Theatre Fire in Sanderson

Theatre Fire in Sanderson

A fire, supposedly of incendiary origin started in the Bohlman Theatre, Sanderson, Tex., recently, spread west, burned four frame business houses and caught a hotel building, which last was saved by effectual work of the fire company of fifteen men, commanded by Chief J. W. Happle. Had the blaze which caught on the hotel building gained headway it would have jeopardized the safety of four or five other business buildings to the west of it. The fire company enlisted the aid of forty citizens to help in subduing the flames. The theatre occupied part of a block in the business section of the city. The street in front of the building svas 60 feet wide. The theatre, which was about two years old was one story high and was constructed of wood with a combination roof. The fire was discovered by railroad employees at 2.10 in the morning, and the alarm was spread by means of discharging guns and blowing the fire whistle. When the firemen arrived on the scene the theatre was all in flames. The entire building was consumed in less than twenty minutes from the time the fire was discovered. The fire men were handicapped in their work by piles of trash, and a fence on the premises which obstructed their movements, also oil and gasoline which was stored on the place constituting an extra fire hazard. One American-La France 70gallon chemical engine, all the apparatus the town has, was in use. Only one single 4-inch hydrant was available for use by the firemen. This is situated near the hotel and was used in saving that building. One engine and one hydrant stream were thrown. One hundred feet of cotton rubber-lined hose were used. The water main on the street had a diameter of six inches. The town has a standpipe system of water supply. Before the fire the property involved was valued at $16,200 and the contents of the buildings, made up of general merchandise, meat, saddlery stock, etc., at about $9,600. The loss was kept down to $6,100 on the buildings and $8,400 on the contents.

A fire, supposedly of incendiary origin started in the Bohlman Theatre, Sanderson, Tex., recently, spread west, burned four frame business houses and caught a hotel building, which last was saved by effectual work of the fire company of fifteen men, commanded by Chief J. W. Happle. Had the blaze which caught on the hotel building gained headway it would have jeopardized the safety of four or five other business buildings to the west of it. The fire company enlisted the aid of forty citizens to help in subduing the flames. The theatre occupied part of a block in the business section of the city. The street in front of the building svas 60 feet wide. The theatre, which was about two years old was one story high and was constructed of wood with a combination roof. The fire was discovered by railroad employees at 2.10 in the morning, and the alarm was spread by means of discharging guns and blowing the fire whistle. When the firemen arrived on the scene the theatre was all in flames. The entire building was consumed in less than twenty minutes from the time the fire was discovered. The fire men were handicapped in their work by piles of trash, and a fence on the premises which obstructed their movements, also oil and gasoline which was stored on the place constituting an extra fire hazard. One American-La France 70gallon chemical engine, all the apparatus the town has, was in use. Only one single 4-inch hydrant was available for use by the firemen. This is situated near the hotel and was used in saving that building. One engine and one hydrant stream were thrown. One hundred feet of cotton rubber-lined hose were used. The water main on the street had a diameter of six inches. The town has a standpipe system of water supply. Before the fire the property involved was valued at $16,200 and the contents of the buildings, made up of general merchandise, meat, saddlery stock, etc., at about $9,600. The loss was kept down to $6,100 on the buildings and $8,400 on the contents.