Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-08

-------------- - -------------------.
not be saved. Finally two hoses we're
carried to the top OF this building
and none too soon for already there
were flame spots on the roof and
others broke out from time to time.
{ BY $50 Chief Neneck says he felt
certain that the department had won
the fight to keep the lire within
the hotel and that the flames would
be kept within the walls OF the
doomed hotel block. He said that
during the fight they had been
running water into it under pressure
at the rate OF $50 gallons a minute
and that when the success was in
sight, he changed the tactics some
what and reduced the pumpage but
not until he knew that the fire was
under control.
When the department arrived at
the scene, it was so apparent that
big fight was On hand that every
member OF the department able for
service was called to the fire and
went to work. But with four lines
OF hose to man, ten men are not
sufficient and the handicap was a
! compelling one but there seemed, for
the moment, no means OF overcoming
it. Chief Nemeck tried to draft some
bystanders but with no great success
because volunteers are not always
capable OF handling fire hose in
fighting flames About o'clock, how
ever, q relief force came to the rescue
in the form OF the employees of the
Arizona Edison company.
Electric Company Aids
Manager Joseph P. Sexton, sensing
the problems ahead, had called Out
his linemen and electricians and they
were sent to help the tiremen. The
relief probably made it possible to
save the Phelps Dodge block for it
was because OF man power that 1t
was possible to get the water to the
top OF that building anc c:ecx the
flame spots as they started from
time to time.
COIorcd Boys Good Aids Chief Says
Interesting in connection with the
volunteer fire fighters is. the fact that
Lee Clever, q colored boy who is
employed at the Calumet hospital,
saw the fire and it stirred him to
quick action. He went Gown and
offered his services and did whatever
he was asked to or could do until
the noon hour.
Chief Nemeck says that Glover took
all sorts OF risks and make q splendid
helper as did two or three other
colcred boys who also joined the
force as volunteers. Chief Nemeck
says that he remembered GloverS
work because he knew him personally
and that the boy was entitled to
praise for his services.
High School Boys Work
Another and to Chief Nemeck a
most acceptable assistance in the
fight OF the fire came from a group
of high school boys Those high
school boys are entitled to high
praise" said Chief Nemeck. Il know
I was criticised for allowing them
to help but there had to be assistance
and there seemed to be no other
source. They offered, I accepted
believe it was right and proper and
1 am under great obligations to those
= boys and 1 feel that they are entitled
W COuAlIlC1INdIACAA AlO1lA CAOAACAAo Gil
general for what they did. They
were real workers."
Three Are Injured
One of the early misfortunes of the
fire to the department came when
Assistant Fire Chief Hugh Kelley suf-
fercd a severe injury to his right
foot and also to his right arm when
a cornice struck him as it fell when
burned off. His toe was SO severely
mashed that the attending surgeon
stated it will require two or three
weeks for it to heal and be wei!
again. His shoulder is less severely
wounded. Another young man fell
on the stairs and required three
stitches to close the scalp wound
Chief Neneck suffered a very severe
mash Of the middle finger Oh his
left hand also early in the fight.
Among others Of the men who were
working Monday night or those 10
arrive because of the fire alarm early
efter the fire got going were Roy
Brown, H w. Lynn and NJ Gamm
of the crews in the railroad yards
They assisted their fellow workmen
and the police in getting the guests
all out of the burning building One
whose last name is McGinn, proved to
be one of the most effective an
nounccrS of fire as we'll as helpers
otherwise, according to some who were
I present.
/ -O------