The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1923-01-25
Getty's Garage
Totally Burned
New Hotel Dudley Narrowly
Escapes Destruction; No
Water; Origin of Blaze
Unknown.

Robert Getty's automobile repair
shop, standing just south of the new
Hotel Dudley, was reduced to ashes / in
just a few minutes late last Thursday
afternoon and the south wing Of the
hotel was badly damaged by the fire
which could not be controlled because
OF the large quantities of gasoline, Oil,
acetyl6ne gas and other inflammable
materials which filled the machine
shop. The difficulties Of the fire de-.
partment were further added to by
the failure Of either Of the two hy-
drants nearby to yield a supply of
water. The loss of the machine shop
and tools is estimated by Mr.. Getty
to be about $4,000 of which $500 is
covered by insurance. Two automo-
biles in the shop at the time of the fire
were totally destroyed. An OldsmO-
bile Eight belonging to A.. Fry OF this
city was one of the cars destroyed,
and a Chevrolet owned by Hugh Get
ty was the other. The loss to the no..
tel has been estimated by insurance
men to be in the neighborhood OF $500
all of which is covered by insurance.
The fire vas discovered about 500
p. m. Thursday by employees in the
Standard Oil filling station across the
street. The fire had gained tremen.
dous Roadway at this time. Mr.. Get
ty was absent from the shop at this
time but had only been gone a few
minutes. Almost before the alarm was
given a considerable crowd had gath
cred. The fire department laid the
hose from the hydrant as they sped
along and was ready for the water as
soon as they reached the building. Re-
peated signals for water brought no
results so another length OF nose was
laid to the fire hydrant on Third street.
No water was forthcoming from that
n either. Both lengths of hise were
coupled together and stretched up to
Main street where a hydrant was
found that would yield water. BY this
time the building was practically con-
sumed, the danger to the hotel mater
tally lessened by the use of chemical
and the fact that the wind was in a
favorable direction.
Several explosions, some Of which
were Of considerable force, made the
fighting OF the fire hazardous. The oil
soaked building and the oils and grease
stored therein, made a roaring furnace
that Kissed and sputtered and threw
flames up to the high cornice Of the
hotel. The heat was so terrific that
it was uncomfortable for those stand
ing across the street. The window
frames and the cornice of the hotel
were all ablaze when the fire was at
its height. The neat cracked the glass
in the windows allowing the flames
and the smoke to creep inside so that
considerable damage was done to the
interior furnishings of the hotel.
The are department worked heroic
ally and deserve credit for their eff
forts. The unfortunate trouble with
tire water nydrants was unusual and
probably wouldn't occur once in n
hundred years. The next day Fire
Chief A. &. Fricke and the city offic-
ials tested water hydrants in all parts
OF the city and found them all work
ing perfectly. The first hydrant used
at the fire had water in it but there
was a part broken and the fire boys
in their hurry didn't like to take a
chance with it. The other hydrant was
frozen up. This is explained by the
fact that the city has been using this
hydrant for the benefit of the farmers
to water their horses.
After the fire, w. S. Dudley, pro-
prietor Of the hotel, invited the fire
boys into the hotel dining room and
served them with a fine dinner.