FOUR CARRIED FROM
SMOKE-BOUND BUILDING.
FIREMEN CLIMB 4 STORIES TO
SAVE MOTHER AND CHILDREN.
Morning Fire Guts Walnut Street
Bulding -- T. M. James & Sons Suf-
fer Loss of $85,000 -- Aggre-
gate Damage, $170,000.
The alertness and bravery of Firemen William Pahlman and John Hughes probably saved Mrs. E. A. Johnson, her two daughters, Anna and Pearl, and her son, Forrest, from suffocation as the result of a fire at 1020-1022 Walnut street at 3:30 o'clock yesterday morning, when a blaze from an unknown origin ate its way through a four-story building, gutting it, and almost completely ruining the rich stock of T. M. James & Sons, dealers in china and glassware. A dozen other firms suffered, and the total loss is estimated at $170,000.
It was after the firemen had turned water on the building occupied by T. M. James & Sons that a woman's head was seen protruding from a window on the fourth floor of the Owen building, adjoining the burning structure.
Dense volumes of smoke were pouring through the four floors of this building, and the woman, almost prostrated from fright, yelled for help.
FIREMEN TO THE RESCUE.
Pahlman and Hughes started up the stairway of the Owen building, but were hampered by the smoke and gas. It was with extreme difficulty that they reached the fourth floor, where they found Mrs. Johnson and her family terror stricken and unable to find their way from the building.
Mrs. Johnson, almost overcome, was carried downstairs to safety, the children remaining, so that the firemen could bring blankets with which to protect them from the fire and weather. These were secured, and on the second trip Pahlman and Hughes carried the remaining three from the building.
The fire was discovered in the rear of the James store by H. A. Stafford, a watchman. The first company arrived on the scene three minutes after the fire was reported. A general alarm was turned in, and all but three crews responded.
ONE FIRM LOSES $85,000.
The loss of T. M. James & Sons is placed at $85,000, with $70,000 insurance. The building was built twenty-five years ago, and was owned by Langston Bacon. The loss was $30,000 and insurance $23,500.
The Kansas City Mantel Company, another occupant, lost $30,000, with insurance of $19,000. The Hewson building, next door, was damaged to the extent of 8,000, covered by insurance. Johnny Kling's billiard room, on the second floor of the Hewson building, was water soaked, and suffered a loss of $2,000. The Davis photograph studio, on the fifth floor of the Hewson building, was damaged to the extent of $2,500. The Carter Pleating Company, on the same floor, lost $2,500 and carried $1,500 insurance.
In the Owen building, the gymnasium of the Women's Athletic Club was filled with smoke. A piano and many rugs were ruined, and the varnish on the gynmastic apparatus scorched.
The loss to the building, which is owned by J. C. Williams and leased to Ball & Thwing, was $5,000, covered by insurance.
The piano house of Waite & Sons, on the third floor, was damaged to the extent of $1,500. The Acme Amusement Association club rooms, on the second floor, were slightly damaged. Taft's dental rooms, on the second floor, were damaged by water. The damage to the clothing house of J. B. Reichle, on the first floor, amounts to $2,000, covered by insurance.
Langston Bacon will begin rebuilding at once.
