The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-08-15
A Big Blaze at MarseiIIes.
DESTRUCTION OF BLACKS PAPER MILL.



A fire alarm was struck in this city at Il
O'Clock on Wednesday, and found 90 be 1
notice To the fire department that Il conilagra
ton was raging at Marseillcs, and that oui
tiremen and their apparatus were needed
there. An possible despatch was used and
the engine was loaded and ready to start al
half past eleven a second despatch vas re-
ceived at quarter to twelve announcing the
fire under control, and our engine returned
to its house; Capt Rising and several of the
firemen going to the scene of the fire in hopes
of lending helping hand IN subduing the
smouldering flames.
The fire originated in the picking room OF
the Paper Mill, from friction ola pully among
the dust 1t burned very rapidly, though
had not panic taken possession OF the EN-
pIoyecs in charge of the room the building
and contents might have been saved, as two
tanks each holding fifty barrels, were stand
ing IN the room, full of water
The man In charge of The picking room,
however, became demoralzcd and no water
was applied until the smoke became SO dense
as to prevent any person from getting near
enough to apply itwith any effect.
All parties worked beroically, and consider.
ing that all Marseiies has to rely upon lis
force pumps, it is a matter of great credit
that the Pitts Manufacturing Co. and Brown
& Norton's paper mill pumps saved all the
buildings except the one in whech the fire
originated.
The loss is severe one 10 Marscilles, it
being the destruction of one of her largest
manufactures, by the losing Of which some
twenty-five employees are thrown ont OF
work, The loss. AS we learned it from the
book keeper, is estimated at sixty thousand
dollars, upon which insurance to the amount
of about $50, 1000 was held
INCIDENTS.
On the receipt of the despatch by captain
Rising, Road Master Alexander of the G. r. l
d. p. r, X procured n carriage, and after
telling the fireman that he would provide
transportation, went to the depot and caused
a car load OF stone to be unloaded in order to
get car for the engine, thus demonstrating
that ut least one railroad official has soul
which Is ready to offer assistance to Il dis.
tressed community when in trouble.
To the fireman of Ottawa too much praise
cannot be awarded for the heroic prompt
ness with whichthey responded to the cry
!, Lnl nj 4, p,,t hn tAp md az
her gallant defenders who, with the thcr-
mometer at 10i in the shade, are willing to
rally en- mdsse and work like troopers to save
u neighoring town from humiliation by the
fire fiend,
AT Marseilles one incident took place
which, while il does notretlect upon the good
people of that city, is warning against a
repetition of IA like breach of good manners,
and an occurrence which should be punished
by the Pitts Manufacturing Company.
After our department had so CALAMITY re,
sponded TO the Macedonian cry for "help,'
and Capt Rising lin poor health) with every
available member of the fire brigade had
gone to Marseilcs, man named Mower, it
seems, took particular pains to turn Il stream
of water upon Captain Rising, drenching
him To the skin.
We do not believe that Messrs. Pitts " Co
endorse or approve of such acts, but on the
contrary think they will make suitable
apology to The head.of our department for tht
conduct of one of their employees.
We trust that our neighbOring town may
Phoenix ike arise from its ashes and that by
another season the Black paper Manulactur
Tag Co. will be as prosperous and substantial
rs heretofore.