On Sunday morning last about 10 o'clock those of our citizens who reside
within a short distance ofthe fire hall were startled by the ringing of the alarm. Fire had been discovered in the building occupied by Mr. C. A. Munro as a dry goods store. Mr. Farrell, when passing the store, saw a blaze at the back of the front room and at once
called "fire." Mr. Taylor, of Taylor & Drury, had just come out of his store and on hearing the cry rushed to the fire alarm and most persistently pounded on the triangle. Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Heathorne of the Owl restaurant were very early on the spot.
As soon as the alarm was sounded Mr. John Racine hurried to the pumping house and notified Mr. Roy, the chief engineer. By this time willing hands had drawn the hose reels to the scene of the conflagration and connections were soon made.
Chief Dixon at once grasped the situation and ordered stream No. 1 to be
played on the interior of the building while hose line No. 2 was taken to the back of the building to be used in protecting the neighboring buildings which are occupied by Messrs. Robt. Lowe and Frank LoCasto.
At first everyone expected the worst and efforts were made to save the stock in the neighboring stores. Robert Lowe's stock of liquors was quickly moved from his store. LoCasto's furnishings and stock of cigars were taken out and most of the fittings and stock of the Commercial hotel were conveyed to places of safety.
During this time stream No. 1 had been playing on the fire in the ground
floor of the store. Mr. Harry Chapman and Mr. Brown, who were acting as branchmen, worked very hard and are to be congratulated on their work. As soon as the fire had been drowned out on the ground floor Chief Dixon directed that the hose be played on the upper story, knowing that the water would run through the floor and thus be doubly useful in quenching the flames in the upper story and drenching the lower floor.
A ladder was soon raised to the front window which was smashed in and at once the branchmen, Mr. Chapmen leading, entered the upper story. About this time a detachment of N. W. M. Police under Captain Pellitier arrived oin the spot, equipped with chemical extinguishers. When it was found that the fire was too far advanced to permit the use of these extinguixhers, the police boys stowed them away in the Whitehorse hotel and at once rushed to the assistance of the brigade to whom they lent yeomen service.
After playing ov the upper story for about twenty minutes the chief ordered stream No. 2 to be turned off as the fire had been put out. Stream No. 1 was allowed to run so as to be ready in case of emergency. Thus what threatened to be a serious fire was overcome by the masterly work of the fire brigade.
The origin of the fire has been questioned and many theories are advanced
as to the cause. A STAR representative called on Mr. Munro and from him gleaned the following: The fire had its origin in the brick chimney which was situated at the back of the front store. Evidently the creosote in the bottom of the flue must have become ignited and, having forced the mortar out, worked its way through the cracks into the store below. The fact that a hole was burnt in the wood to the left of the chimney and that the cracks in the chimney can be seen would substantiate this theory. Mr. Munro has always been most careful with his stove pipes, which were all exposed to view.
The building, which was owned by W. J. McMillan & Co., wholesale grocers, Vancouver, was encased with iron sheeting. This restrained the fire from spreading and to this fact is due the prevention of a fire which would certainly have been a destructive one if it had once burst out.
Mr. Munro's loss will reach the $5000 limit.
SPARKLETS.
The intense cold of Sundgy morning caused many frostbites. However, this did not deter the workers.
Too much praise cannot be given the volunteer fire brigade for the able way in which they fought the fire. To single out any person as being deserving of praise is indeed a difficult task. Everyone worked zealously. However, it is generally agreed that Chief Dixon merited recognition for the masterly way in which he conducted the fight.
Harry Chapman also deserves praise for his fearless work. Tom Dixon, Jack Barrett, James Fairburn and the N. W. M. Police boys were untiring workers.
Mr.and Mrs. Munro have asked the STAR to express, through its columns, their thanks to those who so nobly assisted at the fire and to those who so thoughtfully extended their sympathy to them in their loss.
Mr. Lowe also wishes to publicly thank the men who assisted in carrying out his stock when his store was threatened with fire. At Tuesday's meeting of the brigade he thanked the members of the fire department for their efforts.
Rev. Mr. Wright was a fire fighter Sunday morning and as a result Sunday morning's service was cancelled.
Mr. Munro moved his damaged stock to the building formerly occupied by
Cummings & Richardson next to P. Burns & Co. He is now conducting a fire sale of goods that were damaged - in some cases by water only. He expects to be back in the old stand in about six weeks with an entire new stock.
