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Flames Destroy Seven Build- By ings in Business District of Town. ENID. Okla., May estimated at was caused by fire which swept away portion of the business district at Cherokee in Alfalfa county early this morning, according to reports reaching here. Seven business houses were destroyed together with the Masonic hall, American Legion hall, and the telephone exchange, which were located the buildings razed by The fire is believed to have been started by two tramps who were sleeping in an empty room above the Wilson print shop, one of the buildings which was destroyed. Discovered at M. The fire was discovered at 1:55 this morning and at that time had such good start that the efforts of the to Cherokee fire department to quench were of little avail. A call was sent to Alva for help and one truck was sent over with extra fire fighting equipment. The buildings which were destroyed all face Grand of the avenue, one principal business streets, and all of them were of brick. The following firms were hit by the flames: Hardware and Grocery store (two-story brick buildKeys stere: the Hale restaurant; Wilson print shop; Burrs Racket store; sandwich shop; Haugh barber shop; Alfalfa County National Bank (badly damaged); Grey real estate office; Hill abstract company, the telephone exchange. A great crowd of persons gathered to watch the flames eat away the buildings. A fairly strong wind out of the north mode it difficult for firemen to work and fanned the flames. Search for Two Tramps Two tramps carrying suitcases were seen running out of the rooms above the Wilson print shop just after the fire was discovered and believed they were responsible for The blaze. A search is being made for these men and officials at Cherokee are making an investigation to determine any other possible fire causes. The bank building, although still standing, is practically destroyed and will have to be rebuilt before it can be used again. The real estate and abstract offices were in the stame building. This is the second bad fire in Cherokee within the past week. A few days ago fire was discovered building two doors north of the place where this morning's fire storted but this blaze was before had an opportunity to spread.
