The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-05-21
Big FIRE LOSS
AT ST. JAMES
Insidious Wall Fire Causes
Big Loss by Smoke
and Water.
SISTER SEES FLAMES
Sister Kelvin Discovers Fire Be-
lieved to Have Been Result
of Clock Repairing. f


Fire, which for time threatened
to destroy completely the new build
ing of the ST. James parochial school
on Congress treet and to spread to
adjoining buildings, but which, by
quick and efficient work on the part
of the fire department was brought
caused loss which will probably
amount to over $4,000 TO, the north
wing of the St. James school, on
Thursday evening.
The actual loss from flames was
greatly increased by loss from smoke
and water, the latter, however, being
necessary to keep the fire from spread
ing through the entire building.
Through this means the fire was con-
| fined to the north wing of the build
ing, although damage to the decorat-
ing, floors and furnishings OF the
building, caused by smoke and water,
spread throughout the corridors and
rooms in all parts of the building.
Insurance adjusters were in Keno
sha this morning to make arrange
ments for meeting the loss, which was
entirely covered by insurance.
Sister Discovers Fire.
The fire was discovered about 6:45
o'clock Thursday evening. William
Gallagher, janitor of the building, and
representative of an electric clock
system, this latter having been en-
ployed throughout the day in repair
ing the master clock in the building,
were in a lower corridor, when Sister
Kelvin, one Of the teachers at the
school, rushed from her room at the
northwest corner of the second floor
of the building, saying that she had
smelled smoke.
The clock man whose home is at
Milwaukee, but whose name Is not
known, rushed Immediately to the
room where the master clock hung on
the wall. He jerked down the clock
and column of smoke that stifled
all of them followed it.
The fire was between the walls
and had spread all ready to part
of the attic of the building.
Bad Fire to Fight.
he nI6 department. Wdo SdAACO
mediately, Companies 1, 2 and ans
wering the call. The fire, being be-
tween the walls, proved a most baf-
fling one to fight. Within short
time the roof of the north wing burst
ti,,to flames, making it necessary to
t,sod that part of the building with
water to prevent a spread of the fire.
From the building poured forth
volumes of smoke which filled the en-
tire vicinity of the building and
gave rise to reports that the dam
age was much greater than has since
been established.
A call was sent in for the other
fire department but upon its arrival
the fire was so we'll under control that
it was dispatched back to its station
by Fire Chief Schwartz to be ready
to attend to any other fire emergency
that might arise.
Corridors and Rooms Flooded.
All of the school-rooms of the north
wing of the building were badly food
ed with water, making it probably
necessary that these must be replast-
cred and redecorated. The gymnasium
was also badly damaged and there
is possibility that new floor will
have to be laid there.
1t was stated this morning that as
soon as insurance adjusters had Wis
tied the building, steps would be
taken to clean it up and open school
in the rooms which may be used
early next week.
A large part of the roof of the
north wing and strengthening rafters
in that part of the building, were
burned away. The freoroof walls help
ed to keep the damage to minimum.
This is the second fire which the
st. James school has suffered in less
than two years. In December 1928,
the old school building was burned al
most to the ground, the new building
being erected to take it's place and
opened only few months ago. The
total cost of the new building was in
the neighborhood of 100000.
Probe Cause of Fire.
An investigation was being made
today into the cause of the fire. This
conferred about the repairs which were
being made to the master clock of an
electric clock and signal system by
the company which installed it. It
seems possible that the fire was start
ed either in connection with some
soldering done in this work or perhaps
by faulty wiring resulting in crossed
wires either with the clock or with
other wiring in the building. The
representative of the clock company
called this morning from Milwaukee
expressing a willingness to come to
Kenosha to meet adjusters and aid in
the investigation. ,a