Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-27
LAID IN ASHES.
DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES LAST NIGHT

DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES LAST NIGHT.
Mcuovern's Barn and Adjoining Buildings
surned-Live Stock Perish IN the Flames
Three Brave Young Men.
About bali past eight o'clock last even
ing the large frame barn on the estate of
the late John r. McGovern. in Mannheim
township, just north of the city limits,
was destroyed by fire that is believed to
have been Of incendiary origin. At the
hour mentioned Mrs. McGovern Vas sitting
alone in the residence, which stands very
close to the burned building, the other
members Of the family, except the
younger children, having come in to
town, when she was startled by
some loud cries from without the
building. Fastening to the rear door to
ascertain the meaning Of the unusual
sound, the Lady was terrified at beholding
flames which appeared to issue from three
or four places in the southern portion Of
the roof OF the bara which stood short
distance west Of the house, while the
tenant farmer, Daniel T.. Fegley, a dairy
man, evidently in a very excited frame of
mind was rushing around in hopeless
fashion, quite incapacitated by fright to
do anything more effective than
yell. The lurid flames as they
belched madly forth, from the doom.
ed building, illuminated the entire north.
ern heavens and caused an alarm of fire to
be struck in this city; an engine was
sent to tho scene of the conflagratiOn,
followed by great crowd of people who
happened to be on the street at the time,
but who arrived all too late, for the fire
spread with amazing rapidity. aud in the
course of but a few moments the fine struc-
ture was q shapeless mass of ruins.
Courageous Trio.
The first alarm, however. had reached
the ears Of neighboring family, the
Knights, who reside close by, and 10 a
moment two young men Of that name,
John and Hooper Knight and Il companion
named Henry Reiner, were on the scene
and Immediately set to work to render all
the ass stance in their power. The flames
were rapidly enveloping the build
ing, but tho young men made
a gallant effort to save the
live stock, whose cries of pain and terror
gave a sad accompaniment to the crack
ling of tho 'timbers as they fell in swift
succession before the ravages of tue de-
stroying element. Thrice they essayed to
enter the stable door, but as often were
they driven back by the thick clouds of
smoke that blinded and almost stifled
them. With final desperate effort,
however, the courageous fellows man.
aged to force their way amid
the volumes of suifocating smoke
that surrounded them, though in
so doing their hair and clothing were
singed and scorched by tho tongues of
fire that in their eager fury licked up all
the inflammable material within reach
Four horses, all there were in the build
ing. were safely gotten ont by this heroic
endeavOr two Of them belonged to Mrs.
McGovern, and two Of them to Fesley, the
tenant farmer.
Live Stock Burned.
In other portions Of the building were
two mules and five cows belonging to Fes-
ley, and four hogs, two Of which belonged
to Mrs. McGOyerp, and the others to Mr..
Fegley :; these unfortunate animals all fell
prey to the devOuring element, being be-
yOnd reach after the horses had been
| saved, and this morning. nothing could be
seen of them but their charrei and black
ened caEcasses. The brave yonns rcscu-
ers, however, succeeded in getting out 4
double carriage and single carriage be-
longing to Mrs. McGovarn, the milk
wagon Of Mr.. Fegley, and IL few
other articles OF value, stored in the
carriage house, which adjoincd the barn
on the north A reaper, two mowers.
horse rake, grain drill, corn shelter, fo.!-
der cutter and large wagon ali belong
ing to Mr.. Fesley, were destroyed with
the remaining contents Of the buildings.
Several tons OF hay. the same amount Of
straw aud thirty or forty bushels Of corn,
portions Of which belonged to Mrs. Nc
Govern and others to Feglcy, were en-
tircly consumed, as wego also double
harness and two single sets, belonging to
Mrs. McGovern; Mr.. Fegley also lost
several sets of harness.
| Tho Tobacco Shed Goes Too
| The flames were not slow in spreading
| to the tobacco shed, long franc building
! the dimensions Of which were 81 by 90
feet, and which joined the barn at it's
southern end. In it were stored seven
| acres Of tobacco. four acres OF which be-
longed to Henry Shreiner and three to Mr..
Fegley. This building with its contents
went the way Of the barn, carriage shed,
corn crib and hog pen, and nothing but
the ashes remain to-day to show that
anything ever occupied the site. The
| tobacco was insured.
Tho InsIrances.
The barn proper was handsome and
substantial structure, the upper part being
| of frame with an overshoot and tho sup
porting walls of stone. The latter alone
| remain to mark the spot, the other por-
tions being reduced to b!ackcned ashes.
1t was built in 1867 at q cost Of between
sc, 900 and 81 900 and its dimensions were
G4 by 4G feet. The insurance on the barn
and tho attachments was $500 in the
Union of Philadelphia (Bausman & Burns
agents), while Mrs. McGovcrn has Il few
hundred dollars additional on that part of
the contents belonging to her, such as feed,
carriages and tho like. Her insurance,
which had been in q local mutual COM
pany, expired about fifteen days ago, but
with commendable business tact she
had it renewed in the Union and her loss is
thereby fortunately lcssened to a consid-
cradle extent.
Mr.. Fegley's insurance is in tho Phoenix
Of London III. r. Breneman agent).
There is s1,7OO. en- wagons, pl,ments,
live stock and all his other belongings
upon the place, except the tobacco, on
which he has $500 additional.
Tho Wind Changes Luckily.
When the flames were first discovered
the wind was blowing briskly in the direc
tion of the McGovern mansion, a fine
brick structure, which is east from the
site of the barn, and for a short time it
was feared the house was endangered, but
at \ lucky juncture and when the sparks
were flying thickess toward the imperiled
},uildinO thu wind Sn6donlv chonuod