Unknown Newspaper Alexander, Genesee Co. NY Sunday, November 11, 1917, Part 2 Alexander Blaze Hit Village Hard-continued from the first page. Chief MCBRIDE requisitioned the motor truck of the department of public works and had it loaded with ladders, pikes and ten chemical fire extinguishers. He took Fireman CROXEN and E. Glen SQUIERS, A CALL MAN, AND TEN OTHERS WHO HEARD ABOUT THE FIRE AND WERE ANXIOUS TO LEND ASSISTANCE. OF THIS NUMBER WAS Newell K. CONE, a Batavia attorney, who worked valiantly with the others. As the electric lights of the city were left behind the reflection of the big conflagration reddened the sky. Several motorists from Batavia who saw the evidence of the fire in the sky also drove to Alexander and joined in with Chief MCBRIDE's men. It was a daringly fast run which Err Lee SMITH, the driver of the city truck, made over roads that were rough and at frequent intervals full of pitch holes. The extreme capacity for speed was demanded of the sturdy motor. Horses rescued by Firemen It seemed as though the flames would make a complete havoc of everything in sight when the Batavians reached the scene. The general store of George ZWETSCH was a mass of flames and the other general store of the village, owned and conducted by George CURTISS, was doomed. Attention was given to removing the contents of this store also and to saving the three small barns in the rear of the WINKLEMAN house. The Attica firemen rescued several horses from these barns. When the CURTISS store began to burn fiercely attention was given to the task of saving the combination automobile garage and blacksmith shop of REHORN & MENSING, which is on the north side of the street, on the corner. Chief MCBRIDE direct4ed that large pieces of carpet be nailed to the exposed side of this building and then set a bucket brigade at work passing pails and buckets of water to the roof of the garage structure. They poured steady streams of water down the sides of the building, keeping the carpets well saturated so that the shower of sparks and firebrands fell harmlessly to the ground. Attica firemen did yeoman service at this point, but on one or two occasions, despite their efforts, the flames broke out, only to be immediately quenched. Intense heat made the work of the firemen extremely arduous. Dwellings on the road towards Attica were especially endangered. The Attica firemen had a supply of garden hose, which was connected up and kept playing on roofs of houses where the heat was so strong that it made the shingles curl up. Hand pumps were placed in service and from tubs and cisterns in cellars water was forced through the small lines of hose. In fact, little attention was given to the buildings in the business section, as it was evident to the Batavia and Attica firefighters that nothing could be done with the equipment available towards conquering the flames. While the fire was at its height in the ZWETSCH general store the workers were startled by a series of miniature explosions and the popping of cartridges and fireworks, of which there had been a supply on hand for sale in that store. At one time the firemen beat a hasty retreat from the vicinity, fearing that there might be a considerable quantity of explosive, which might cause walls to topple down. For the most part, however, the rapid-fire explosions sounded like the rattle of firearms. Although it continued for several minutes it did no damage. - - - - - - - - - - Submitted by Kathy Helmer Kathle7297@aol.com