THE REPUBLICAN POST

January 11, 1917

 

FIRE IN INN HOTEL

Another Demonstration of Waupaca’s Need for Chemical Fire Fighting Apparatus

 

            A little after one o’clock Saturday afternoon fire was discovered in the roof of the Inn Hotel owned by Hans P. Knudsen and operated by Bellinger & Bellinger who came here from Medford and opened a first class hotel early last November.

            As the city team was down near the creamery at the time the alarm was given, some time was necessarily lost before the apparatus could be placed so as to play water on the fire and fear was general that the building would be consumed.  But excellent work by the local fire company assisted by the telephone men who are rebuilding the telephone lines in the city soon had the fire under control.

            The furniture and furnishings of the hotel were ruthlessly cleared from the building and much damage to the contents of the building resulted.  The insurance on furniture and fixtures was $1,000 and the estimated damage was about $500 in excess of the insurance.

            Mr. Knudsen had a policy for $2,000 which will be some short of enough to repair the building.  He at once put a crew of men on the job and will be able to replace the roof and make sufficient repairs so that the landlord can be caring for his guests within a week or two from the date of the fire.  In fact some of the men who are working on the county history have insisted upon remaining at the inn, occupying rooms that were not damaged by the water.

            Mr. Whipple of the Delevan invited Mr. Bellinger and his family to be at home at the Delevan until they could be comfortable at the inn.

            Expressions were heard on all sides during the fire that a chemical fire apparatus might be used to great advantage in af ire like several that have occurred in the city the past four weeks.