Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-10-20


The flames first appeared on the
south side of the barn and when that
was eaten through they greedily lick
ed up part after part of the big struct-
ure, sending volumes of sparks sky
ward, but fortunately not where they
seriously endangered other property,
there being no wind to Ghirl them on
the main hospital buildings. The men
connected with the hospital were quick
TO begin battling with the fiery ele-
ment, and being familiar with the
location of the fire hose and sppara
tus did good work. The Second and
Third Ward Danville companies re-
sponded to an alarm and worked with
excellent effect. but of course the in
flammable nature of the contents of
the barn made any attempt to quench
the furious flames folly. All that
could be done was TO play streams on
the numerous surrounding buildings.
This was done and they were saved.
| The horse stable roof was kept drench-
ed and a store building was kept wet.
The buildings adjoining the cattle
barn, however, were damaged, but even
to save them at all WAS doing well.
| Six streams of water from the Hospit
al reservoir were PLAYED on the fire.
Henry NJ. Schoch, a trustee of the
Hospital, had been at the main build
ing and was just driving away when
| the fire broke out. He assisted in driv-
| ing the cattle from the building.
Officials and everyone about the place
lent willing hands to do everything
they could TO keep the disaster within
the smallest confines possible. The
cows were in an enclosure near the
barn and were safe, although terrified
| Six steers were in the flaming struct
ure and only two of them could be
rescued, the others perishing.
The fire was an unConquerable one
aud beam after beam weak kened, totter-
ed and fell as the flames gained head
wav until at 4 45 O'Clock the big stack
of hay and grain in the loft and the
surrounding timbers crashed in, the
whole structure collapsing. AS it did
so great clouds of densely black smoke
rolled up. The heat during the pro-
gress of the fire was so intense as to
keep the hundreds of persons who
gathered on the grounds at a safe dis
tance from the burning structure. The
corn Glib and contents were the first
part of she building to 90 Eventual
ly the flames attacked and damaged
the ice house and slaughter house.
| The new silo, with capacity of $50
tons, which was just finished this sum-
mer, costing $500. was destroyed. 1t
had been filled not more than two
weeks ago with the product of two
fields of corn.
The barn was totally destroyed with
all of its contents, which Mr.. Warner
described as best he could remember
under the exciting circumstances.
There were 100 tons Of hay, much
straw, 1900 bushels of wheat. over 800
bushels of oats, machinery worth over
$1,000 and other contents of minor
nature.
The only explanation that seems to
offer as TO the origin OF the fire Is
Spontaneous combustion. which OF
course might easily have happened in
the well filed building. Mr.. Warner
says not more than al hour prior to
the discovery of the fire he was in the
barn, but not in the part whore the
flames broke out. At that time there
was no intimation of the approaching
destruction of the big concern.
On September ., 1895, the old barn
was destroyed. with a loss of about
$l4. 600 The barn that yesterday was
reduced 10 ashes was erected on the
site OF the first one, but was larger,
finer and more modern and substanti-
al Its loss for the second time places
the hospital at great inconvenience,
leaving the scores of cows without
shelter. Temporary sheds for them
will he built at once.
The new barn was erected at cost
of about sl2. 600. As it is wholly gone
and lik-wis the big stock that 1t con
tanned the loss will run easily to $50, e.
600. this sum including the damage
done to the other structures that were
burned but not destroyed. W. ii. Orth
went over the records Of the amonnts
Of insurance and found total OF Sl5,-
500 is held on the buildings that were
burned, distributed as follows: barn,
$40, ONO; contents. s.. 900; ice house,
$500; corn CRIB. $500. The silo had
been so recently completed that it was
not insured.
Lin Valley farmers are indignant
over tHr manner in which hunters
rr. ia : over their lands and help
themselves to anything they happen
TO find At hand. Although the season
+. not vet opened manv rabbits have
been ,lor i'm that locality and the
farmers declare that the hunters are
SO bold that they run them into the
backwards and shoot them there.