
transients Not car was saved from
the burning building. An average val
ne of $3.50 each is placed on the TWEEN
tv-two burned machines, bringing the
loss in cars to $4,000.
Mr.. McAdams viii establish a tenn
porary garage in the Van Deventer
building on College street. and hopes
later TO find a more suitable location.
He win operate his filing station III
front Of the garage ruins.
Miller Hardware & Implement CO.,
which bought the burned building
few months ago for a location for its
hardware stock. will probably rebuild
this fall
Awaiting arrival Of insurance adj
iusters. tho garage ruins are an en-
tangled mass Of debris in which are
machinery. automobile wrecks and
charred timbers.
Safe Contents Intact
On opening the safe that went
through the fire. Mr. McAdams, ON
Wednesday. found his books and pap
ers uniniured In the safe also was
quantity of jeweIry and cameo
that had been in possession of Mrs.
McAdams' family for 200 years Nei-
tIier the iewelry nor the cameo was
damaged.