A Locked Furniture Store and a Mattress Fire in Colville

Thursday afternoon at 4:30 the furniture store of M. C. Kelly was discovered to be on fire. The alarm was turned in and the fire department responded as quickly as possible. Mr. Kelly was absent from his place of business and the doors were all locked, so that an entrance was gained from the front by citizens, who at once began to carry the furniture into the street.

The fire had originated in a pile of mattresses in the northwest corner of the room, and when the fire department arrived smoke was even coming from the windows of the third story, and for a long time after the water was turned on, it seemed that it would be impossible to save the building. Two streams of water were soon playing into the burning room, the smoke and smudge being so dense that it was impossible for the fire boys to get inside of the building. In about three-quarters of an hour the fire was under control.

The furniture of Mr. Kelly was either totally destroyed or was carried into the street and severely injured.

The storeroom was insured for $8,000. Damage estimated at $1,000. Mr. Kelly states that the insurance will not cover the loss.

The fire went through the ceiling in several places and two of the back rooms in the hotel were injured. The smoke damaged carpets, curtains and bed clothing in some of the rooms. — Statesman-Index.