The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-31
ANIMALS ARE
BURNED ALIVE
Disastrous Fire at the Ohio
and Western Stables.
FIREMEN POWERLESS
Are Unable to Put Any Water
on Blazing Structure.
Iramps Blamed for Blaze-Pitiful
Sight of Ruins Company is
Crippled-Loss So, Story.

Nine head of horses, seven mules,
ten tons OF hay, two hundred bushels
OF oats, one hundred and fifty bush
els oil corn, one buggy and numerous
farm and stone quarry implemen, 3
We're consumed in a horrible con
migration which destroyed the i'm
mems ebarn located at Plant No. l OF
the Ohio and Western Lime and
Stone company.
The fire broke out shortly before
o'clock Monday morning, and SO
rapidly did 1t burn thai within two
hours TIE roofs and walls of the mass
I've structure had crumbed in, bury
Ing the sixteen horse beneath the
frey ruins.
Fourteen animals were burned out
right and their charred remains
were conspicuous in the ruins Mon
day morning. Two horses were so
badly burned that IL was necessary
to shoot them. Three animals made
their escape, with their ears and tails
burned of and were so badly in
jured internally from breathing the
flames, than 1t Is thought IL viii
be necessary to shoot them.
The ruins OF the conflagration is u
pitiful sight. Big muscular men whJ
had been working the animals in the |
interest of the company, were seen |
TO shed tears as they gazed upon the
baked remains OF their favorite |
horses. Hundreds of people visited
the scent OF the fire today and were
horrified at the spectacle.
The origin OF ra efire Is not known
but was thought to have originate
from the pipe of some clre.ess n32o
who had been making a practice. o.
sleeping in the barn. Ths fire start
ed in a small shed about fifteen feet
distant from the large barn.
It was in this particular she'd
that a band cfu hobos had been
caught sleeping, Saturday night.
The fire was first discovered by a
of quarrymen who reside in
the 'north end. Mr. w. NJ. stone,
superintendent of the plant, who re-
sides near the barn, was not aware
Of the fire until he was awakened
by the cries OF spectators
A very peculiar optical illusion
was the cause of fire a'arm box.
No. 55 being turned in. Police OF
fceTs, Link Bond, Nathan Babcock
and Jack AlcDonough were standing
in front of the City National bank,
when one of than remarked that
there appeared 10 be a fire in the
third story OF the Uhler and Phil
lips dry goods store. The windows ,
were dazzled with light ana the Of
hcers hurriedly turned in the fire
alarm. An investigation disclosed
that the light in the windows was s
simply the reflection OF the big fire
and the fire departments hurried ,
northward. 3
Being outside of the city limits, the {
departments were unable to reach
water line. They lent assistance in
keeping the fire from spreading to
buildings, by use OF S
chemicals and hand fire lighting ap-
Jaratus. 4
TIE loss OF the FIRE will exceed
&c, 900. The barn was valued al
Il 900, while the horses were valued
It more than SO 1000. Twenty
,ets of fine wagon harness, valued at
$500, was also consumed. About
,ne-fourth OF the loss was covered
,y insurance. I
II. A. Ducatt, the foreman OF TIE
,arn, cannot account for the sudden
He declares that the
,arn was al right at IL o'clock when
le locked the stables, and he says
hat there were no hoboes in sight
t that time. Peter Martin, gsner-
j manager of the company, OF Hunt \
ngton, Indiana was in the ATTY
nd witnessed the fire.
The company is greatly handicap
ed by the heavy loss OF Monday \
corning. Only twenty-five head OF Y
orses are left and this number is :
carcely half enough to carry on A
perations. 1t Is very difficult at
his time of the year to purchase :
raft horses and the company will y
have to suspend work at y
wo of the plants while a new stock
J being secured.
S---------~-