The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-08-12
FIRE!
Burning Of, Keynes &
Wellman's Mill.
Loss $4,000.

The great Touring mills of Key
mes & Wellman were totally de
stroyed by fire Tuesday lnornine G
An alarm was turned in at 2 o'clocl
in the morning, and, although thu
fire department responded prompt
4 ly. and played two streams of wa
ter on the blaze in less than twen;
~ minutes after the first tap of the
bell, tho property could not be cav
ed. When the fire was first discov
cred, it had spread over 6
good part of the roof, and the IA
pldity with which it flashed throug
the building was appalling.
The dry weather of tho past
month seems to have awakened the
people to the fact that the condi.
tons were favorable to a confaga-
ton that might sweep the town
away, and it was not many min
utes after the bell had reused the
town, that Front, between Mulber
ry and Market was perfect jam.
The magnitude of the IRE seem.
ed to deaden all sense Uf action, and
it was not until the danger to the
surrounding property aroused the
citizens, that they fully appreciated
what they had to contend WITH
While the fire,nen kept stream of
water flowing almost constantly on
the Wcolen Factory of j. E.
Tritsch, and situated not over th,r.
ty feet away from the mill, the
honsc of Peter Lytle and the tene-
ment houses of Homer L. Wright
were covered with men and boys
engaged IN flooding the roofs.
1t seemed a matter of impossible
ity to save these houses. They
were only wooden buildings. and
only 4 narrow street between them
and the burning MILL Thanks to
the tireless efforts Of the firemen
and citizens who worked SO heroic
ally in the scorching heat, they
were saved. Many times it looked
as if they were doomed, but
steady food of water kept down the
flames
To the west. and about fifty yards
away from The mill stood the ware.
house of Stiers & Todd, In which
was stored about $1,000 worth of
wool and large quantity of pork.
This building was watched by .
large force of men, and though in
very dangerous quarters. was not
injured.
1t seems providcntial that scarce
ly breath of air was Stirring.
With a half gale blowing from the
south vest. nothing could have saw
ell the central and eastern portion
of the town,
The blaze from the burning
building arose to great hoight, ,and
the sparks mounting still higher,
were caught by steady current of
air that carried them up Market
street and over the northern part
of the city.
1t was beautiful sight to See
thousands of pieces of burning shin.
giles sailing away into the north,
but was dangerous show. Very
soon the people realized the new
danger and looking back toward
the hills one could see hundreds of
men on the house tops with buck
cts in hard ready to receive the
flaming visitors.
Despite the precaufion taken, the |
houses of Jesse L. Collins, Frank
James, James Bailey, w. W. Nc
Cray. Chas. Wright and JIM. Floyd |
were set on FIRE, but fortunately soon
extInguished. There may have
been many others not reported
Fire brands were carried beyond
the new cemetery hill,
The heat from the burning mill
was wonderfully intense. There
were between ten and fifteen thous
and bushels of wheat stored IN it
and about 200. barrels of four
Chas. Keynes was the first one to
gain admittance to the mill after the
alarm was given. and succeeded in
getting out The books and papers
of the company. When he went in
TO the mill he was followed by quite
a mum Der of men, who carried out
thirty barrels of -four, this, togeth-
er with the books. being all that
was saved.
Tho loss of no other concern in
town, would have affected the bus
iness interests So severely as this.
1t had "a capacity of 200 barrels per
day, was one of the best equipped
mills in the Valley, and stood Soc
ond to no other in producing fine
grade of -four. Keynes l. Well
man had large trade in the MIN
ing region and at home, and done
lots of custom work for the farmers
in Hooking, Perry, Vintou, Fair
field and Athens counties.
This mill was built over thirty
years ago by VIM. Durr, c. w.
James, and VIM. Rippey.
1t was afterwards operated under
the firm name of Durr. James &
Co.. A. j. Wright being the other
partner. Then passed into the
hands of Kreider & Sharp. The
next change was to Keller, Keynes ,
We1lman. and inallv IN Kevnes ,