The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-08-01
BURNEDl
The Atlantic Mills
Destroyed by Fire, Early
Wednesday Morning.
BUII.bINq A TOTAL LOSS,
And Its Contents Nearly So.

Wednesday morning about 2 2o'clock
succession of shriIl blasts from an
Erie locomotive. followed, moment
later, by the familiar sound of the
midnight alarm, so often given by the
Quaker Mill whistle, awakened ouI
citizens to a realization of another Wis
it from the fire fiend. whose lurid work
was visible in the northwest part OF
town.
Responding to the call of whistles
and bell, The fire department was soon
on it's way to the scene of conflagra.
ton, which proved to be at the Allan.
tic Touring mills, which, by this time
were a solid mass OF fame.
1t being apparent that the main
building was doomed, attention was
directed toward saving the engine and
boiler room, and keeping the fire away
from large safe in the office.
By faithful work. the firemen sue
ceeded in extinguishing the flames ere
the building was entirely consumed
leaving the biackened skeleton of the
recent substantial and spacious ulrigl
protecting the boiler so thai it j
thought no harm was done it-and
leaving a portion of the engine and
boiler room standing. The engine
was badly heated, and many of its
parts injured or destroyed by being
bent out of shape with the intense
heat of the burning wallis adjacent 1t
is thought, however, that it can be re
paired aud made substantially as good
as new. The safe in the office, con
tanning many valuable papers, was
upinjnred, as were its contents.
The fire seems to have first been dis
covered by the crew of an Erie freight
train standing just above the mill, and
originated in north west corner of the
basement. the supposition. as to its or
igin. being that some midnight PROV
building, and either accidentally or
wilfnlly set t on fire,
The mill had not been running OF
late at night, but thorough inspec
ton of every department was always
made at the close of each day. run,
Tuesday being no exception. Combus
tion by friction, or carelessness by the
owner or employees. is ont of the ques
ton, aad it could hardly have been
caused other than in the manner above
stated.
There were stored in the elevator
about son bushels of wheat, 1000 of
and corn.
Three double set of rolls, three run
of stone, and the other necessary ma
chinery for operating large mill. are
total loss. The total estimated loss
is about Sis. 600, on which there was
an insurance of $4,000.
The destruction of this splendid pro
perty, entailing so heavy a loss to its
owner, Mr.. J. M. Babb, is mater of
extreme regret The excellent quality
of -four made by the Atlantic Mills
secured for them reputation that had
established a fiouri-ling aud lucrative
business, their products more than
holding their own against competing
brands. Its past value to our city will
be more fully appreciated now that 1t
lies in ashes. Every day from 25 to so
farmers unloaded their wheat at its
doors. coming for miles past rival mills
to deal with the atlantic of coursA
all this meant trade for our merchants,
for many of these farmers would not
have come to Ravenna to trade but for
the attraction of this superior mill.
The advantage resulting to the city
from the locating of such plant in its
midst must be apparent to everyone,
and when by little effort OH the part
of those most interested, a valuable
concern like the Atlantic Mill can be
rebuilt, that effort should be cheerfully
and earnestly made.
We understand that by the proper
encouragement, Mr.. Babb will be in
duced to cover the site of the ruins,
the foundation of which is uniniared,
with another milling structure and
thus set about to retrieve his own loss
es and keep our city from the depriva
tion of SO valuable industry. 1t is to
be hoped that the necessary aid will
be given this gentleman, whose bust
ness enterprise and push make him a
of III
town.
The Prohibition State Convention,
which commenced it's session last
Wednesday, placed in nomination the
following ticket: For Governor. DR..
]. B. HelWig, of Sprinpfield. ax Pres