Si J7I 1HM.1 iM m MP. I ! Um M W. Ill "TAGR TWO '! THE DEMOCRATIC BANNER Friday, February 18, 1010 fl iamiM,Ji9MiMmiiwjMiKumwrT-&mt Ev : ; I lp$ y PLANT OF LOSS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT INSURANCE 'AMOUNTING The Origin Of The Fire Appears To Be A Mystery - Whole Plant A When Officials Make No Statement As To Rebuilding Plant Nearly Two Hundred Men Thrown Out Of Employment ' The most destructive and disastrous fire that has oc curred in Mt. Vernon in years resulted at 7:15 o'clock Mon day night when the entire plant of the Mt. Vernon Bridge company, one of the city's growing and substantial indus tries, was completely consumed. The buildings burned With great rapidity and in an hour after the alarm had been Bounded the buildings were in a mass of smouldering ruins. Mr. James Israel, secretary and treasurer of the com pany, stated during the prpgress of the fire that the loss would be very difficult to determine at the present. How ever, he estimates the loss from $100,000 to $125,000 on which there is an insuranco of $80,000. Tn the present chaotic condition of affairs arising Irom (.ho disastrous fire, no determination can bo reached by the company as to iis policy in the matter of rebuilding. 'An adjustment of I ho loss with the firo insurance compan ies and the clearing away of the debris will bo the first things in order and after these have been accomplished the question of whether the plant is to be rebuilt will be acted upon. Tho origin of the fire appears to be a complete mys tery. Jt is known that it started in the south end of the 'largo building extending almost to Chestnut street, but other than that tliero is no possible way to account of the origin of tho blazo which wrought such havoc and des troyed the entiro plant in so short a space of time. Tim Flro Discovered It wus JuBt 7: 1G o'clock that tlio tiro wasllrat discovered, Tlio blazo fnB first noticed liy two noraoiu nt bout tho , same tlmo ono being Night Watchman John F. Stono, and tho other MIbb Clara Frohso, daugh ter of Mr. August W. ProhBo, fore man of tho plant. Miss ProhBo hap Snod to glance out of tho window t nor homo which ia located on West Chestnut otroot and dlflcovorod that too ontlrc BGuth ond of tho Boutli building of tho plant was lu n mass ot flnnios. Miss Frohso Bont In tho lrm to tho firo department. Tho alght watchman upon discovering the Sames wont to tho onglno room and sommencod blowing tho wnlstleoh VJle plant as ho was unable to got ML VERNON BRIDGE CO. Hr V -- VH m MAnrK lUIiLLl ULJlilUILU 01 ILnlULu Mass Of Flames to a telephone to soml In tho nlarm. Tho engineer on n freight train Bland lug In tho 13. & O, yards also assise od In sounding tho alarm nml ropoat odly blew tho whlstlo on his onglno. Oiigln u Mystery An has beon stntcd tho origin of tho Ilro, which resulted In tho de struction of tho plant, is a conipleto mystery. It is ovldont that tho blaze started In tho cxtromo south ond of tho main building in what is known nB tho "laying oufroom. It Is hero that tho largo glrdors and othnr parts of a bridge nro aBEomblod. Thoro wns no rags or waste or grcaso ot nny kind that might causo spontan eous combustion. All over tho plant thoro tuo munoroua gas stoves used In heating tho buildings and In tnat section of tho plant whom tho fir started thoro nro sovoral stoves. It Discovered $125,000, WITH TO $80,000 Is presumed, therefore, that tlio blazo started from one of these stoves probably becoming overheated and setting ilro to some of tho woodwork in tho structure. That tho lire started very quickly is evidenced bythe fact that at G:50 o'clock Night Watchman John I Stone let Engineer John Crostou out of the south door of the plant, Im mediately at tLo point whoro tno blazo started. After lotting tho en gineer out, the night watchman lock ed the door and went back to tne engine room. Thero has been no night forco employed at the plant for some time and tho engineer was the last person to leavo tho building, outside of tho night watchman. As a mattor of fact no one was in the building and it possibly could not have been set on ilro, although a number of porsons advanced that theory Monday night. After tho onglncor had gone homo. Night Watchman Stono went to tho englno room for a fow moments nna then had occasion to go to the south part of the shop. As ho loft the on glno room ho discovered immense flames rolling up from tho soutli ex. trcmity ot tho building near tho door where tho onglncor had gone out only ilfteen or twenty minutes ucrore. uunning to mo engine- room Stbno ronnmcnced to blow tho whlstlo on tho plant, but in tho meantime Miss Prohso had discovered tho blazo and had sont In tho alarm to tho department. Tho department niado a rapid run. but beforo their arrival tho building was in a mass of flames, tho ilro lighting up that section of tlio city liko day. Klnint'H Spread Itapldly A Htrong wind wns blowing from tho southwest at tho time and was In the light direction to carry tho flames entirely through tho plant to tho Sugar streot entrance Tho var ious buildings burned liko paper box es and In a remnrkably short spaco of time tlio buildings wero in ashes. To Sato Machinery By tho tlmo tho dopartmont nrrlv- cd and thrco lines of hose had beon stretched all hopes of saving any portion of tho buildings had beon abandoned and Mr. Isrnofdlrectod tho firemen not to throw any water on tlio buildings In which wns locat ed the machinery. It wns tho bellol that If no water was thrown on tho machinery that a larger portion ot It could again bo utilized, othorwiBO If water had been thrown thnt it would causo tlio machines to crack Owing to tlio hent about tho build ing It cannot bo dotermincd nt tho prcbent time whothor tho machinery can be used again. All that the flrcmen could do was to koep a number of streams playing on adjacont buildings to keep tmun fiom catching on Ilro. At sovoral times tho oillco building, whtcn is located Just across tho streot fiom tho plant, was In gicnt dangor a nil two lines of boss woro used lu throw lug wator on the roof and siuus of this building. At tho tlmo when It looked as If tho oillce building might sonu be dblozo, employes and willing hinds wcuL to work In cnrrylng out vnl ualdn blito prints, records, drai'tus Instruments and othor articles frnn tho cii'co, but dangor was soon pasl .did everything was restored to its proper placo in tho building. An JCvcltliiK HcCno At tho tlmo tho ilro was at Its hoight tho throo largo Iron smoke stneks ovor tho englno room on tho east sldo of tlio building, near tho II. & O. trades, foil with n crash and following this a terrlblo sound wns made- by tho escaping steam in tlio bollors nilnglod with tho roar of tho sas whon tho pipe was disconnected from undor tho bollors. Thoro wns an Immonso crowd of people In tho tclnlty of tho onglno room and many thought that tho bollors woro about to oxplodo and tho crowdsstarted to run. Thoro was a groat amount of oxcitemont for n short spaco of tlmo. Tho gaB In tlio onglno room only added to tho fury of tho flames whon tho pipo under tho bollors beenmo dIUconnoctod. Thoro wns no way to shut, tho gas off ns tho cut-off was so noar tho blazo thnt no ono could get within any distanco of It In safe ty. Tho gaB could not bo shut off at tho gato for the reason that tho water works power house Is supplied by gas from tho same company. Danger of Implosion 'Another exciting feature connect ed with tho firo was the discovery of somo gasoline, paints and oils in a small building located to the north of tho main building. This fact was made known to the flrenven by employes of tho plant and Chief Tlckard stationed two firemen with a Urio of hose at tho building and kept a stream of water on tho struo ture nil tho tlmo tho flro was In progress. In U1I3 manner tho ex plosion wao prevented. Vortunately thoro was no ono In- Juied during tho progress of tho fire, although a numbor ot porsons had narrow escapes from falling electric llirht wires. Tho top of n polo burn ed off just west of tho main build ing and a numbor ofwlrcs fell across tho street. Pollco ofllcors wore on tho scene and kept tho crdwd back so that no ono was Injured. l'nsqensTH Hcltpl At tho tlmo tho flro was at its height tho cast bound fast lino on the B. & O. railroad, dua at 7:29 pulled into tho station. Tho pas sengers wero greatly oxcltod ovor tlio fli'ti and overy window on tho west sldo of tho train was raised and every passenger was looking out to catch n gllmpso of tlio burning bulfd Ings. lilt? Crowd Present Shortly after the flro broke out a largo crowd of people commenced to nrrlvo on tho scono and in a short tlmo tho streets woro literally block aded with people. Owing to tho ln- tonso heat it was impossible to got within a half a squaro of tho firo, Tho B. & O. railroad yards woro crowded with peoplo and tho stieots wero a perfect mass ot humanity. Smoldered All Night Tho blaze continued until elovon o'clock and it wns midnight whon tlio department returned to tho onglno house. After the blazo had been extinguished the dobris smolderod nil night long and occasionally thero would bo a small blazo start up, but It would soon dio down as every' thing combustlblo had been destroy' cd. Tlio Loss And Insuranco As stntcd nbovo it Is ft very dlf flcult task to determlno tho loss at tho present tlmo. Thoro has been no Inventory for somo tlmo and it is impossible to detormino tho amount of woik on tho floor at' the tlmo of tho Are and what amount of this work can bo saved. Mr. Is raol Is of tho opinion that tho loss Is from $100,000 to $125,000 on which thoro Is an insuranco of $80,000, car lied In difforont companies. Another tiling to bo taken Into nccount In es- tlmnting tho loss Is whothcr or not any of tho machinery can bo again used Of courso, if tills machinery, or nny part thoroof, can again bo utilized. tho loss will not bo qulto so great. History of the Plant The Mt. Vornon Bridgo company was organized in this city many yoars ago, tho original plant being located on West Vino streot abutting tho propoi ty of tho B. & O. railroad com pany. Just twenty yoars ago tho plant was moved to tho location which Is occupied nt tho tlmo of tho flro on Monday, Tho plant occupied n block, oxtondlng from Chestnut streot on tho south to Sugar street on tho north, Tho uulldlngs ot tho plant woro framo with a metnllo covorlng of somo kind. During tho twenty years that tho plant occupied tho prcsont location It wns closed down for somo tlmo, but elovon years ago It was purchas ed by tho present ownors and has boon running full forco evor slnco. Tlio ofllcors of tho prcsont company nro James Wostwntor of Columbus, prosldont and gonornl mannger; Jas. Israol, secretory and trensuror; Irvin M. Wolvorton, chief onglnoer. All of tho nbovo ofllcors nro heavy stock holders In tho company. A Touching Incident During tho progross of tho flro and when tho blazo was destroying ns speedily ns posslblo the- various departments of tho plant, n largo numbor of omployes gnthorod near tho scono of tho conflagration and many cried liko children as they saw tlio placo whoro thoy had worked for bo many yoars destroyed by tho firo domqn. Especially was this truo among the oldor mon, who had started as npprontlcoa with tho com pany and whoso halrhad grown whlto in tho faithful performance of their duties to tho company. Mnny Men Out Mr. Israol stated 'Tuesday that o- cr ono hundred and fifty men would bo thrown out ot employment as a result of tho flro. The Hie coming In tho middle of the winter will probably mean hardships 'for many employes. Mr. WoHcrton Not Here At tho tlmo of the flro Mr. I. M Wolvorton, chief engineer of tho com pany, was absent from tho city, hav ing started to Cincinnati on the 5:15 train over tho C A. & C. railroad. Ho was located in Columbus by tele gram as ho was about to take a train for Cincinnati. Mr, Wolvorton re turned to Mt. Vernon on an early train Tuesday morning. Condition of Machinery While it will perhaps take n week or more to fully determine whether or not tho machinery in tho plant can again bo used, yet it Is the opln Ion of Mr. I. M. Wolvorton, chief engineer, that tho machines aro worthless and can nover ho used again. Mr. Wolverton made a brief examination of somo of tho machines as best ho could among tho debris Tuesday morning and was convinced that the machinery has been ruined by tho Intonse heat. Why Flumes Spread Ono reason why the flames spread so rapidly through tho plant was that thero wero six or eight gable win dows open lu tho south end of tlio plant and the same number opened In the exticmo north end of tho plant. This created a draft of pow erful forco and the flames swept Uip entiro longth of tho long building. This Is proven by tho fact that Uip roof first caught flro and was con sumed nnd tho flames then spread towards tlio floor of tho structure. Sympathy Expiessed The Knights of the M'accabces at their special rcvlow Monday night ordered placed on their minutes a resolution of sympathy from the members of the Mt. Vernon tent to tholr fellow mombors who wero em ployed nt tho Mt. Vernon bridge plant and who woro affected by tho flro Monday night and to offer overy assistance needed. The tent also ex pressed sympathy for the Bridge company. Many of tho employes at this plant aro members of tho Mt Vernon tent. As To Rebuilding Whlio tho ofllcors of tho Bridgo compnny havo nothing to say at this tlmo as to their futuro Intention in tho way of rebuilding, for tho rea- sons that that phase of tho situation hns not yet been reached, yet ttie hopo is expressed on overy hand by tho citizens of Mt. Vornon that such a conclusion for notion will bo reach ed at an early day. It is a great calamity to 'the larga( number of employes of the institution to bo thrown suddenly out of employment and tholr earning capacity bo crip pled almost in tho twinkling of an oye. It Is also a severe blow to tho business Interests of tho city to havo BudSenly taken from tho channcels of trado tho largo amount of money coming with such, regularity on the pay-days at tho institution. On uv ory sldo much sympathy Is oxpressed for the company ovor Its heavy loss and to tho cmplpyes in being thrown out of employment. .... By Gas Fumes Wwe Mr. And Mrs. Thos Stream Man Fainted WMIe Telephon ing For Physician Mr. and Mrs, Thomns Stream of North Sandusky streot woro over como from fumes of natural gas Tuesday morning and Mrs. Stream had a vory narrow escapo from be ing asphyxiated. Whon Mr. and Mrs. Stream arose Tuesday morning both wero 111, "but tho formor went to tho Coopor works, whoro ho Is omployod, Uo decided to go homo during tho morning to seo how his wife was gottiug nlong nnd upon entering a room found her unconscious on tho floor. Mr. Stream ran to tho Colo grocery and tolophoncd for a pay slclan. Whllo ho was tolophoning ho foil to tho floor unconscious. Dr. James P. Leo nnd Dr. C. K. Connrn woro called to attond Mr. and Mrs. Strenm. Both recovored from tno offeqts of tho gns fumes boforo noon nnd nro now considered out of .dang er. A fow minutes delay In treating somo cases of croup, ovon 'tho length of tirao 5t takes to go for. a doctor often proves dangerous. Tho safest way Is to keep Chamborlaln's Rem edy In tho houso, and at the first Indication ot croup glvo tho child a doso. Pleasant to take and always euros, Sold by all dealers. OVERCOME TWO New Brige$ To Be Built in The County To Take Place Of Those Washed Away A Verdict For Defendant In' A Case Heard In Common Pleas Court Monday Other Items Of Interest From Court House Tho county commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday decided to robulld two new bridges in Knox county washed away by recent high water and tho county surveyor was directed to prepare tho nocessarj plan3. Tho plans will call for a 190 foot single span at the Balcom bridgo and ft 120 foot double span at the Troutraan bridgo. Each bridge willhavo a sixteen-foot roaaway. Tho commissioners nlso awarced a contract for tho removal of the Balcom bridgo from the creek for a. consideration of $S7 and also the removal of the Troutman bridge from tho creek for $107. A contract was closed up with John Itumraell for 11,000 feet of plank for tho Predoricktown bridge at a cost of $319.27. o Common l'lcns Court The case of Pultz vs. the Wright Lumber company, which was tried before the jury in tho court of com mon pleas on Monday, tho Jury re turned a verdict for tho defendant in tho sum of $77.13. The case of Dover, administrator, vs. Kirk was commenced In tho court of common pleas on Tuesday. o Fourth mid Final A fouith and final account has bo?n filed, In probato by H. M. and John Baxter, executors of John Walnrlght Baxter, showing tho following: Re rolved, $15,671.41; paid out, $14, 415.12; balance,, $1,256.29. Marriage License John Cromp, laborer, Loudonvllle. and Ethel May Tomple. Itev. Wil liam E. Hull. Deed Filed Alonzo GIbbs to Eliza E. Dodloy, parcel in Jackson, $SU0. Under A Horse's Hoof And Badly Injured Elmer Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs Peter Weaver of Brandon wan nndly injured Monday afternoon by being trampled by a horso. Tho boy wns leading a horsq into the barn wheif tho animal ho was leading wns kick' ed by another hoiso in tho barn. Mr, Weaver was also knocked down and was trampled by tho horse's hoofs, Ho was badly injured about tlio neck and face. Dr. Coburn of Homer wns called and rendored surgical atten tion. If troubled with indigestion, con stipation, no nppotlto or feel bilious, glvo Chamberlain's Stomach and Liv er Tablets a trial and you will be pleased with tho result. Theso tab lots invlgorato tho stomnch and llvor and strengthon tho digestion. Sold by all denlors. POSITIONS FOU OHEItLIN BUSINESS COLLEGE STUDENTS Chas. F. Urschol, a district school toacher from Fostoria, entered the Oborlln Business Colloge" last May, and loft school Inst Friday to accept a position at Robinson, 111., to which ho was recommended by tho college R. R. Waltman loft Bchool Fob, 1. to accept a stenographic position nt tho Lorain Steel Plant, which was secured for him by tho college Both tho above positions pay $G0 por Tnonth to begin with. There' Is a grent demand for stu dents trained In tho Oborlln Business College' TRAMPLED This contractor cot results. Some years ago a contractor build ing a railroad in a warm climate was troubled a great deal by sickness among the laborers. He turned his attention nt once to their food and found thnt they were netting full rations of meat and were drinking water from a stream near by. Ho issued orders to cut down the amount of meat and to increase greatly the quantity of Quaker Oats feci to,tuo men. He also boiled Quaker Oats and mixed the thin oatmeal water with " their drinking water. Almost instantly all signs of stomach disorders passed nnd his men showed a decided improve ment in strength and spirits. Tins con tractor had experience that taught him the great value of good oatmeal. The cost was small; 10c for regular lite packages; it is also packed in l&rge she family packages at 25c. 53 I HavelMNQficed I S That whenever an operator re- ; ports a lino as "Busy" she adds, J "Shall I call you?" This Is an ; offer to complete tho desired connection Just as soon ns poss! I bio, and if ncceptod by you, will savo you much annoyance. Why I not accept the offer and thus 5 help us in our constant endeavor to give ycu most : Satisfactory j Service j 'Central Union I Telephone : Co. MAIN & VINE Attorr&eysatLaw . L. B. HOUCK ATTORNE. AT LAW Offlco Rogers Building, No. Ill & Main street, Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Room 2 and 3, second floor. FRANK O. LEVERING ATTOHNEY AT LAW All business of legal nature gives prompt attention and especially to practice in the Probate Court. Of fice, No. 9 East. High street, Mt. Ver non, O. Now 'Phono, Offlco 101; Resi dence, 354. D. P. & J. r. EWING David F. Ewing John D. Ewlng ATTORNEY8 AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW Offlco, Kirlt building, oornor Mnln streets and Public Squaro, Mt. Ver nou, O. W. C. ROCKWELL REAL ESTATE DEALER AND LAWYER Farms nnd ciltv nrnnnrtv hniicrlit anl and exchanged. Estates admlnla- taroa . ADstraeting title. Firo Insur ance. Money loaned. Rooms 3 and 4 Union Bldir. .1. Mnln nt. r.tv Mimm.. . Offlco, 370 Green; Residouco, 633 1 1'rnnn If you own anything, havo It Insured WILL J. "DOG" WELSH THE FiRE INSURANCE MAN 18 E. Gambler St. Mt. Vernon, O. Citizens' 'Phono 231 Red STREAM & RIMER Luther A. Stream Wm. F.' Rimer REAL ESTATE AND LOANS Farms and city property bought, sold and exchanged. Properties rented and rents collocted. Firo insuranco a specialty. Representing 14 old relia ble Btock companies. Accldont In surance, live Block Insurance Plate glass insuranco, automobile insuranco, In fact wo can insuro any liroperty you may nave. Surety bonds of nil kinds. Call and seo us. Roofa 1 Slpo Bldtr., s. Main St. CIL 'phone No, 147 Black; Boll 253 R. I Physician E. C. BEGGS I , Df"NTAL SURGEON Oftlco in Arnold block corner of Kast Hlcll ntrpnt nnri Ms.n...i Bquare. Mr. Vernon. Ohio. I O. K. COWARD, K. D- HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN AND SURGEOi Office and reslrinn m v.aat i7i-u streot, Cltlznne' 'Hhone 12. Offlca hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p, fc. Professional lards t I 4l Jlf '1 s, V A a tL. 4fcSI i-iji-.?T jfe: WMwpiWWWw ngy w w nWaSr: tyHmwwjw wmmn9wmi fivlfl-. f VI .1 V k.Av-AWi.' MS "'j' 3JCi..ii.f; ftr,,Aa HfW w 1 i