Beatrice Is In Flames And Faces Destruction

Incendiary, Finding City Without Protection as Result of Flood, Uses Oil and Applies the Match

Several Buildings Are Quickly Destroyed and at an Early Hour the Business Portion is Threatened and Citizens Are in Despair

Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Beatrice, Nebraska, July 10. -- Without fire protection as a result of the flood, Beatrice is in flames and at 3 o'clock this morning it seems probable that the entire business portion of the city will be destroyed.

Late last evening the flood rose high enough to pour into the engine room of the water works and a few minutes later all fires were out and the plant was useless.  Fear was then expressed that fire might start and sweep the city.

At 1:50 this morning fire was discovered in a stairway hall between Broady's Grocery and Brenker's Bakery.  People who entered the hallway before the flames gained any considerable headway discovered to their horror that a firebug had been at work.  Inspired by the altogether helpless condition in which the city was placed, this fire fiend poured coal oil on the wooden stairway in copious quantities and applied a match.  In a few minutes the building, which is occupied by doctors' offices and a fraternal society hall, was in flames and was soon completely destroyed.

At 2:20 Klein's Department Store at the corner of Court and Sixth Streets, adjoining the other building, caught fire and burned with great furiousness on account of the combustible material stored within.  The flames soon swept the building, the roof and brick walls crumbling from the terrific heat, and the people were compelled to stand idly by and do nothing.

at 2:35 it looked as if the buildings between Klein's and the Paddock Hotel would certainly be destroyed, as the wind freshened, sending fierce flames leaping over roofs and gaining force every moment.

Omaha World Herald - July 10, 1902

Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Beatrice, Nebraska, July 10. --  At 3:30 this morning it seems that only a miracle can save the  business portion of the city.  

The Masonic Temple is now threatened, the Drake block is on fire and the telephone exchange building is being deserted, as the flames are too hot to be endured even at a distance of fifty yards.  

The guests of the Paddock Hotel in the next block had been warned to leave and are crowding into the street in a state of panic.

When the fire first started a few cool heads at once suggested a bucket brigade, although any effort to save the town seemed utterly vain.  Nevertheless, buckets  were obtained from various quarters and all who were able to be of any assistance passed buckets of water along extended lines, from the points where it could be secured.  So rapid, however was the progress of the flames that little could be achieved and when Klein's building took fire all efforts were abandoned.

The city is absolutely at the mercy of the flames, and while every effort is being made to carry out goods, nothing can be done to stay the advancing flames.

It is impossible to make an estimate of loss at this time, as fire is raging with increased fury.  The Boadly block is a two story brick with large stock of goods.

The Klein block is 100x140 feet, well stocked with the goods of a large department store.

There is little wind now and there is a slight hope that the fire can be confined to these two buildings and the Greon block, which adjoins them on the east and is occupied  by a bakery and law offices upstairs.

The condition at this time defies description.  The fire and sparks can be seen for miles in the country and the spectacle is awe inspiring.  The sparks flew to dwelling houses in the near vicinity and it was only by the greatest efforts that the occupants saved their dwellings.

Under instructions from the mayor, M. A. Mitzgar, has telegraphed to Lincoln and Nebraska City for fire fighting apparatus there is not telling where the conflagration will end.

Omaha World Herald - July 10, 1902

  Beatrice Block Burns During Early Morning

Old Masonic Building Destroyed, Containing Bank, Drug Store and Several Offices

Fire Originated inBasement in a Pile of Slack Coal - Loss, $125,000

Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Beatrice, Nebraska, December 23. --  The old Masonic block was totally destroyed by a fire that broke out at 2:30 this morning.

The loss is estimated at $125,000.

For a time the fire threatened the entire business section of town.

The Masonic block was three stories high.  On the ground floor were the Beatrice National Bank, C. W. Cook, President, and H. C. Day's Drug Store.

Nothing was saved in either, save that when the fire was over it was found that the bank safe was unharmed.

On the upper floors were the offices of H. J. Dobbs, Attorney; Trevitt & Mattis, Real Estate, D. H. Johnson & Son, Insurance; The Board of Education; J. D. Cobby, Attorney; R. W. Grant, Architect, J. R. Mason, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and the lodge room of the painters and carpenters.

The property of all the losers was pretty well covered by insurance, written for the most part by D. H. Johnson & Son.

The roof of the Le Palezzin block, adjoining, caught fire, but the flames here were quickly put out.  The glass in the skylight was broken by the heat.

The fire evidently started in the basement of the building, and is supposed to have originated in a pile of coal and slack, possibly from spontaneous combustion.

The principal losers are:

The Beatrice National Bank, $10,000

H. G. Day, $7,000

D. H. Johnson & Son, $1,700

H. J. Dobbs, $1,500

Judge Cobbey, $1,000

Richard Grant, $1,200

City School Board, $2,500

Building, total loss, $35,000

Other losses, $1,000, partially covered by insurance.

While the fire was in its early stage the water supply was insufficient, owing to the fact that but one pump was working at the works, but the difficulty was presently overcome.

The heat broke the windows in the new Kline Building and in the Paddock Hotel across the street.  The hotel caught fire several times, but was anxiously protected by the firemen and no serious damage was done.

At noon the walls of the Masonic building were pulled down as a measure of safety.

Omaha World Herald - December 24, 1902

 Much Like Martial Law At Stricken Beatrice   

City Is Patrolled by Many Additional Police and by Volunteer Firemen to Guard Against Incediarism

Ugly Feeling Prevails as Result of Attempt to Burn the Town and if Firebugs Are Caught Lynching Is Likely

Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Beatrice, Nebraska, July 10. --  The flood situation her looks a little more favorable this evening, the waters have receded about eight inches and are steadily going down and unless another big rain set in the river will be within its banks in a  few days.  The water at its highest point was bout fifteen inches above the 1897 mark.

This afternoon, while several men were rowing in a boat in the West Beatrice flooded districts, they discovered a tub floating down the river.  When the tub got nearer the men were horrified to see a small child lying in it.  The baby, which was about three months old, was rescued with considerable difficulty and was found to be unharmed.  The young Moses is evidently from some point above here, and it will probably take sometime to find his parents.

The city this evening is practically under martial law, as there are about thirty extra policemen on duty besides a number of volunteer firemen, who are constantly patrolling the business portion of the city.  Considerable talk is indulged in here about the way the city authorities neglected to provide means of fighting a fire after it was found necessary to shut down the water works, owing to the high water.  There is an ugly feeling here over this morning's fire, and should the perpetrators be apprehended a lynching would probably result.

Omaha World Herald - July 11, 1902

Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Beatrice, Nebraska, July 10. --  The Klein Mercantile Company's large department store and the Green Block were totally destroyed by fire.

The following concerns occupied the Green Block:

W. E. Boddy, grocery

Brenker's Steam Bakery

S. W. Young's Music Store

and numerous offices and lodge rooms.

The fire was of incendiary origin and started in the stairway of the Green Block, about 2 o'clock this morning.  When the fire was discovered the stairway had been saturated with coal oil.  Shortly before the discovery of the fire two men were seen running away from the building by a roomer on the other side of the street.

The waterworks was shut down owing to the flood and the firemen had to fight the flames with buckets.  They were assisted by a brigade of over 1,000 citizens.

The fire was witnessed by thousands.

The heat was so intense that it was impossible to approach the burning building and paint on buildings a block away blistered and scaled away.

The total loss on buildings and stocks will exceed $175,000.  This does not include adjoining buildings which were damaged by heat.  Following is an approximate list of losses.

Klein Mercantile Company, building and stock, $114,000

Green Block, $12,000

Boddy Grocery, $7,000

Brenker Bros., $2,000

S. W. Young, $3,000

J. E. Cobbey, Lawyer, $2,000

W. H. Rodmann, Printer, $1,000

Dr. Bolsum, $1,000

Other tenants, $3,000

Part of Klein's stock was saved.  The losses are all partly covered by insurance.  Every insurance company doing business in the city carries some of the loss.

The Masonic Temple and the Beatrice National Bank were damaged by heat, int he breaking of windows and melting of cornices to the extent of $1,000; Paddock Hotel, same cause, $800; Beatrice Club and Burlington Commercial Offices,

$500, Nebraska Telephone Company, $300.

These losses are also covered by insurance.

The guests in the Paddock Hotel all packed their effects and prepared to seek a place of safety when  the Paddock windows broke from the heat.

Dozens of large plate glass windows in buildings within 300 feet of the conflagration were cracked.

Klein opened for business this morning at the corner of Fifth and Hilda Streets.

The fire is the most disastrous ever known in the history of the city.

The noble efforts of the firemen barely prevented the total destruction of the entire business portion of the city.

Omaha World Herald - July 11, 1902

Beatrice Residence Burned   

Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Beatrice, Nebraska, August 15. --  The residence of George Cooper of West Beatrice was totally destroyed by fire last night, at about 11 o'clock.

The fire spread so rapidly that very little household goods were saved.  The house was the property of J. F. Barber, and was fully insured.

The household goods wee insured for $300.

The origin of the fire is unknown.

Omaha World Herald - August 16, 1903