The Firemen Held the Line at First and A

About eight o'clock on Saturday morning of last week, a fire broke out in the row of frame buildings on the corner of First and A streets. There was a high wind at the time, and fear was felt that the flames could not be confined within any reasonable limit, but the firemen were promptly at hand and worked with vigor and judgment. It is supposed that the fire started in the store of Mrs. W. H. Jeffers, but this is not definitely known. When the alarm was sounded there was only the usual household pressure from the waterworks, and an excitable young man who was sent to the central office to telephone to the power house for more pressure snapped the bell cord, and word had to be sent by a messenger on horseback. He made good time, however, and soon four streams of water were playing on the flames. The fire was stopped before reaching the building occupied by Fisher & Mabry; in fact the building occupied by Mrs. May was not entirely destroyed, and the adjustment of insurance was made on the basis of its not being a total loss. Much admiration was expressed for the splendid work done by the fire department, and certainly the boys deserved the credit they received.

The losses included H. L. Walen, boots and shoes, $1,200, with $500 insurance; Mrs. L. J. May, merchandise, $600, no insurance; Fred Drury, jewelry, $1,000, no insurance; Herke & Gammon, candies, fully insured; Charles Harris, merchandise, $3,000, with $1,500 insurance; Mrs. W. H. Jeffers, millinery, $1,400, with $500 insurance; and several building owners, including MacCrimmon, Needham & Masters and K. Strobach, who carried partial insurance.

So pleased were the citizens with the work of the fire laddies that when Ham Chappell circulated a petition for the depleted department fund, $150 was cheerfully subscribed, and Henry Ditter, who was missed by Mr. Chappell, afterward sent in his check for $20 to the department.