The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-10-19

The barns on the farm of Charles
Wisham, on the road to Newbold's Cor
ner, were burned to the ground on Friday
morning.! Mr.. Wisham had arisen as usual
about four o'clock, and short time after
looked out of the back door and saw his
buildings in flames.
The farm is over mile from the near
est engine house IN Mount Holly, but a
messenger was sent to town and an alarm
was soon struck. The firemen promptly
responded and were soon on their way to
the fire. Owing to the early hour horses
were not available, and the engines were
drawn by hand. This necessitated slow
work and by the time the scene was
reached the buildings were a mass OF
ruins
There was little wind and that was
blowing from the house. The live stock
was released with the exception of COW,
calf and one hog. Several pigeons flew
around the fire and fell into the flames.
The barns were well filed. Mr.. Wisham
had been quite successful with his crops
and had thousand bushels of wheat
which had just been threshed, and also
had a large lot of hay and oats.
The Mount Holly fire department
proved its ability to fight fire within
three quarters of mile of water sup
ply. Nearly all the new hose of the de-
partment was stretched, being 5000 feet.
Relief engine was at the saw mill race and
started to pump water into BARREL from
which Good Intent was to draw it and
force to the fire. Just as work was about
to begin, the boiler of the latter gave
out and the engine was compelled to GO
out of service. The hose was soon cou-
pied and Relief sent water the entire dis
lance, and the engine was kept at work
for four hours to extinguish the mass of
burning hay. The elevation to the fire is
nearly so feet and good stream was OBJ
tanned from an inch nozzle, which is con-
sidered a remarkable feat
Mr.. Wisham had $1,000 insurance on
his stock and $2,40o on the crops. He
was of the opinion that he had $4,000 on
the buildings, thinking his policy had
another year to run, but it expired some
time ago, and through misunderstand-
ing it was not renewed. This makes the
buildings total loss. Many people are
of the opinion that this is the second time
Mr.. Wisham has suffered loss by fire. 1t
was his brother who was burned out on
the Eliza McHenry farm. The total de-
struction by this fire amounts to about
So, 900, and Mr.. Wlsham will lose q clear
$4,000. Farmers have been very gener-
GUS in offering him assistance. When
his new barns are erected they will fill
them with hay, straw and grain. Work
was commenced yesterday. on clearing
the ruins preparatory to rebuilding at
once.
Owing to terrible stencil arising from
the ruins on Saturday at point where no
lYe stock had been burned, it was
thought that tramp had been consumed
by the f1ames Several men prodded rails
through the large body of smouldering
hay, and while they did not find any dead
body, they pulled out bone which was
at first thought to be part of human re-
mains. This fact has not yet been pos
itively settled.
A singular coincidence in connection
with this fire was the fact that Mr.. Wish
am had intended to sell out. Parties
have been wanting his farm for two OF
three years. He was to give an early
answer. On Friday morning he arose
at three O'Clock and had figured out the
value of his property, and settling on the
price at which he would sell, he went oul
into the yard, only to find it going up in
smoke.