Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1914 — FIRE DAMAGES BIG DEPARTMENT STORE [ARTICLE]

FIRE DAMAGES BIG DEPARTMENT STORE

Early Morning Blaze Causes Damage to Stock of Rowles & Parker That Can Scarcely Be Estimated

FROM $15,00 TO $25,000 Fire Company Conquered Flames That Had Big Start But Grocery Department is Entire Loss, While Loss Extended to Every Part of the Store and Smoke and Water Damage is Extensive—Building, Which Belongs to B. Forsythe, Suffers Damage Estimated at s6,ooo—Store Will Be Closed Until Insurance is Adjusted.

The first serious fire that Rensselaer has had since the destruction four years ago of the Babcock & Hopkins elevator, occurred at an early hour Sunday morning and resulted in extensive damage to Rowles' & Barker's department store and to the 'building it occupies. Prompt work by the fire department saved the stock and building from compelte demolition and it is really remarkable that the fire was conquered without greater damage. The fire, to all appearances, was caused by defective electric wiring, and seems to have started in the grocery department in the partition between the grocery and the flour room. When discovered by Niight Officer Critser at about 4 o’clock Sunday morning the flames had broken through the windows on the west side of the grocery department. Mr. Critser ran to the fire engine house and Chester Zea responded instantly and had the fire team hitched and hose strung in less than two minutes. There was some delay in giving the alarm, owing to the fact that the shutter from the fire house phone failing this delay was not very serious. Only a moment or two after Officer Critser discovered the fire Harve Moore and Dr. F. H. Hemphill, the latter having just returned from a trip Jo the country, discovered the fire and hastened to assist Chester Zea and his son and Officer Critser. Dr. Hemphill also went to the central office but the operator was then Calling the firemen, and it was only a few minutes until all members of the company were on hand and three streams of water were playing on the fire, which was still mainly confined to the grocery department, but was shooting up the elevator shaft and stairway. The heat -was very intense and this made it a hard fight for the firemen, but their work was carried on in a manner that marks the efficiency of the department. Two strings of hose were sent in at the rear and as soon as another could be laid it was taken in the front way. The grocery department was already quite completely ruined and the most stubborn fight was in the grocery room and about the elevator shaft on the second floor, where rugs and cotton batting were on fire. Rolls of rope In the grocery department near the elevator shaft were on flare and made a vast amount of smoke. The fire had not gained any headway in the front part of the store, where drygoods, shoes, and gent’s furnishings are handled, but the intense

heat had cracked the doors at the very front of the store, while every article that Was exposed was damaged by smoke and considerable of it from Water. It was not to exceed fifteen minutes after the water was turned on until Fire Chief Montgomery felt certain that he had the upper hand of the fire, but it Was am hour and a half before it was entirely out, while the fire cpmpany remained on duty for about four hours. ::::::: :::

When first discovered sheets of the metal ceiling in the grocery department were hanging from th,e ceiling and plastering was falling upon the floor, and the balcony bad fallen from the side walls of./the grocery. Officer Critser reported that he heard an explosion when he discovered the fire, but it is probable that the noise was caused by the falling of the balcony. While every precaution wajS exercised not to needelssly damage goods with Water, there was more or less damage from this catose, while the steam mixed with the smoke put a layer of black over everything in the store. Practically every window, except the large plate glass ones irt front, which were protected by the partitions, were cracked. The woodwork is blistered, the stairway almost ruined, <and mirrors that were not broken were ruined by the melting of the quicksilver. Rowles & Parker take invoice each year on February Ist and are unable at this time to make a close estimate of the value of their stock, but it is probably in excesp of $40,000. The grocery stock, which is a complete loss, was valued at about $4,000. The extent of damage to the lout is difficult to determine, depending much on the effect the smoke has on it. The rugs, which were suspended by eeiling hangers from the second: floor, were a total loss and much clothing was damaged. The chief loss to the goods carried in Other departments is from smoke and water. The firm carried but $19,000, which is doubtless less than the Occurred. Added to the direct/ fire loss is the loss from loss of business, for the firm was juert starting to make its annual January cleanup sale, and The Republican was in this issue to have a 2-page advertisement for this sale W. O. Rowles, senior member of the firm, was early at, the scene of the fire and he approved the work of the department. Oren F. Parker, the junior member of the firm, is just recovering from a mild case of diphtheria, and did not venture from his home, although Mrs. Parker, and Mrs. Rowles, also, went to the store and witnessed the fire fighting. Mr. Rowles estimates that the loss is in the neighborhood of $25,000, although he says that it may exceed that sum. This will depend upon the amount that can be rear lized by a sale of the damaged goods. The local agents for the companies in which the insurance Was carried telegraphed for adjusters and as soon as the loss is adjudicated reconstruction work will begin and a fire sale will be inaugurated. The store, however, will probably be closed all of this week and perhaps for a longer time.