The Yale expositor., 1900-08-24
IN ASHES
The old Bell Livery Barn own
ed by DR.. YuiII and occupied
by 7. n. Bennatt as a
Livery
BURNED TO THE GROUND
Together with 5 Horses, Harness,
Robes, Hay, Straw, Oats. Etc.
Loss, About $500.


evening, August II, the distressing
nerve rendlng cry of fire was heard on
our streets, and few moments later
this same alarm was sounded from the
power house and by the clang of the
tire-bell. In very few moments our
streets were thronged with anxious
men and women rushing toward the
scene of conflagration. The flames
that shot skyward made it easy to
locate the fire, and the streets were
almost as light as day. 1t was soon
known that the burning structure was
the livery barn on south Main street
opposite the Rapley House, owned by
DIR. VIM. Yuill, and occupied by Thos.
Bennatt, the proprietor Of the livery
and feed stables. The fire spread SO
rapidly that the whole structure was
a mass of flames, ere a drop of water
was thrown by the iiremen. One
glance of the fire chief suiliced to show
him that all efforts should be aimed
at saving other adjacent structures,
and this decision was promptly order
ed and executed by the hose COM
panies.
Despite their efforts, a small edihce
building standing near the barn was
practically ruined. But the efforts
were successful and the nearby dwell
ing, occupied by VIM. LeGear was
saved despite the nearness of the fire,
and the intense heat. Had this caught
fire before the arrival of the hose com
panies, or had any accident happened
to the waterworks machinery, Yale
would have had big hole burned in
its heart in short metre. Fortunately
though the wind favored the spread
ing of the conhagration, it was very
light in force, and the water came
through the great safety arteries with
no abatement of volume or force.
Had there been heart failure at the
great center of circulation, no man can
tell where the fire would have stopped.
This is the second time within q few
months that the Expositor has had to
chronicle a similar misfortune for
Mr.. Bennatt. 1t was only last April
that the Rapley House barn was burn
ed. The similarity of the two fires;
in the time of night at which they
broke out, in the fact that horses were
burned, and in the utter hopelessness
of the case ere the fighters could reach
them, are noteworthy condolences.
The quick succession of these fires
might lead the superstitious to infer,
that some witchery power, some evil
genius of bad luck, had doomed Mr..
Bennatt to suffer loss.
The origin of the fire as told by the
proprietor is purely accidental in char
acter. lie SAYS he set down lighted
lantern and that while he was in an
other part getting a mess of feed, the
lantern either upset or exploded, firing
the hay and other inflammable material
near by, almost like gun cotton.
The saddest part of the whole calam-
ity was the destruction of the five
faithful horses, which, fastened in their
stalls could not escape. Most of the
vehicles being in the front of the barn,
were got out. AS to the number of
harness sets, robes. etc. destroyed, it is
difficult to determine.
We understand that DIR. Yuill holds
a policy of $3.50 on the barn, and that
Mr.. Bennatt has $1,000 insurance on
the contents, in the Commercial Union
which is represented here by j. A.
Rapley. Mr.. Bennat's loss has been
adjusted at S445.
One after glow of the fire lies in the
additional evidence that Yale now has
of the value of good fire protection.
Without that, it is almost safe to say
the loss would have almost reached, If
not exceeded, the entire cost of the
plant. We can we'll pat ourselves
proudly over our good fortune.
Another afterglow lies in the
promptness and efficiency of the hose
companies and their officers. Of
course all their efforts were aided by
many citizens, as was evinced in the
prompt removal of the goods and fur
niture from VIM. LeGears house. We
don't think Will ever packed up and
moved on such short notice before, and
we are sure he never did it more
quickly.
NOTES.
Glen Ballentine had the misfortune
to step on a rusty nail while working
at the fire last Friday night, which has
put limp in his walk.
DIR. Pollock's mare seems to be fire
proof for this is the second fire she has
passed through unharmed.
The fire laddies earned their $500.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY.
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets.