The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-13
Big Barn Situated Near the
Dormitory Destroyed by Fire
Causing Loss of $500 to.
$4,000.
CHILDREN FORM BUCKET
BRIGADES TO SAVE HOME.
Lack of Sufficient Water Pres
sure Was Responsible for
Danger-May Have Been of
InCendiary Origin.

Thursday evening about lO:45
O'Clock fire originated in the hay NOW
of the big frame born, at the Wernle
| Orphans Home. south Of this city,
completely destroyed that structure,
crib filled with over 500 bushels Of
corn a large wagon building and the
big poultry house. For over an hour
the dOrmitory building, which is lOcat-
ed only about thirty Yards from where
the barns and other buildings stood,
was threatened by the fierce blaze
which could be plainly seen in every
part Of the city, turning the southern
sky into a brilliant scarlet. No, 4
hose company went to the fire as soon
as notified which was not until the
buildings were almost totally Destroy
ed. 1t rendered valuable service in
holding the cOnflagration in check.
The loss is estimated between $500
and 81 900 and is partially covered by
insurance. The fire burned brightly
for about two hours.
Just how the fire started in the barn
hay NOW is not known or probably
never will be--perhaDs some tramp
sleeping in the hay is responsible. If
this is the case the tramp has not yet
been located Had it not been Tor
the prompt work of George Chapman,
a Young man who lives on the farm
of his father, William Chapman, just
short distance from the home. the loss
would have been much larger.
hl1Vp
in the barn had gotten under 8oOd
Roadway, but none of the sleeping
children or the officials in the dOrmi-
tory We're aware of the terrible dan
ger which threatened them. Young
Chapman sounded the alarm and then
without awaiting assistance entered
the burning barn and began the work
of saving the errOr-striclen animals.
Five valuable horses and ten cows
Chapman led out. About two minutes
after ne had removed the last animal
to place of safety, the roof and NOW
of the barn collapsed. The young
man and his father next turned their
attention to successfully saving the
four wagons in the big wagon shed,
which with the corn crib, is just a few
feet west of the barn.
While the ChaDm&nS were doing
their salvage work. Instructor Schmidt
who is temporarily in charge of the
home, took charge of the work Of get
ting the orphans out of the dormitOry.
Thanks to a perfect tire drill, the chill
dren got out of the threatened build
ing quickly and without confusion.
leaving by the main entrance and the
fire escapes.
A bucket brigade was organized by
the orphans and in this manner they
rendered valuable service to the city
firemen. SO fierce was the blaze of
the burning buildings that the tin roof
on the brick dormitOry building be
station some of the boys on the roof
with buckets of water to keen the tin
cooled. .... .-:-.
Fortunately while the fire lasted,
the stiff breeze blew from the south
east Had the wind been from the
north it is almost certain that the
dormitory would have been destroyed.
In fighting the blaze the city had to
contend with the lack OF sufficient
water pressure. 4 hose was placed
in large water tank but this would
have been of no avail had it not been
that the tank stood on a rise of ground
above the burning barn. which was
one of the best structures of its kind
in the southern part of the county.