The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-06-23
BAKERY AND
L0GAN'S STORE
ARE DAMAGED
Fire Discovered at 1880 When
Firing Room Under Ovens
Is All Ablazc
MUCH EQUIPMENT BURNS
Six Streams Of Water Used
'umper Puts Water in.
Then Takes II Out

fife of undetermined origin, break
ing out at 1880 last night in the
plant of the Barker Baking and
candy company on Third street, did
damage roughly estimated today ut
$4,000 and proved to be Bismarck's
worst blaze since the Northwest hotel
at the corner Of Main avenue and
Fifth street was destroyed by fire
on October 81. l92h
Last nights blaze apparently start
ed IN the firing room in the base
meht OF the bakery, directly under
meath the two large bvens. and was
not discovered until the four bakers,
who were at work in front Of the
ovens on the ground floor. felt the
floor getting hot beneath their feet
and noticed the flames already eat
ing their way through from be-
low. By that time the firing room
below was Il seething furnace. 1t
is presumed that furnace door may
have accidentally come open and hot
Goals from the firebox set fire to
the floor or walls.
Dense smoke and the extreme heat
of the fire made the blaze unusually
difficult for the firemen to fight and
1t was two hours after the alarm
was given before the flames were
well under control. A carload Of
pasteboard shipping boxes which had
just been stored in the plant u few
days before made excellent fuel for
the blaze and their burning added
greatly to the smoke.
Bakery Loss $4,000
Stock and equipment Of the Barker
company was valued ut $4,000 and
the loss probably will run around
$4,000, according to John HOFFMAN,
superintendent of the bakery and
candy plant. This is covered by in
surance to the extent of about SO
per cent Much Of the bakery ma
chincry. including the moulder and
cake machine, fell through into the
basement when the wooden floor
burned away. and it has not yet been
determined how badly this machinery
is damaged The overhead proofing
closets were destroyed, as were also.
the steam closets. Whether or not
the ovens themselves were damaged
by the tons of water which were
poured over them while they were
hot could not be ascertained today.
II the ovens are cracked, it will be
necessary to tear them down and re-
build them, Mr.. Hoffman states.
Logan's grocery, which adjoins the
bakery on the south, suffered dam
age from smoke and water which
will run in the neighborhood Of
$4,000, according to Roy Logan, pro-
prietor. Hard work on the part of
the fire department kept TIC Games
from breaking into the grocery
store, however. Much of the water
poured onto the fire ran through in
to the grocery store basement and
surplus stock carried there was un-
der several feet Of water during the
progress Of the fire. The grocery
loss is covered by insurance.
Pumper Works Both Ways
The new triple combination pumper
purchased for the fire department by
the city commission last fall served
in double capacity last night and
proved its value in large fires. After
pumping additional pressure onto two
streams Of water which were played
on the flames until they were under
control, the pumper was then driven
onto the sidewalk in front Of the
grocery store and put to work pump
ing the water out Of the basement.
Within about an hour most of the
water had been drawn out of tho
basement and turned into. the storm
sewers.
Damage to the building which
houses both the bakery and the gro
cery store will total between $4,000
and $4,000 according to Roy Logan,
its owner. While the exterior was
not badly damaged, the interior Of
that part occupied by the bakery will
require great deal of work and ma
terial to put it back in first class
shape. Painters. carpenters and cleo
tricians were at work early this
morning and the building will be re-
paired just as rapidly as possible so
that there will be the least possible
delav in opening for business again.
Mr.. Hoffman said. Insurance partial
ly covers the damage to the building.
Customers of the baking company
will suffer but little Inconvenience
because Of the fire, since Mr.. Hoff-
man made arrangements with Min
neapolis and St. Paul Bakeries last
night, even before the fire was un-
der control, to ship out bread and
other bakery goods this morning to
fill all the local company's orders.
Only orders which should have gone
out on the north and south 500 Line
trains this morning could not be
filled.
Other Bakeries Offer Help
Proprietors Of the Perfection bak-
cry in Mandan and the Hughes bak-
cry in Bismarck generously offered
their facilities to Mr.. Hoffman last
night and Barker company bakers are
at work in both plants. today turn
ing out goods to fill regular orders.
Local Wholesale companies were also
generous in offering their warehouse.
jobbing and shipping facilities, &C.
cording to both Mr.. Hoffman and lGr.
Logan. s..s
I During the height Of the fire the
department had six streams Of water
playing on the blaze. two from the
Hoskins- Meyer corner. which we're
given additional pressure through the
pumper; two from the Hoffman cafe
corner, one from the Hughes Elee-
trio company corner and one fk6M
the Bismarck bank corner. Ia view
of the extreme heat and dense smoke
with which the firemen had 70 Aeon-
tend, It Is generally agreed today
that they did we'll in cohfining Tie
(CeatinueA On pAge thxoel