The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-02-28
$4,000 FIRE AT ENDEAVOR.
Large Band Saw Mill of Georgia g.
AyleswOrth Burned.

The bustling town of Endeavor, this
county, was again visited by destructive
fire that licked up total of about S25, 900
worth of property, consisting mainly of
the large band sawmill owned and oper-
ated by Georgia d Aylesworth, contract
ors for Wheeler & Dusenbury in the
manufacture of hemlock lumber, largely.
Also the electric lighting plant lately in
stalled and which had only recently got
ten well established. On Thursday eve
ming, about 7:20 o'clock, workmen were
engaged in the under part of the mill in
repairing belt, using an open mill lamp
for lighting. 1t was necessary to go
overhead on some errand aud in doing so
the workman stepped on a loose board
which silted quantity of fine sawdust
down upon the lamp, causing an explo-
sion and almost instantly filling the lower
part of the mill with flames.
The alarm given by the mill whistle
brought the men 10 the scene in an in
credibly short time. Messrs. Wheeler q
Dusenbury have eq uipped their property
with the best possible fire fighting facili-
ties, and in almost less time than it takes
to tell it three one-inch streams of water
were playing on the flames through hose
attached to two large pumps located near
the upper mill and taking water from the
pond, and from the large reservoir on
the hill, furnishing pressure of 100
pounds. By means of excellent and per-
sistent work the fire was confined to the
one large building, and although sur
rounded by other buildings and thous-
ands of feet of partially seasoned lumber,
no other property was burned.
The mill, which was erected in 1901,
was fine, modern structure, equipped
with band saw, band resaw, edgers. trim
mers, two planers, two engines, lS0-horse
power boiler, and the electric lighting
plant. The boilers, being enclosed in
brick and masonry, are perhaps the only
part of the machinery not totally ruined.
For a time the great sparks from the
burning mill are said to have been ter
rife, and men were stationed on roofs
and board piles with water buckets ready
to extinguish the falling embers which
were constant menace to surrounding
property. In less than an hour after
starting, the fire was under control, and
the people breathed easier.
The loss to the mill owners is estimated
at $4,000. on which there is an insurance
of about $4,000. The electric lighting
plant was owned by private citizens of
the place, and their loss, between $1,000
and 50, 900, is fairly covered by insurance.
Messrs. Wheeler IL Dusenbury owned
one of the planning machines and
the band resaw, which were also fairly
covered by insurance. They also own
and operate an extensive band mill To-
Gated about |, 900 feet from the one burned,
which they started up on double tour on
Monday.
The work of clearing up the debris of
the burned property was begun on Mon
day, and the owners expect to have a new
mill in operation within ninety days.
About 40 men were temporarily thrown
out of employment by the fire, all OF
whom will find work, however, either in
rebuilding, or on the other mill, which
will run night and day during the next
few months.