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A fire with an estimated damage of $100,000 swept the upper business section of Flat River, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, completely wiping out Miller Brothers, the Bee Hive Confectionary and the White Kitchen, besides leaving in its wake serious damage by fire, water and removal of stock and fixtures to a number of other business concerns. This was the most destructive fire in the history of the Lead Belt, with the possible exception of the fire recently at the plant of the National Lead Co. The wind was blowing a gale from the south-east, greatly complicating the work of the fire crews.
The fire had its origin in a barn at the rear of Manley's butcher shop, and had gained considerable headway before it was discovered. The origin of the fire has not been determined. Manley had a quantity of hay in the barn. His place of business was not especially endangered for the reason that the wind was blowing in such a way as to carry the fire to the north of his place.
The fire spread from the Manley barn to an adjoining coal shed and from that place to a frame annex of the White Kitchen. This structure extended to within a few feet of the out buildings at the rear of the lot where the fire had its origin. The Miller Brothers building also had a frame annex, almost joining that of the White Kitchen and it was a matter of a few minutes until the fire was in this building, also. The direction and velocity of the wind drove the fire into the main buildings of the White Kitchen and Miller Bros. store, before anything definite could be done to check it.
The National fire crew was on the scene within a few minutes. A little delay was occasioned in getting water connections and a good pressure of water, but the men fought heroically, doing perhaps the best work in their career as a fire fighting machine, in that they checked the spread of the fire as soon as they did. It seemed certain for a time that all that section of Main street from the White Kitchen to the railway tracks would go up in smoke.
In response to an appeal for help, the Farmington fire department, including the complete crew of men, the hose truck and chemical tank, rushed to the scene and fought bravely, shoulder to shoulder with the National crew. An appeal was also sent to the Bonne Terre office of the St. Joseph Lead Co. In response, a quantity of hose and a chemical tank were rushed to the scene of the fire, on a track motor over the M.R. & B.T. railway tracks.
The high wind carried burning embers for several hundred feet, endangering a large number of residences to the north and west of the burning area of buildings. Hundreds of men organized themselves into volunteer bands to watch these buildings, clambering to the roofs with garden hose and in some cases, pails of water. With all their efforts, several blazes were kindled on roofs in this section, among them, the residences of A. C. Norwine, J. H. Kirkland, the Methodist parsonage, the S. I. D. Smith property and others. These fires were extinguished with little damage.
Other hundreds of men, women and children volunteered their services in the removal of the contents of endangered business houses and residences. No small amount of the total estimated damage was due to the removal of merchandise and other goods, since this sort of thing is always attended by a heavy per centage of damage by way of breakage, loss and otherwise.
The Scott restaurant and Arbuthnot Confectionery were stripped of all their contents, their proprietors removing all stock and practically all fixtures to a place of safety. The plant of the Lead Belt News removed a good portion of its equipment. Other business houses in the endangered area, either removed stock, or had things in readiness to do so, should the fire show tendency to sweep on as it first seemed it would do.
The largest individual loss was that to Miller Brothers, who conducted a dry goods and grocery business, one among the largest business concerns of the town. The loss in this instance is estimated at $55,000. I. W. Miller of St. Louis and H. A. Miller of Elvins owned the building which housed the Miller Brothers store and the Bee Hive Confectionery, next door. They estimated the loss of the building at $15,000. Sam and Louie Miller owned the stock of goods and estimate their loss at $40,000. Both building and stock were well insured. The four Millers involved in this loss are brothers, sons of the late I. Miller, pioneer merchant of the Lead Belt.
Miller Brothers have opened for business in the old opera house building across the street from their former place of business. They have not announced their plans for the future.
The next greatest individual loss was that of L. B. Hise, who owned the White Kitchen, a restaurant and confectionery, and the building housing it. The building was a one-room brick structure. The fire swept into this building so soon after the first alarm was sounded that it was impossible to remove the contents. Mr. Hise estimates his loss at $8,000. He had only $1000 insurance.
The Davis building, owned by Clyde Davis of Farmington, next door to the Hise building was considerably damaged by fire and water. The fire, however, did not get inside the building. W. S. Sloan, of Farmington, had recently opened a clothing store in this building. His entire stock was removed from the building and was damaged by water and smoke. He estimates his damage at $1000, partially covered by insurance. An expensive mirror, which he had used in his establishment, was broken in its removal from the building.
Wm. Spinos, who had been in charge of the Bee Hive confectionery since February of 1923, suffered a total loss of his stock of goods, with no insurance. The fixtures were owned jointly by Spinos and his brother-in-law, Sundy Liolios of Farmington and were partially covered by insurance. An electric piano and a few other articles were removed.
The Ed Higgins building, housing Higgins drug store and Scott's restaurant on the ground floor and Hammond Hotel on the second floor, was considerably damaged by fire and water. The Grady building, which withstood the flames, prevented a direct assault of the flames on the lower floor of the Higgins building, but permitted contact of the fire with the upper floor, since the Grady building is only one story high. All windows along that side of the Higgins building were destroyed, and window casings burned. Fortunately the fire did not get inside. The hotel has nine of its bedrooms on this side of the building. The contents of all these rooms are completely water-soaked and seriously damaged by smoke. The dining room and kitchen of the hotel were also much damaged by water and smoke. G. D. Whipple, who came to Flat River in July of 1923, and assumed management of this hotel, states that his loss will be covered by insurance. The Grady building, attacked both at the side and on the roof, by the fire, withstood the flames, but is considerably damaged. The building will require a new roof. The walls are also damaged by water. This building is owned by Lee Grady who estimates his damage at $1000. He has insurance.
The Grady building housed the Commercial Bank of Flat River, a bank organized little more than a year ago, whose president is H. W. Buckley with C. R. Pratt as cashier. The bank's damage is comparatively slight, an estimate of $300 damage to the fixtures having been made by Mr. Pratt. This damage was occasioned by water and smoke. The bank was open for business at the usual hour Thursday morning, with nothing more unpleasant to the average customer than a "damp" reception.
Mr. Grady who owns and operates a mercantile business in East Flat River, is firm in his conviction that Wednesday was his unlucky day, the god of fire having made a second assault upon him, within a few hours. At 6:30 o'clock, Wednesday evening fire was discovered in a barn at the rear of Mr. Grady's store. Just how this fire originated is not known. The barn, with contents of hay, lumber and some other articles, was destroyed. An automobile, a truck and a horse, kept in the barn, were removed. Mr. Grady estimates his damage in this instance at $500.
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