The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-04-09
COOK WAGON
WORKS BURN
Disastrous Fire Occurred
Wednesday Evening.
LOSS WILL REACH $4,000
Fireman Eugene Stafford
Fireman Eugene Stafford
Has u Close Call.
Fire Fighters do Themselves Proud
in Their Work and Prevent a
Very Heavy Loss.


OF the Cook Wagon company, To-
Gated at the corner of Prospect and
Farming streets last night, destroy
llng score or more OF fine vehicles
and causing considerable damags
to the building. The total loss loss
| is estimated at $4,000.
The conflagration broke out
shortly after 10 o'clock. A young
man by the name OF Snyder was
passing the plant when he noticed
the flames creeping up the north
side of the building. Fire alarm
box No. % was hastily turned in
tho central department made a
run to the scene OF the flames.
When the fire department ar
rived the flames had already gain
ed great headway and the interior
of the frame structure was a
frey furnace. Two line or hose
we're laid and under the leader
ship of Captain James Butler, the
fire laddies soon adopted syste-
matte methods OF extinguishing the
flames.
After nearly three hours of hard
work the department succeeded in
completely extlnguishing the fire.
Never did a fire department do
better work than did the local lads
last night. The building was sim
ply a shell and the fire ate into
the dry walls as though they were
tinder. Despite the fact that the
fire had spread into all parts OF
the first and second stories OF the
building the department handled 1t
SO well that the entire damage to
building will not exceed $500.
In number OF instances the
fire fighters took great chances in
the battle with the flames. Eugene
stafford was thrown from thirty
foot ladder while attempting to
force hose into a window. He
ahghted in mud and water how
ever and miraculously escaped in
jury. Various members OF the de-
partment received small burns, cuts
from window glass, etc, but none
were serious.
Two line of hose were laid and
for more than two hours, steady
streams of water were thrown into
the burning structure. The fire
did not get to the roof but the
flames burst out at the windows
and presented very spectacular
scene. Several hundred people wit
messed the conflagration.
The Cook Wsyon company is
composed OF Messrs. q. w. Cook
and Fred e. Drehr. The firm had
been manufacturing in the city for
about two years and during that
time has been highly successful.
The building of hearses, ambu-
lances and all kinds of vehicles
as used by undertakers, was the
hrm's specially.
The fire completely ruined every
finished vehicle in the plant. On
the first floor there was two fine
ambulances ready for shipment
valued at 81 1000 each that were
completely destroyed. Four fine
rubber tire bugges and two de-
livery wagons also stored oa the
hrst floor were wrecked On the
second floor, a fine new white
'hearse which was just completed
was scorched and ruined. live
ambulances and two delivery wag-
ons and a half dozen fine coupe
buggies. which were stored on this
floor. were also destroyed.
Mr.. Cook stated this morning
that the total damage will amount
from $500 to $4,000. The company
will sustain but little loss, the
greater part OF the damage being
covered by insurance. The firm
carried $2,l25 Insurance on build
ing; $3.50 on stock and $375 on
machinery. The machinery was but
little damaged.
The origin OF the fire is a great
mystery. There was not a stove
lamp or electric wire near the
part of the building where the
flames were supposed TO have
started. 1t is thoroughly believed
that the fire was of incendiary
beginning. A charred spot on the
north side OF the building between
a window and a door leading from
the main ware room, designates
where the flames started. From all
appearances the fire was a result
OF the work of fire bugs. There
was no night watchman att the
plant last night. John Adams, who
had been working in that capac-
ity, quit work yesterday and NOV
ed to Prospect The management
mad been unable 10 secure a ma
TO assume the position and conse-