Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-02
BENSON'S MILL BURNED.
AN ANCIENT Landmark swEPT
AWaY LaSr SIGHT.
The Cause Of the unnccountab,e Light
In the Esst-Di.covsry OF the Firs-En-
srge,ic Work by the Ns,e hbors-Loss
About ~, 500 Partially Insured.

| Ihe cause OF 'he tnnCcouhtRble Iight
| In the Esu-D,.cov.ry OF the FIRE En-
| ~rge,ic Work by the Nsis shbors- Loss
| About ~, 500 Partially Insured.
From Morning Editionl
| About eleven o'clock last night belated cit
izens noticed growing light in the sky cast
| OF town, and within 10 minutes the whole
eastern sky was baze OF red. The atten-
| ton OF the fremen at the Central engine
house was called to the light, but as the FIRE
was evidently good way beyond Lagonda
they did not attempt TO hunt for it. As the
light continued for such long time, a CIR.
reporter started out shortly before IL o'clock
to investigate. Going out East Main street 1t
became certain to his miud shortly af er
passing the Standpipe, that the light pro.
ceeded from big fire few miles further on
Soon the roadway became light from
the ref. ction of the fe, which seemed
TO be in the vicinity of Bensons mill, sit
uated on the Benson road, about three and
one-hat Ules east of town. fastening on
ward, his prediction was soon verified, and
when he arrived only Il ,ming pile of
broken timbes marked the site where the old
mill has stood ever since it was built by
Armstrong 4 Spinning IN 1892, when
Springfield WAS no more than n country
village. About thirty men were
grouped about the place, some dashing buck
els of water dipped from the race onto the
burning pile, and others gazing on the glow
ing RUNS, entirely unmindiul OF the driving
rain that was pouring down.
Among the group was the owner of the
MILL J. NJ. Benson, who told the reporter
that the fire had been first discovered shortly
before eleven o'clock His nephew,
Harvey Benson, was just retiring for
the night when he happened to look
out toward the mill, which stands about
flames issuing from An east window on the
second story. He Immediately gave tn.
alarm, and Mr.. Benson and his two sons hur-
ried on their clothes, aud all fur FASTENED to
the mill This was an immense wooden
structure, four stories high and extremely
lnAammabe. BY the time they reached
it the fire was bursting from halt d zen
windows on the second story, and was
spreading with miraculous rapidity. They
entered and succeeded in getting out FIVE
barrels OF tl)ur and lew sacks of buck
wheat. Within a very few minutes, how
ever, the whole lower floor was filled with
smoke 80 that those within were 10 danger
of suitJcation. Moreover, the ceiling
was beginning to fall in, and
they were compelled to deslst from
their perilous work. In less than fifteen min
utes after the fire had been discovered about
dozen neighbors had hurried to the scene.
Any attempt to save the mill or any of the
valuable machinery in it would have been fol-
ly, but buckets were procured and by strenu-
Gus efforts the bridge across the creek at the
side OF the mill and the mil
lers cottage across the road were
saved. Saving the bridge was a remarkable
act OF courage, as the men who did it had to
stand almost in reach o. the scorchirg
flames from the burning mill. While the FIRE
was at the height of its fury at about half.
past eleven o'clock, the country for two
miles about was made almost as light as day.
After this the flames gradually died down for
want of anything more to feed upon until by
o'clock nothing WAS left but the black
eued and smoking ruins. The mill was
valued at s., 900 with its machinery, and Mr..
Benson estimates the loss on the stock of
-four, wheat corn, etc, at about 81, 500. He
carried $4,000 insurance, distributed among
the different companies in D. r. Hostermau's
agency.
Bensons mill was one Of the Oldest and
most widely known places in the vicinity of
Springfield. |, passed into the hands Of Mr..
Benson in ls52 and has been in his possession
ever since. The fire is supposed to have
originated on the second story ia the rear,
near the shutter. As there had been no FIRE
in or about the mill during the day, ii must
have been either of iucendiary origin, or
from spontaneous combustion.
WiSTED, 4 HOSPITIL