Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-05-26
FIRE HAS AN INNING.
Two Buildings Burned and Two
Slightly Damaged.
THE BOROUGH APPARATUS ONCE
MORE DOES GOOD WORK FOR THE
PEOPLE ACROSS THE ELIMITs-MUCH
BRAVERY DISPLAYED.

Fire was discovered shortly before two
o'clock on Tuesday morning in the
back kitchen of the building owned by
William Rugans, on Chestnut Street,
above Fern. The flames were seen by
John B. Hanlon, who had just returned
from his work at No. Drifton, and he
succeeded in arousing the owner of the
burning property and three boarders.
They escaped with much difficulty, as
the fire made headway rapidly. The
fire bell was rang and in short time
the apparatus was at the scene, although
the building and all adjoining properties
were outside the limits. There being
no plugs in that part of the town it
required long line of hose laid up hill
to reach from Walnut and Ridge Streets,
and even then the men were at dis
advantage, owing to the burning build
ing being higher than the water in the
reservoir. The pressure was only suffi-
cient to let the water flow from the hose
into buckets, and a brigade of these was
BY this time the property of John
Gallagher was in imminent danger from
the shower of sparks falling upon it..
The fire ladders were raised and the
roof covered with water from the
buckets. Those working there display
ed bravery seldom seen at fires, the
clothing of many catching on fire several
times, and every other pail taken up the
ladders was used to extinguish the
sparks with which the boys were covered.
A stiff breeze was blowing from the
northwest and it carried large pieces of
shingles and burning wood towards the
borough properties. The four-wheeled
carriage was then taken up and lines
laid on Centre and Ridge between Wal
nut and Chestnut.
In the meantime Rugans' house was
burning fiercely and the flames reached
the dwelling of David Hanlon, ST.,
which was only three feet from it on the
west. This property was soon enveloped
in fire and it looked as though the entire
square would go. The bucket brigade
who so calamity saved Gallagher's house
was taken to the building of P. H..
Hanlon, which was less than two feet
from the one then on fire. The battle
there was hard one and the property
caught several times, but the boys fought
with vigor that brought forth cheers
and applause from the hundreds of
spectators. The fire hooks were fastened
to David Hanlon's house and it was
partially torn down, thereby lessening
the danger very muCll. lUe DuCkeI
men continued at work until they had
control of the flames, then large Ameri-
can flag, which was found among the
furniture, was raised above the last
building they saved.
All the vacant lots in the neighborhood
were covered with the household goods
of a dozen tenants from the nearby
houses and when daylight appeared the
scene resembled eviction day in a min
ing village. Despite the confusion which
ensued in carrying out the goods very
little was reported missing. However,
one of the coolest men of town became
ratified during the excitement and rush.
ing to the upstairs of dwelling threw
two handsome pictures out the window
and ran down the steps with feather
pillow under each arm. He had merely
mistaken the articles he said.
The losses and insurance on the
properties are as follows: William
Rugans, $3.50; insurance, $1,000; David
Hanlon, $1,000; insurance, $1,000; P. H
Hanlon. $3.50; insurance, $500; John
Gallagher, $40; no insurance.
Shortly after the fire started Burgess
Gallagher summoned portion of the
police force and directed them to patro
the borough streets and guard the houses
and business places which several people
had thoughtlessly left unlocked.