Bill and Diana Sowers
, Lincoln County CoordinatorsTracee Hamilton, Lincoln County Coordinator
On Sunday afternoon about 4 o'clock as a small thunder shower was passing over our town, the cupola of the high school building was truck by lightning. A part of the flag pole was thrown about a block from the building by the great force of the stroke. Immediately the cupola caught fire, and it was soon seen by a number of people. The alarm was given, the fire bell rang, some thoughtful person rang the college bell. Soon the two chemical engines were on the spot, and many determined men who were ready to save our large magnificent school building. But the great difficulty was to get at the fire. The only way to it was blocked by the fire itself, by way of the cupola. Much very valuable time was lost trying to devise means to get at it. Had there been an iron ladder on the building running to the top of the building, the fire would have been soon put out with scarcely any damage. The wind had almost gone down, and everything was in favor of the fire-fighters, if only they could get at the fire.
Ted Herman was the first man to get upon the roof and it was certainly a perilous act. From the window in the southwest part of the high school room a table was put out as a platform upon which a ladder was placed reaching to the roof. It was a very frail affair, but Ted Herman being used to climbing, made it all right. He was quickly followed by Bert Berger, Will Hughes and others. The hose of the little chemical engine was drawn up, and the fight with the fire began. A hole was cut through the west end of the ceiling of the high school room, and then through the roof of the building. J.D. Brockett, Bert Hedrick and others went up through with the hose of the big engine. Burton Smith, Ed. Waterman, Joe Schillinger and Art Pontius were leaders in the bucket brigade. In fact everyone took part, and all who helped would be worthy of mention. S.H. Hoover and Ben Baker had charge of the chemical engines and kept them charged and ready for use in a way that was certainly helpful to the fellows on the roof.
The fire destroyed the cupola and unsoldered about all the tin on the roof around it. The bell was ruined. A number of rooms were badly damaged by water and other ways. We could get no estimates as to the damage. The school board are going ahead in repairing the building, and will put a claim in for actual costs of repairs. As an off hand guess the writer would estimate the loss at about $1,000. The board hope to have the building repaired sufficiently to hold full school next week.
Joe Woody was struck by a small piece of falling timber and knocked down. It made a bad scalp wound, but not serious. Several had their hands cut on the tin in handling it.
Lessons from the fire. There needs to be a class formed to study fire-fighting. Much time was lost in not getting to the fire. The large buildings of the town should be looked over and studied by the boys who do the fire-fighting. Then where there is a fire in any of them the boys will have some idea of how to get at them, and not have to stop to study them out.
The school building should have had at least one iron ladder that reached to the roof. It would have saved the price of it at this one fire. The board, we understand, will put one up. The courthouse should have one on it. Nearly every business building [especially] the larger ones should be so provided. Most fires have to [be] fought from the outside.
A little better organization of our fire-fighters. Patrolling officers to keep people out of the road. Often boys get in the way of those who wish to work. Too many want to get where they can see the fire. None but responsible workers should be allowed in the building. The fellows all did well at the fire, but these are some things that can be improved upon.