Water Pressure Good
As near as can be learned the first alarm was sent to the fire department at 19:55 o'clock. When the location of the fire was made known at headquarters a general alarm was sent to the other fire company, and in a very short space of time several lines of hose were connected with the hydrants in the vicinity. Eight streams of water were played on the fire, but they only seemed to increase the intensity of the heat. Three lines of hose were played on the back part of the building and through the rear windows from the alley, three from the front, and one from each side at top of building. The water pressure was all that could be asked for and the firemen experienced no trouble in reaching the top windows with several streams of water. Heavy sixteen inch fire walls prevented the fire from spreading to the adjoining buildings except where there floor sills of the adjoining buildings met.

Origin of Fire
A number of persons claim that the fire originated on the east side of the store room, about half way back from the front. The desk and office of the store were at this point. When the members of the fire department arrived at the rear of the store in the alley, smoke was rolling out of the windows on the third floor, and the hottest fire appeared to be in the southwest corner of the building, where the furnace was located. As far as can be learned there was no one in the building when the fire started, nor had there been for almost an hour before the alarm was turned in. Mr. Duer was perhaps the last one to leave the store, and that was about 10 o'clock, Ezra Holtzman, who has charge of the furnace at the building, left the store at 9:15. He states that when he left there was but a small fire in the furnace, just enough to last until morning and that before leaving he banked the fire. The steam gauge showed that there were but four pounds of steam pressure in the boiler. He is positive that the fire could not have been the result of an overheated furnace, and although familiar with the whole of the basement, he is at a loss to know who the fire could have started in that part of the building. How it could have started where the office was located is also as much of a mystery. The work of the flames is so complete that it is doubtful if the real cause of the fire will ever be known.

Many Volunteer Firemen
There were but few people on the street when the first alarm of fire was sent in, but within a half hour, despite the condition of the weather and lateness of the hour, it is estimated that there were over a thousand present, many of whom volunteered to assist the firemen. Their offers were gladly accepted although there was little that could be done except direct the streams at the windows, for it was impossible to enter the building. The principal work was done from the rear of the building, until it was seen that if the fire was to be conquered at all, it would be necessary to attack the flames from the front of the store. Up to this time the front doors had been kept closed, but now that they were opened, a wall of flame and smoke literally rolled out and swept across Galena Street, many of the by-standers being driven back by the excessive heat. It was at this time that several of the plate glass windows across the street were cracked by the heat. Luckily the building was well constructed. The sidewalls are sixteen inches thick and the strength of the end walls is testified to by the fact that they remained standing after the fire with out the support floor or roof. The firemen and the volunteers deserve great credit for the work they did in saving the adjoining property from any greater loss than it did suffer.

Grocery Store Loss
S. Hermsmeier & Son, proprietors of the grocery store on the west of the Duer & Foll store, were heavy losers by the fire. The greater part of their damage, however, was caused by water, which came through the roof at the rear of their store, where a large quantity of flour was stored. The building occupied by this store is also the property of Mrs. Blust and is heated by the same steam heating plant. A hole had been made in the wall separating the two stores, about half way back from the front, and through this aperture the flames ate their way and caused some damage to the grocery stock and fixtures. Although the heat was intense, several men stayed in the grocery store and fought the flames as fast as they gained any headway. A part of the building occupied by the Hermsmeiers is a one story structure. From a point where the second story ends, back in the rear of the building is an old wall nearly two feet thick which was not removed when the front portion of the store was remodeled. This wall joins the Blust building and afforded an additional protection against the flames and heat.

Wagner & Albert Are Losers
The Wagner & Albert furniture store, which joins the Duer & Foll store on the east are heavy losers as a result of the fire. It appears that when the wall separating the two buildings were allowed to meet. When those of the White Front burned out, the heat was so intense that the sills of the Wagner building caught fire and in a short time the floors, mop boards and the furniture standing against the walls were afire in several places. Luckily this condition was discovered in time to prevent the flames from gaining any great headway. William Wagner stated that he thought the loss to stock would be in the neighborhood of $8,000 and to the building about $3,000. Insurance men who were present, however, thought that this estimate was somewhat high. The Wagner store occupies three floors and on each floor there was considerable damage to the furniture set near the dividing wall. THere was not a great deal of it burned, but the heat ruined and blistered the finish of the various articles of furniture. Considerable stock was stored in the cellar and this is greatly damaged by water. The greatest part of the fire fighting in the furniture store was done with patent chemical fire extinguishers, those of the fire department also being used.

Chemical Extinguisher Explodes
F. W Ridgway, of the Ridgway Electric company, was using one of the patent extinguishers on the third floor of the Wagner building when it exploded. Flames had broken out at one of the sills and Mr. Ridgeway turned the chemicals on to it. For some reason the extinguisher would not work properly. He then shook it several times, when of a sudden there was an explosion and the top of the extinguisher went through the ceiling. The force of the explosion threw Mr. Ridgway's arm back in such a manner that at first it was thought that it had been broken, or at least dislocated, but aside from several bad bruises and scratches he was uninjured.

Falls Through Floor
William H. Musser, one of the firemen stationed at the city hall, fell through a hole in the main floor of the drygoods store, into the cellar. He landed on his feet in about three and one half feet of water. THere was nothing within reach of his hands by which he might pull himself out, so he was obliged to call for help. Sam Brinkbrock, another fireman from the same station, was passing the front of the building at the time and heard his call for help. He entered the front doors and soon located Musser. He reached down through the hole to pull him up, but was unable to do so as he could secure no hand hold. A ladder was sent for and lowered into the cellar. Mr. Musser then climbed out and was sent to his home as the cold bath had disqualified him from further service. This was shortly before 2 o'clock.

Cut By Glass
Sam Brinkbrock while working at the front of the building was struck on the left hand by a heavy piece of glass and severely cut. He bound up the wound and continued his work. Sunday afternoon the injured member began to trouble him. He called on a doctor and a splinter of the glass was removed from deep in the hand.

Strikes Live Wire
Sam was doomed to run up against nearly everything that there was, out of the ordinary. While on top of the Hermsmeier building he ran into a live wire, the shock knocked him over and today he has a bad scar over the right cheek bone.

Two Firemen in Danger
Those familiar with Lexington Hall know that there is an outside fire escape from the hall, which leads to the roof of the Hermsmeier building. Firemen Borsdorf and Brinkbrock were on this platform playing a stream into the building. The first named fireman had one leg over the door sill to steady himself. Brinkbrock was just behind him and hearing a crackling sound above, he called to Borsdorf to get back out of the doorway as he thought the roof was about to fall in. Borsdorf withdrew his leg just in time, for scarcely was the warning given when the roof came down with a crash. At that the suction caused by its fall nearly drew Borsdorf down with it to the roaring furnace beneath.

Hottest Fire Ever
In speaking of the fire of Saturday night, the firemen all agree that it was about the hottest fire that they have ever been called upon to fight. It was one of the greatest fire losses that Freeport has ever experienced. Fire Marshal Rodemeyer in speaking of the fire said, "When I arrived at the front of the store, there were no flames to be seen, but I knew that there was a bad fire in the building, for the front part of the store was filled with smoke. I went around to the rear and saw that the smoke was coming out of all the windows from the ground to the roof. I then cut a hole in the cellar door and could see the flames about twenty feet in from the rear wall. I think that the fire was burning nearly a half hour before the alarm was sent in I have no idea as to the origin of the fire."

Reedy Exhausted
Patrick Reedy, one of the veterans of the department, was overcome by the excessive heat and smoke, and it was necessary to take him to his home. There were but few of the firemen who did not show some signs of the hard night's work today.

Fire Under Control
It was about 2 o'clock Sunday morning when the fire was brought under control, but by that time everything within the four walls of the Blust building was practically destroyed. It was about that time that the floors and the roof fell in. When this happened there was little danger of the fire spreading, and after the first burst of sparks and flames following the falling of the roof, the fire gradually burned itself out. But not until 8:30 o'clock Sunday mroning was it deemed advisable to shut off the streams. Then, tired, and wet, and hungry, the firemen reeled up their hose and returned to their stations. In places the hose had become frozen to the ground or imbedded in the ice and it was necessary to use considerable force in freeing it.

Mayor a Good Fireman
Mayor Dittmar was on the scene about as soon as the fire department and remained until they left. He did not fight the fire by issuing orders but worked. He appeared to be everywhere, lending a helping hand and relieving the firemen who had become chilled or overcome with smoke. There were volunteers, too numerous to mention and their assistance was gladly accepted. Some were physically unable to be of actual service in fighting the flames, but helped otherwise. One clothing merchant, who has a store in the same block, noticed the predicament of one of the firemen who had torn his clothing in slipping down a ladder. He took the fireman to his store and fitted him out. When this merchant returned to the fire he carried with him an armful of mittens which he distributed among the firemen and the volunteers. The dry mittens were gratefully accepted by the boys and John Vaupel will not soon be forgotten.

Serves Hot Coffee
Chris Strohacker, living next to the alley on Van Buren street, served hot coffee to the firemen and volunteers all night long. No one had time to eat, but the boiling hot coffee did much to invigorate the half frozen firemen.

Street Car Cuts Hose
Before the water had been turned on from the hydrant at the south east corner of the court house, a street car coming from the west ran over the hose cutting it in two. It was necessary to take out the length of hose and make another coupling. Other leads of hose led to the fire from the hydrants at Moogk's corner, Guenther's corner, corner of Spring and VanBuren, and Jackson and Van Buren streets.

Pedestrians Seek Fire
For fully fifteen or twenty minutes before the alarm was turned in pedestrians on their way home on Chicago and Galena streets smelled the smoke but were unable to discover the fire. Finally a late shopper at the John Wagner confectionery store made the remark that things looked queer in the dry goods store across the street. Mr. Wagner went to his front door and seeing that the front part of the Duer & Foll store was filled with smoke he telephoned in the alarm.

Flat Dwellers Move
Damian Loos and family live over the Hermsmeier store. The heat became so intense a short time after the fire started that they left the building, taking with them but a small portion of their household goods and wearing apparel. Across Galena street it became so hot in the first flats over the stores that two of the families moved their household goods from the front rooms to the rear.

Hermsmeier Loss
Local insurance agents are busy taking inventory of the damaged stock in the Hermsmeier store. There is considerably more of the stock damaged thatn was at first suspected. Mr. Hermsmeier states that he carried $2,000 insurance and that in his opinion this would just about cover his loss.

The Insurance

Taylor & Frick held the following policies:

White Front - Germania $2,500; Milwaukee Mechanics $2.500,

Moveable Store Furniture and Fixtures - North River $500

Hermsmeier Building - Rochester German $1,500; German of Freeport $1000

Duer & Foll Stock - American of Newark $2,000; Buffalo German $1,000; Continental $1000; Rochester German $1000; Dubuque Fire & Marine $1000. -- Total $6,000.

The insurance carried by the Wagner & Albert company and the Duer & Foll company carried through C. F. Hildreth, T. A. Secker and other insurance agents is as follows:

Wagner Building - National of Alleghaney $2,000; Royal $2,000.

Wagner & Albert Stock - Firemen of Newark $1,000; Williamsburgh City $1,000; Detroit Fire & Marine $1,700; Dubuque Fire & Marine $1,700 -- Total $9,400.

Duer & Foll Stock - Connecticut Fire $1,000; Milwaukee Mechanics $1,500; Girard $1,500; Firemen of Newark $1,500; Ins. Co. of the State of Ill's. $1,500; Citizens of St. Louis $1,000; Northern of England $1,000; National of Hartford $5,000; Fidelity $1,000; Firemen's Fire Underwriters $1,500; Queen $1,000; Northern Underwriters $1,500; Company's represented by M. Marvin $2,500. Total -- $21,500

(Contributed by Karen Fyock Freeport Daily Journal - February 1, 1909)

The Walls Are Shaky

Part of Blust Building Should Be Torn Down at Once

Contractor J. M. Hineline was asked to inspect the walls of the burned Blust building by the city authorities yesterday. In his opinion they are dangerous as the front and back portions are likely to fall without a moment's warning. The side walls will be used in the re-construction of the building, which, according to reports, will be an exact reproduction of the burned one. Sheets of galvanized tin are hanging from the building and could easily be blown to the street by wind of but little violence. The fire department went to the ruins yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock and turned one stream of water on the debris in the basement, which was still smoldering. There is still a small amount of smoke coming from from the west side of the basement.
Frank Keck of Allentown, Pa., son-in-law of Mrs. Ida Blust, is due to arrive here this afternoon to look after her interests involved in the recent fire. It is his wish that Mrs. Blust be not notified of her loss, so that she may enjoy the trip, which she is now taking in the southwest states and in Cuba. It appears that the waterworks were notified of the fire by four rings, which signifies that the fire was in the business district south of Stephenson street. The water company, however, had no such signal on its board and the men in charge did not know what it meant.

February 2, 1909 clipping
Blust Fire Kills Fireman
Patrick Reedy Dies of Pneumonia Caused by Exposure
His Age Against Him - Deceased was a Soldier in War of Rebellion.
February 5, 1909 clipping
West Wall Crumbles
Ruins of Blust Building Fall on Hermsmeier's Store
Roof Is Crushed In
Store Filled with Debris - Fortunate Escape of All in Store
Without a moment's warning and with a crash that could be heard for blocks, the west wall of the ruins of the Blust building collapsed at half past 11 o'clock this morning and fell on the rear end of the grocery of S. Hermsmeier & Son adjoining, crushing in the roof and filling the store with debris. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, although the store was filled with customers at the time the collapse occurred. Miss Lydia Hermsmeier, the bookkeeper, was back at the ice box when the crash came. She was caught by the falling plaster and brick and was carried to the floor. She extricated herself at once and was taken to the butcher shop next door, where it was found her injuries were only trivial. Ben Hermsmeier was waiting on trade on the east side and was struck by brick on the side and shoulders but without injury. Since the fire the grocery store has been without the heating plant of the Blust building and a wood stove in the back part of the store had been substituted. When the wall fell the stove was smashe into small pieces, which scattered the embers among the debris. A fire started and an alarm was at once sent to the fire headquarters. Owing to the blaze being found when barely under headway the firemen made short work of it. A can of gasoline and another of kerosene was within ______ feet of the stove but was moved to a place of safety soon after the crash Hermsmeier's store runs from Galena street back to the alley, a distance of 120 feet. The last sixty feet has been used as a storage room and was filled with flour, eggs and other articles. This part of the store is completely filled with debris, consisting of the bricks from the walls of the Blust building and its own roof. The damage to Hermsmeier's and to the building which is owned by Mrs. Blust will be several thousand dollars. There is no insurance on an accident of this kind on the goods and the loss will be almost total. This afternoon it was necessary to take added precaution in keeping curious spectators from venturing too near the walls. The north or front wall of the building cracked when the west wall fell and sways back and forth with the wind a distance of at least six inches. The front wall has been ordered town down and will not be taken down piece by piece as was originally intended, but will be pushed in from the front. A portion of the west wall remains standing. Its condition would warrant its fall at any moment. The building occupied by the grocery store is two stories high in front, but in the rear is only one story high. It was the one story portion that was struck. The city has been very fortunate all though this affair. The fire that reduced the Blust building to ruins occurred on the night of Saturday, Jan. 30. Had it occurred the sight before, when a terrific gale was blowing from the northwest, a gale so strong that it almost bore pedestrians from their feet, the whole south part of town would very likely have gone up in smoke. Even occurring when it did, it was very fortunate that the entire block was not consumed, which at one time seemed likely to be the case. Since then the walls have been allowed to stand, although condemned by expert authority, a menace to the lives of passersby, yet when the inevitable happens and they topple down nobody is killed or even seriously injured. That was indeed a remarkable instance of Freeport's luck.

February 9, 1909 clipping

Tearing Down Walls
Workmen Are Busy at Blust Building
Owner May Sell Property, Receiving Good Offers
Mrs. Ida Blust has a force of workmen tearing down the west wall of the Blust building today. The part left standing after yesterday's collapse seems to be quite solid and it is with considerable effort that it is being taken down. Yesterday afternoon Contractor Hineline pulled the large smoke stack to the ground. It required several hours' time to do the work on account of the chimney being filled with tiling. The front wall will be torn down some time this week and work on it will be commenced as soon as the west wall is razed. Mrs. Blust has not as yet decided on the final disposition of the property on which the building stood. She has received several flattering offers for the land which she may accept. The store of S. Hermsmeier & Son will be repaired as quickly as possible and the back part rebuilt. Their loss in yesterday's collapse will at least reach the mark which was set yesterday - $2.000. Miss Lydia Hermsmeier and Ben Hermsmeier, the two injured yesterday, are much improved and Ben is able to be at work helping to straighten the affairs at the store.

February 10, 1909 clipping

Blust Fire Kills Fireman
Patrick Reedy Dies of Pneumonia Caused by Exposure
Too Cold and Smoke
His Age Against Him - Deceased a Soldier in War of Rebellion

Patrick Reedy, a member of the Third ward company of the Freeport fire department, died this morning a few minutes before 9 o'clock after an illness since last Sunday morning of pneumonia. His illness was due to his exposure all last Saturday night and early Sunday morning, while engaged with the other members of the fire department in fighting the conflagration in the White Front dry goods store. The exposure to the intense cold and the handling of water all night in fighting the fire taxed the vigor of Mr. Reedy's constitution, and as he is a man sixty-two years of age, he found that he could not remain at his post after 8 o'clock Sunday morning; so he was conveyed to his home in the police ambulance a very sick man. Being thoroughly chilled during that night of strenuous labor which knew no cessation Mr. Reedy was completely, exhausted, and when he was taken to his home his condition was most susceptible to the desperate battle to ward off the inroads of pneumonia. The attending physician began a dreaded disease, but the physical condition of Mr. Reedy was such as to arouse the most disquieting fears. His age was very much against a rallying of his physical powers, and since being taken home Mr. Reedy had not been able to take even the smallest particle of nourishment. His lungs appeared to be in a very abnormal condition which was occasioned by the fire and smoke. Last night the attending physician and Rev. Father Leydon gave up all hope of his recovery, although the latter expected he would possibly survive until tomorrow, and even at 6 o'clock this morning he thought that he would live until noon at least.

Mr. Reedy was a native of Limerick, Ireland, where he was born December 24, 1846. When a child two years of age he came to this country with his parents and settled in this county in Erin township. Mr. Reedy grew to manhood on the farm. During his boyhood days he snatched a few months of schooling each year from the district school. His father died when he was a lad ten years of age, and he worked for the neighboring farmers at a small salary. By the time that he reached sixteen years of age he had secured a position in Freeport, and was earning $60 a month. Being fired with a patriotic zeal at the outbreak of the civil war he was among the first to offer his services to his country, and enlisted in the 65th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of the war, when he was in the 2nd brigade, 3rd division, 23rd corps, army of the Tennessee. He was honorably discharged July 26, 1865, in Chicago. After returning to Freeport Mr. Reedy engaged in the express business for a number of years,and also operated a threshing business. Mr. Reedy was united in marriage Nov. 26, 1868, to Miss Mary O'Connor at New Dublin. After his marriage he moved to Union county, S. D., where he remained for a period of six years, and then returned to this county. During his residence in South Dakota he acquired quite a large tract of land, and after his father-in-law died he purchased the homestead, and afterwards added eighty acres to it.

He was much devoted to the raising of blooded stock, but in March, 1893, he left the farm and came to this city to reside... purchasing a residence at 217 Benton street. Mr. Reedy was a staunch democrat in politics and took an active interest in the local councils of the party. During his official career in Freeport he was connected with the fire department two years under the administration of former Mayor Younger and has been a member of the department under Mayor Dittmar for the past four years. Mr Reedy was a man of many admirable qualities, and had a host of friends in this county. He was a devout member of St. Mary's church and of John A. Davis post, Grand Army of the Republic. The untimely death of Mr. Reedy is keenly felt by all of his friends and his associates in the Freeport fire department. Much sympathy is expressed for the bereaved widow, who is deeply grieved over the death of her husband.