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The Bickleton News, Bickleton, WA., July 29, 1910, page 6

BICKLETON HAS CONFLAGRATION
Three Business Buildings Go Up In Smoke

At about 7:45 last Friday morning, July 22, R.M. Spoon noticed smoke in the rear of the Bickleton Grocery company's store, and investigation disclosed a small blaze beside the ice house. After sounding the alarm, he rushed for a bucket of water, but when he returned a few moments later the fire had gained too much headway for the little water on hand. In a few minutes others joined in trying to extinguish the fire, but the flames gradually spread first to the grocery store, then to Dr. A.F. Brockman's drugstore and odd-fellows hall, and finally to Will G. Faulkner's hardware establishment, all of which were burned to the ground inside of an hour. The buildings were all frame structures.
Harshbarger's grocery was a long building, having been remodeled and newly fitted up this spring, and contained a fine stock of groceries, shoes, and hats. Dr. Brockman's building was two stories, the second floor been occupied by the oddfellows and Rebekahs, their lodge room being finely fitted up. A 20 foot addition to this building was nearing completion. Mr. Adamson being at work on the inside when the fire started. The odd-fellows had an interest in the building. Mr. Faulkner's building, on the opposite corner east, was a commodious one story building with wagon and machinery sheds, and contained an extra large stock of general hardware. Dr. Brockman also carried a stock of paint, oils, and glass in the store room between the drugstore and grocery.
There were not many men in town when the fire started, most of whom were in the harvest field, but soon quite a crowd gathered, the majority being women and children, and when it was seen the buildings could not be saved the work of saving goods was begun.
Mr. Harshbarger had started for Roosevelt a short time before the fire began, but returned half an hour later, having observed the smoke. Dr. Brockman had not yet arrived at his place of business, and Artie Mason was the only one at a hardware store, Mr. Faulkner being still at home.
The doors of the grocery, the drugstore, and oddfellows' hall were broken in, and men, women and children engaged in a wild scramble to save goods, only stopping when the buildings were a mass of flames. Scarcely a fifth of the large stock carried by Harshbarger was saved, and very little was taken from the drugstore, owing to the character of the stock. Perhaps half of the contents of odd-fellows' hall were taken out, but damaged by removal. Mr. Faulkner's stock fared a little better, but the time was too short to save the greater portion of the stock.
The wind blew strongly from the southwest, carrying most of the heat and smoke to the open fields to the northeast. But for this fact the whole town would probably have burned.
Efforts of the firefighters were concentrated in saving the buildings on the south side of the street, which at one time seemed doomed to destruction. The heat was so intense as to break all the windows and scorch and blister the fronts of the Misses Whitmore Racket Store, the Bank of Bickleton, the News office, Flower & Coleman's market, and William Adamson's two story store building. Coleman Bros.' large barn east of Faulkner's store was only saved by desperate work on the part of the many volunteers, the roof being affire several times. The powder house in the rear of Faulkner's store, containing dynamite and caps, was a danger spot, and was kept well wet down by brave boys. R.E. Jackson's big store and the postoffice were at one time threatened, and much good work was done in saving the oil storage building west of Harshbarger's.
Never did people work harder in fighting fire and saving goods then did the people of Bickleton, and the women and children did more than their share of the work.
Farmers for miles around, observing the smoke and flames in the direction of town, unhitched from their headers, hooked up the water tanks, and with their crews started at a gallop to help the stricken town. Among those who came with men and tanks were Frank W. and George Sanders, Ad and Grove Wattenbarger, and the Coleman brothers from Bluelight, and George Schafer with the Union Threshing company's big tank. The fire was nearly under control when these arrived, but they rendered efficient service in quenching the smoldering ruins and saving the town from another conflagration should the wind have changed.
Mr. V.W. Harshbarger of the Bickleton Grocery company estimates the loss of the company at about $6,000, with $1,200 insurance. Dr. Brockman's loss will be about $8,000, insurance $3,000. Mr. Faulkner's loss will reach $7,000 on stock and building, with insurance of about $2,000. The loss sustained by the oddfellows and Rebekahs is considerable, and is not fully covered by insurance. The Racket Store was damaged to the extent of about $500, and there were other small losses.
The cause of the fire is unknown.

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., August 6, 1910, page 7
"East Klickitat"

BICKLETON

(The Agri. has been given brief details of the late Bickleton fire; but a more complete report follows, as given by the News:)
At about 7:45 last Friday morning, July 22, R.M. Spoon noticed smoke in the rear of the Bickleton Grocery company's store, and investigation disclosed a small blaze beside the ice house. After sounding the alarm, he rushed for a bucket of water, but when he returned a few moments later the fire had gained too much headway for the little water on hand. In a few minutes others joined in trying to extinguish the fire, but the flames gradually spread first to the grocery store, then to Dr. A.F. Brockman's drugstore and Odd-fellows hall, and finally to Will G. Faulkner's hardware establishment, all of which were burned to the ground inside of an hour. The buildings were all frame structures.
Harshbarger's grocery was a long building, having been remodeled and newly fitted up this spring, and contained a fine stock of groceries, shoes, and hats. Dr. Brockman's building was two stories, the second floor been occupied by the Oddfellows and Rebekahs, their lodge room being finely fitted up. A 20 foot addition to this building was nearing completion. Mr. Adamson being at work on the inside when the fire started. The Oddfellows had an interest in the building. Mr. Faulkner's building, on the opposite corner east, was a commodious one story building with wagon and machinery sheds, and contained an extra large stock of general hardware. Dr. Brockman also carried a stock of paint, oils, and glass in the store room between the drugstore and grocery.
There were not many men in town when the fire started, most of whom were in the harvest field, but soon quite a crowd gathered, the majority being women and children, and when it was seen the buildings could not be saved the work of saving goods was begun.
Mr. Harshbarger had started for Roosevelt a short time before the fire began, but returned half an hour later, having observed the smoke. Dr. Brockman had not yet arrived at his place of business, and Artie Mason was the only one at a hardware store, Mr. Faulkner being still at home.
The doors of the grocery, the drugstore, and Oddfellows' hall were broken in, and men, women and children engaged in a wild scramble to save goods, only stopping when the buildings were a mass of flames. Scarcely a fifth of the large stock carried by Harshbarger was saved, and very little was taken from the drugstore, owing to the character of the stock. Perhaps half of the contents of Oddfellows' hall were taken out, but damaged by removal. Mr. Faulkner's stock fared a little better, but the time was too short to save the greater portion of the stock.
The wind blew strongly from the southwest, carrying most of the heat and smoke to the open fields to the northeast. But for this fact the whole town would probably have burned.
Efforts of the firefighters were concentrated in saving the buildings on the south side of the street, which at one time seemed doomed to destruction. The heat was so intense as to break all the windows and scorch and blister the fronts of the Misses Whitmore Racket Store, the Bank & Coleman's market, and Wm. Adamson's two story store building. Coleman Bros.' large barn east of Faulkner's store was only saved by desperate work on the part of the many volunteers, the roof being affire several times. The power house in the rear of Faulkner's store, containing dynamite and caps, was a danger spot, and was kept well wet down by brave boys. R.E. Jackson's big store and the postoffice were at one time threatened, and much good work was done in saving the oil storage building west of Harshbarger's.
Never did people work harder in fighting fire and saving goods then did the people of Bickleton, and the women and children did more than their share of the work.
The farmers for miles around, observing the smoke and flames in the direction of town, unhitched from their headers, hooked up the water tanks, and with their crews started at a gallop to help the stricken town. Among those who came with men and tanks were Frank W. and George Sanders, Ad and Grove Wattenbarger, and the Coleman brothers from Bluelight, and George Schafer with the Union Threshing company's big tank. The fire was nearly under control when these arrived, but they rendered efficient service in quenching the smoldering ruins and saving the town from another conflagration should the wind have changed.
Mr. V.W. Harshbarger of the Bickleton Grocery company estimates the loss of the company at about $6,000, with $1,200 insurance. Dr. Brockman's loss will be about $8,000, insurance $3,000. Mr. Faulkner's loss will reach $7,000 on stock and building, with insurance of about $2,000. The loss sustained by the Oddfellows and Rebekahs is considerable, and is not fully covered by insurance. The Racket Store was damaged to the extent of about $500, and there were other small losses.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Wm. Dent of Seattle, adjuster for the Northwestern Mutual Fire association, was in Bickleton Monday. Mr. Faulkner was insured with this company, and his claim was promptly allowed in full.
Dr. A.F. Brockman will go to Portland soon, it is said, to order a new drug stock, when insurance matters have been adjusted, and it will not be long before he will resume business. He has decided to construct a new building.
Mr. V.W. Harshbarger has left for Portland to see about purchasing a stock of goods to replace the one that lost by fire. He will probably open for business Saturday in the Adamson building, where he has quite a stock on hand and goods are on arriving daily. Mr. Harshbarger will immediately commence the construction of a new building and will soon be ready to do business on a larger scale than before.
The McCredy brothers invited all the fire fighters to dinner at the hotel after the fire.
Harrison Johnson and O.T. Wherry deserve credit for their work in helping to save the Coleman barn.
Dr. West distinguished himself on the roof of the Racket Store, and was the chief means of saving it from destruction.
Among those who came in from the country with their coats off were Frank W. Sanders, S.F. Ganders, and William Stegeman.
Dr. Brockman lost a valuable collection of curios, his diploma, certificates, and many other valuables that cannot be replaced.