Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-23
bad FIRE NEAR LURAY
House and Barn on Old Charles
Lampman Farm Burned to
the Ground
THREE SMALL FIRES IN TOWN
An Old Landmark Has a Close Call
From Destruction in Sunday Even-
ing Blaze Caused by Gasolene Lamp
Explosion = Fire at Midnight DAM
ages West Linn Street Barn.

aces West Linn Street Barn.
Fire near Luray at an early hour this
morning resulted disastrously to the
property OF Arthur Lampman, VINO
lives with his widowed mother on the
old Charles Eampman farm, one and
one-half miles northeast of that place.
The barn and all its contents. including
three horses and one COW. were de-
stroyed, together with the house and
all outbuiidings. to which the wind con-
veyed the flames. The loss will be a
little over $4,000, with insurance at 81
450.
The fire was discovered at about 1
O'clock, when Mr.. Lampman was awak-
ened by the pitiful cries of the impris-
oned horses. He arose Immediately.
and tried TO force an entrance to the
burning structure. So intense was the
heat, however. that he could do moth
ing TO rescue the horses. and he turned
his attention to saving the contents o.
the home. The wind was quite high.
and in the right direction to carry the
flames toward the house. SO that its de-
struction was foregone conclusion.
Nearly all OF the contents were re-
moved. however, before the house was
burned.
Mr. Lampman's greatest loss will be
In the burning of his barn, which was
we'll stocked with grain and farm ma
chinery. large quantity OF hay was
contained in the loft. and 500 bushels
Of oats were stored in the bins. All OF
the farm machinery, buggies, wagons
and harness were burned. A large
double corn crib, containing 400 BUSH
els of corn. was also destroyed. as
were the surrounding sheds and other
smaller buildings.
Mr.. Lampman can not account Tor
the fire unless that a tramp. who might
have taken shelter in the hay loft. is
responsible. Hints at incendiariSm
have been made, but Mr.. Lampman Is
not inclined to adopt that theory. The
burn burned was built twelve years
ago. and 1t was while digging trench.
during thunder shower. to allow the
water to run from the barnyard. that
Charles Lampman lost his life by be-
ing struck by lightning.
Gasoline Causes Blaze.
The explosion of a gasolene lamp
came nearly destroying an old land
mark, the county's first public building,
the old Marietta court house. The
hut to cd hv ESy.ar 9rpys
necke. and is known as the Germania
Hail. standing in the rear CT
the Brennecke building on South
First avenue. between Main and
Church streets. Members Of the
-Four Hundred Club were occupying the
room at the time. The explosion oc-
CURED In small apartment In the
rear of the building. and the flames
were rapidly communicated to the walt
An alarm was sent in at 8 o'clock from
box 1872. and the department was on
hand Immediately. The chemical APP
paratus did effective work, and no wa
ter was thrown. Had the fire got un-
der much Roadway the blaze might
have been costly one. as the lower
floor Is used as storehouse for paints
and oils by B. A. Morgan. Goodale &
Mack's paint shop Is also in the lower
floor, and they had stored in their por-
ton a large quantity Of paints. oils and
yarnish. The Fifty third infantry band
has apartments in the building. and
used the room to keep Its instruments
and music. The loss to the building
was very slight.
Electric Wire Responsible.
An electric light wire is supposed to
be responsible for a blaze at about mid
night at the w. H. Darner homie. S12
West Linn street. A wire. stretched
from across the street, touched the top
of the barn roof and the wind. blowing
1, to and fro. Is supposed to have
formed contact with some other wire.
The fire was not discovered until the
building was pretty well enveloped. An
alarm from box 321 sent the central
station crew to the scene in a hurry,
and with stream OF water on the roof
and the chemicals on the interior. a
portion Of the building was saved. One
horse. a new Stanhope and new top
buggy, together with two sets Of har-
ness. were removed from the barn
without injury or damage. Mr. Oar
ner estimates his loss at $3.50. With no
insurance.
Another Fire Avertsd.
The overturning OF lantern In the
barn in the rear OF the old Let's resi-
dence. at the corner of State and Third
avenue, at about o'clock this after
noon. started blaze In the hay NOV.
The prompt arrival of the department
and the use of the chemicals extin-
guished the flames without loss. The
barn is occupied as a place of storage
for fruit by Maurice Stetnberg.