Stories

On last Saturday evening at 9:00 o'clock fire was discovered in the second story of the new hotel which was nearing completion.

The fire spread rapidly, and on the arrival of the fire department, just three minutes after the alarm, the fire had gained such headway that it was beyond the control of the fire department.

The firemen be heroic and fast work kept the fire well confined to the hotel, although the Presbyterian church and manse just across the street were greatly in danger for nearly two hours.

Had the church not been roofed with combination asbestos and constructed of brick it may have gone up in smoke as did the hotel. This would have added another great blow to Nowata as the church is one of the finest in the state and is one of the city's prides.

It is not known just how the fire started, but on account of preceding fires, incendiarism is suspected. It is said that two men were seen to leave the building just before the discovery of the fire.

Great credit is due the regular firemen and also the volunteer.

No one can justly say one word against our water works, as it was plainly shown that the pressure and supply of water were greater than expected of it. The Mayor had the city well under patrol and no other depredations were committed until early Sunday morning, when it is said two men were relieved of time pieces and a small amount of coin.

The hotel company has offered a reward of $2500.00 for the arrest and conviction of the party or parties who started the fire -- if it was of incendiary origin.

Published in the Nowata Times on August 27, 1909.