Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-02
An |Nj[ND|ARY
BURNS Barns
Two Fires in Different Parts Of
City at the Same Hour Cause
Heavy Losses.
E. E. Benedict's Large Storage
Barns. Containing Hay, Oats
and Straw. Destroyed.
Barn of L. S. Gantz. Adjoining,
Also Burned-.Th Incen-
diary Seen.
Elite Millinery Stock Totally De.
stroyed and Adjacent Stocks
Badly Smoked.

Two fires, both attended with consid-
cradle loss and one known to have been
of incendiary origin, prevailed at the
same time Saturday night, destroying
several thousand dollars worth OF hay
and grain, two large barns and stock
OF millinery, and damaging goods In
store rooms adjoining the millinery
The fire attended with the greatest loss
was sone that burned the storage barns
OF Z. E. Benedict, of the -four and reed
Arm Of Hammond & Benedict, on North
Center street, and the barn OF u. ..
Gantz, adjoining on the south. Inc NIL
linery stock burned was located In the
Shorthill building on East Main street.
Mr. Benedict's barn, which was locat-
ed irl the rear OF his home at No. 5O7
North Center street, was large double
structure, which had been completed
about two months ago. The building
was 49x5O feet in dimensions, and con-
tanned ninety tons of baled hay, ITO tons
Of baled straw and about 1000 bushels
of oats Mr.. Benedict had been increas-
ing his stock to meet the demands OF the
spring trade.
Mr.. Benedict returned to his home
from his place OF business up town
about $3.50 p. m. Saturday. accompanied
by his wife. 1t was his custom to visit
the barn every night before rettr1ng.
and recalling that he had neglected to
water one of the horses at the supper
hour he carried bucket Of water with
him. AS he entered the west portion OF
the barn he smelled something peculiar,
and passing on thru the eastern end he
saw q small blaze among the loose hay
on the floor. He subdued this with the
bucket OF water, but at the same mo-
ment the baled hay blazed up at point
between the pile Of hay and the parti-
ton.
SAW THE INCENDIARY.
|. The fire was near the alley entrance
and Mr.. Benedict stepped to the door.
AS he did SO he saw a man run north
thrue the alley. The fire was gaining
such Roadway that Mr.. Benedict did not
give chase, but called for assistance and
set about to rescue the horses. An
alarm was turned in from the transmit
ter box, sounding 213. The two horses
and buggy were removed without trou-
BILE and the horse and carriage of Mr..
Gantz were also secured by pulling the
sliding door from its position. Mr.. and
Mrs. Gantz being at the theater and the
barn being locked
The flames spread rapidly because Of
the inflammable nature Of the contents,
and altho the firemen arrived within Ave
minutes from the turning In of the
alarm both barns were encompa SEED in
flames by the time the first water was
thrown. There is every reason to believe
that the incendiary used kerosene to aid
on the accomplishment Of his dastardiy
rived early smelled the Oil, and Mr.. Ben
edict saw the flames shoot over the top
OF the baled hay directly against the
wind and toward the Gantz barn, from
which 1t was separated by only a small
passage way. This action Of the flames
could not have resulted had there been
no other material than the compact
bales Of hay to feed upon.
The fire department made splendid
fight and confined the flames to the two
buildings. DR.. Burroughs barn on the
north, toward which the wind was
blowing. not even being scorched. The
Benedict and Gantz barns were com
pletely ruined, but the baled hay and
straw and the oats. which We're IN two
large bins, were only partially burned
and may be of some small value if dried
out and aired.
Some of the f1remen were on duty all
night. all of Sunday and Sunday night
and portion Of today, as the fire con-
tined TO burn underneath the big piles
of hay and straw. More water was
thrown Saturday night than at the re-
cent oil mill fire.
Mr. Benedict estimates his loss at
about $500, with insurance of $3.50 on
the building and, 1900 on the grain and
contents. This includes the horses and
buggies. He says the loss Will exceed
the insurance by about $500
Mr. Gantz carried $3.50 insurance on
his barn and contents, and he will not
lose heavily. Mr.. Gantz Is of the opin-
ion that the incendiary was attempting
to burn his barn and not Mr.. Benedict's,
as he had received threats that his
property would be burned. Mr.. Bene-
dict says he has not an enemy in the
world that he knows of and he can not
imagine why any one should wish to
burn his property.