Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1933-04-20
Vasloll Visited
By Severefiire

On Monday morning the Island was
visited by the most destructive fire In
Its history. AS Its result about half
OF Vashon was destroyed and half
OF the business concerns left without
places to carry on.
Apparently the fire originated in the
back Of the Transportation Companys
garage and had gained such Roadway
that when discovered by Mrs. Mlddllng
at $40 1t had already eaten through
the wall of the building. She wakened
the boys and her husband and they
were forced to flee in their night
clothes, snatching few garments
which they donncd In the street. The
Leslie family, asleep in the rear Of the
downstairs of the building, had just
as little warning. Both families lost
everything as did Geo. Wiley, owner
Of the pool hall and A. Reifschneider,
owner Of the shoe shop in the same
building.
Called by Russell Middling John
Metzenberg rushed at once for the fire
truck. Aroused by the noise of Us
starting 7. N. Thompson and G. j.
Denny we're on the scene and sue
ceeded in doing good work until help
began to arrive. The et-Cro garage
was burning and the roof collapsed as
the front door was open. Only q
bicycle and a few tires were saved.
Efforts were then concentrated on the
theatre building and while the water
was being poured on 1t the upper end
of England & Petersens burst into
flames from the intense heat of the
Middling block. AS the power lines
were cut off the pressure from the
North End system was cut off and the
water could not be thrown on the top
of the England g. Petersen roof.
With It's large stock of lumber, hay
and feed this produced the hottest
fire of all and in a few minutes the
Mace Garage and the Beall- Hansen
buildings were afire.
Splendid work was done by volun-
teers in saving much of the contents
of the Sweet Shop and the Daily
Needs Market.
For a time 1t seemed inevitable that
the whole village would go, but with
the dynamiting Of the carpenter shop
occupied by Guy Clark, and the sturdy
cement wall of the Deppman Building
on the other side of the street the fire
was stopped.
The stock of Tins place was entire
ly moved out by dozens of workers.
AS his insurance had expired few
weeks ago Tim was taking no chances,
The fire was a frightful calamity,
but the fact that there was no loss OF
life makes bright side.
Everybody is showing a fine spirit
of optimism and with the possible ex-
ception of the Leslie family all ex-
pect to continue business as usual as
soon as locations can be provided.
Within an hour after the fire had
begun to subside England g. Petersen
were moving into the Bodle Berry
shed, the Daily Needs was locating In
the Garvin building and the Sweet
Shop had its sign out at the bakery
England g. Petersen will begin re-
building as soon as the fire Is out Oh
their lots. Their loss which amounted
to more than $4,000 was well covered
by insurance.
While the owners of the Beall-
Hansen building have not announced
their plans it is confidently hoped that
their faith in Vashon will be great
enough to make them feel justified in
rebuilding. l.. c. Beall, owner of the
Met-Cro building has made no plans
Bob Middling is still undetermined as
-, ,,i,ot I,o will riO
With the destruction of two of the
Transportation Companys buses Mon
day morning the transportation of the
pupils of District 176 has been reduced
to a minimum It is altogether likely
that only the pupils living more than
two miles will be furnished with trans
portation and that slight change in
school hours will be made.
1t is impossible to adequately express
the appreciation Of the citizens Of
Vashon for the service rendered by
the crew of the Puget Sound Power &
Light Company at Monday mornings
fire. The men were everywhere. cut
ting wires, climbing poles through the
heat and smoke The amount Of
power which the truck possesses was
a surprise to everyone. When the
CLARK building was dynamited it wa,
not demolished, but was moved from
its foundation SO that cables were
fastened to it and the service wager
pulled it away from the other build
ings.
n BY $3.50 q. m. line had been rur
] In from one farther west aud az
patrons arrived home from the fire
they were able to cook breakfast