The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-04-09
WAS A STUBBORN FIRE.
Residence of DR.. w. F. Waioht was
Burned last Thursday and Fire
Boys Fight Under Difficulties.

Fire which started from defective
fiue about half past eleven o'clock last
Thursday morning, completely destroyed
the residence OF DR.. w. f. Waight on
north Main street, and proved to be
one Of the stubbornest fires the fire boys
have had to fight for a long time, being
greatly handicapp, d by lack Of water.
The residence was one Of the oldest
in the city, being the old Lunbeck resi-
dence which was built years ago where
the residence of j. p. Hamilton now
stands and afterwards moved to it's
present site. The frame of the building
was constructed OF heavy native timber
and it took long time for the flames to
complete the work of destruction. When
the fire was first discovered the flames
we're in the roof and it looked as if a
little water would extinguish the fire,
but when the fire boys reached the
scene and set the engine it was found
there was no water in any of the wells
in that vicinity and much valuable time
was lost in hunting for water. Finally
the big gasoline engine was brought out
and set at the cistern on the square and
line of hose laid to the fire distance
Of several blocks. But by this time the
flames had spread between the walls
and it seemed impossible to control the
fire, steady stream Of water being
thrown for nearly two hours before the
fire was extinguished and then only the
shell of the lower story was left stand
ing. Willing hands carried out most of
the household goods but some things
were lost in the second story. Miss
Eula Waight who was visiting in Osce-
ola at the time was the heaviest loser,
having been working for several weeks
on her clothes for the summer and had
just completed the work, prior to going
back to her work in Hansell's store. Her
clothes were in a closet and were over
looked and all were burned. DR.. Waight
had $500 insurance on his household
goods in the German American Co.
The burned building was owned by L..
E. Gassett, and was insured for $500 in
the Capital, of Des Moines, but Mr..
Gassett recently spent about this sum
in repairs on the house, so that his loss
is considerable. He will probably re-
build the house.
Several accidents occurred during the
progress Of the fire, the most serious
being that to Marion Woodard. He
was sitting in the back of Farquhar's
delivery wagon holding the rope to the
small fire engine and in going over the
crossing in front Of DR.. Woodmansee's
residence the boys on the engine tongue
let go and the tongue jerked around.
pulling Mr.. Woodland out, and the engine
ran over him; he was badly bruised and
cut up, as we'll as having his right
shoulder blade broken. When the en-
gine struck him and pushed him along
under the wheels the engine was turned
over in the road. A few minutes later
while unreeling hose from the hose cart
the end Of section Of hose on which
was heavy brass coupling struck
Frank Farquhar over the eye, cutting a
deep gash in his forehead, requiring
several stitches by the physician who
dressed it. Several others received
minor cuts and bruises during. the pro-
gress Of the fire.