The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-27
Blaze at MassillOn That Has
Some Peculiar Features
In Evidence.
STRAW ON THE FLOORS.
The Doors Barred and Keyholes
Plugged With Wood.
THE FIREMEN DID GOOD WORK.

And Soon Had the Fire Out--Inmates Tell
or the Occurrence and state That They
Cannot Understand How the
building Got ON
Fire.
Special to News-Democrat.
Massillon, Feb. 23.-A very mysterious
fire occurred at the residence of Mr..
and Mrs. George Vending, 55 West
fremont street, Thursday night, at 1880
o'clock. An alarm from box 23 sent in
by Harvey Vending called the de-
partment which was on the scene in re-
markably short order. Fine was dis
covered in several rooms and the chem
isals were used t. good advantage.
The house was not damaged to any ex-
tent but carpets and furniture were
burned and scratched. Chief Burkel
stated to the News Democrat represen-
tative that when the firemen arrived
they found large quantity of straw
scattered through the house. This had
evidently been ignited by an incendiary.
The tiremen, Chief Burkel said, also
found every door in the house barred
with wooden bar and the key holes
were plugged with wood.
The News-Democrat representative
called at the Vending home and found
the house in the condition described by
the chief. Mrs. Vending said she and
her husband were in bed with her two
children sleeping in the same room.
Her husband arose she said to go down
stairs to take some medicine.
I'm a moment he came back" said
Mrs. Vending, "and said the house was
on fire. I siezed one of the children
and my husband took the other. When
1 came down stairs 1 found the door
on the east side of the street open and
ran across the street to Adam Wend-
ling's home and gave the alarm"
Mrs. Vending could not account for
the fire in her own bed room where the
r. mattress and carpet were found on fire.
The parlor and sitting room carpets
were burned and also some furniture.
Burned straw was plainly visible scat
tered about the floor. Mrs. Vending
said burglars had prowled about the
and plugged key holes She would not
say whether or not she thought the
house had been set on fire, merely say
ing that she could not account for that
feature of the blaze. The house and
contents are insured she said. The
home is large one, newly and COM
fortably furnished. The loss by the
fire is about $780,
SHOE STORE ABLAZE.
Massillon, Feb. 23.-The, alleged fire
witch, whose alleged predictions were
given a limited publicity some days
ago, missed an opportunity to make a
hit Thursday evening. Two fires oc-
Cured in the city and a costly fire oc-
Cured at West Brookfield.
At ~ o'clock, midnight, fire was dis
covered in the George Snyder shoe store
at No 33 East Main street. The fire
fiend seems to have a special grudge
at Stark county shoe stores for this one
almost completes half dozen such
fires during this winter. An alarm from
box "a called the fire department which
had just extinguished a fire in West
fremont street. Excellent work con.
fined the fire to the shoe store base
ment and the rear of the shoe store
The stock valued by Mr.. Snyder at be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 was badly dam
aged by fire and water. Mr. Snyder
could not state the exact amount of his
insurance but was of the opinion that
it would cover his loss.
Fire Chief Burkels barber shop 1;
located in the front part of the base
ment and it's rather a horse on the CHIEF
that with loss of about $50 he has nc
insurance to recompense him.
The Massillon Business college, the
Wainwright Coal Co.'S offices and
Schuchers drug store. all of which are
located in the block, were not damaged
to any extent The furniture of the
barber shop was removed and the fire
was prevented from reaching the room
Water, however, did some damage.
BUTCHER SHOP BURNED.
Massillon, Feb. 23.-The butcher shoI
of l.. L.. Blantz, at West Brookfield
burned to the ground at o'clock this
morning, entailing a loss of $500 or
which there Is $400 insurance. The only
thing saved from the fire was a pair OF
computing scales. The village has nc
fire department and the hour and
weather were not propitious for the
forming OF bucket brigade.