The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-06-13
Destructive Fire.

o'clock. the northern part OF the g Rob
inson Machine Works" was discovered
to be on fire. The part on fire was the
/ wooden building, Of two stories. facing
on Washington street The lower story
was occupied by the engine room and
the blacksmith shop. The second story
was used as = warehouse for finished
work, and contained at the time, separa
tors. saw mills, drag saws, circular saws,
horse powers, and the parts Of other
separators, portable engines, etc, be-
sides q large quantity of paint and oils
As the building itself was old and dry,
and the contents very combustiole, the
fire spread rapidly and enveloped the
entire roof in flames before the efforts
to check it could avail.
The Fire Department was on hand as
promptly as possible considering the
lateness of the hour, but were hindered
from getting to work for some time, ow-
ing the distance of water and the short
ness of hose. The 2's finally took posit-
ion at the Main-> 'eet well, and got on
water first The SIS at first, went to
the well on North Washington street, in
front of the burning building, but were
compelled to remove on account of the
intense heat. The Hooks raised lad
ders against main building by which the
2's pipesmen entered The main( brick
part was saved principally through the
If
of the establishment, and some others
who kept closed the iron doors connect
ing the brick part with the part on FIRE,
Notwithstanding the efforts of some to
open them for the purpose of more east
ly playing upon the fire. To have open
ed them would have admitted the flames
to wood work room and rendered the
destruction of the whole building sure.
In less than half an hour, the entire
wooden part had so far burned down
that the well on Washing ton street could
be used. The SIS, As, and Is now re-
moved to this place and played upon the
falling building with more effect The
Is supplied water from the cistcrn at
the crossing Of Front and Walnut SITS.
Water continued to be thrown upon
the ruins at times throughout the day
1t is a matter of mystery, if not Of
grave suspicion, as TO the way in which
the fire originated. At 8 o'clock in the
evening, the foreman passed through
the shop. and saw that all was safe and
quiet. When the FIRE was first seen. it
was in the middle part Of the building,
away from either the furnace or the for
ges, and apparently had commenced on
the second floor
The loss is between $4,000 and si5-
900. The insurance will amount to Sl2-
600
The building is entirely destroyed and
the engine is total wreck Stored in
the building and destroyed, were ten
finished separators. eight circular saws,
two circular saw mills, twenty two drag
saws and ten horse powers for the same.
twenty horse powers for thrashers, all
the machinery for thirty separators,
twenty wagons for separators and port
able engines, completed and painted.
oils, paints and varnish for the seasons
work, a large quantity of lumber, one
wood palmer, enc tenanting machine,
several cut Off and rip saws, and q bolt
cutter worth $3.50.
J. G. and Jos. Hare lost carpentering
tools worth 800. Three others sets val
ued at 5000. Also. five sets of black
smiths tools, and many other articles.
Five tuns of bar iron passed through
the fire.
The firm design preparing immediate
ly to continue their custom work, and
will be able to fill orders for steam and
horse power thrashing machines, etc, as
a good portion of the work is saved
They will he running by Monday next,
and their customers can rely upon get
ting their machinery promptly.