The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-25
WAS A DANGEROUS BLAZE.
Considerable Property In Ruins and
Many Close Calls.
ORPHANS NOT IN DANGER.
The Home Was in the Path of the Flames
But the Children Were in Place
M, of Safety Details of Blaze
IM That Might Have Burn
ed the Town.

ed the Town.
The special edition of the News-Dem-
ocrat carried the news of very danger
.ous fire which occurred in Louisville,
Tuesday afternoon. When the first re-
port was received at the News-Demo-
crat office man was Immediately dis
matched to that city. Arriving in the
suburbs it was at once noticeable that
something of more than usual conse-
uuence was transpiring as large
throngs Of excited people were every
where discussing the fire which had so
recently came near destroying their
beautiful village. Pieces of burned
embers We're widely distributed over
the town giving mute testimony of what
so ingrossed the people. AS the center
of the town was reached magnificent
column Of smoke was seen to arise
from the smouldering ruins and the
smell of burning wood permeated the
air. Many men stood around viewing
full building, and firemen played their
hose on the half aflame debris.
The buildings which suffered from the
fiery monster were the play house of
the orphan asylum, which is a wooden
frame 32X72 feet and used both as a
play house and storage building for
grain and provisions and two barns
belonging respectively to Peter Weber
&. and August Bauman, both Of which con-
tanned the ewinter store of feed for horses
and chickens OF which latter several
dozen were roasted alive.
Beside these larger building several
minor structures were also burned.
Mr.. Frank Immel, the one man employ
of the asylum, was perhaps the first
person to discover the flame which is
supposed to have started on the roof
from a spark issuing from the engine Of
a passing freight train. Mr.. Immel
had ascended a ladder to the top Of
the roof Of the large main building
which was being repaired by skaters
when glancing in the direction of the
doomed building he discovered a small
thin flame bursting forth from the con-
fines of the structure. He Immediately
called out fire" and his shout was
re-echoed on every side. Buckets and a
hose were instantly brought into use
but without avail as a stiff north
western breeze was tanning the flame so
as to make it almost impossible to make
headway with these fire fighting accou-
terments.
In perhaps two or three minutes the
Louisville fire brigade had arrived on
the scene and soon had two well di-
rected streams playing on the building
but still no apparent headway was be-
ing made. 1t was at this juncture that
the Canton department was called. At
ter this desparing message had been
sent the outlook changed for the better
as the wind veered to the southwest,
thus putting the large main building
practically out of immediate danger
and therefore not necessitating a con-
stant stream to be thrown upon it,
giving the gallant fire laddies better
opportunity to take charge of the
first building. From this on the prin-
cipal danger was practically over.
In the meantime two stables in the
Immediate vicinity of the blaze had
Taught fire and attention had at once to
be paid these, thereby giving the three
! buildings but two streams of water be-
tween them. The flames gradually
gained headway but citizens, recogniz-
ing the impending danger, willingly
and gladly lent their aid so that a line
of buckets was established and the
flames greatly checked in their on
ward course With marvelously good
judgment, combined with persistent
and determined work the flames gradu-
ally lost their force and after half
an hours hard labor the gallant fire
laddies were rewarded by seeing the
fire gradually retreat before their per-
/, sistent efforts.
4 Slowly but surely the flames died out
and the hearts of the people again be-
gan to beat normally for up to this
time 1t had appeared as If the whole
business portion of the city would be
wiped out and at several points sparks
had ignited the dry and inhamable
wooden dwellings and stores but by
constant watchfulness and quick and
effective work these minor blazes were
put out before doing much damage.
Frank Immel, who discovered the
fire, was seen about the damage and
loss to the asylum and stated that the
playhouse had cost about $1,000 and was
insured for that amount Questioned
as to the facilities at hand with which
to fight fire, Mr. Immel said that
there was water and a hose in the build
but that these were not of much use