The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-07-22
Beaver Valley Roller Min Destroyed
By Fire.

By Fire.
The Beaver Valley Roller Mill, owned
and operated by 81. E. Fonda & Brothers,
was entirely destroyed by fire Tuesday
afternoon.
The mill was not running at the time.
having shut down in order that some
repairs could be made. w. w. Tallmsn.
night miller, vas in the third story OF
the building when the fire broke out. 1t
was about 4 clock when he heard Mr..
Christy CRY out for help. He hurried
down to the second story in response to
the call, when he discovered smoke com.
ing from below followed BY blaze. He
managed to get to the ground floor. but
found the smoke 90 thick that he wss
compelled to crawl on his hands and
knees to the door, near which the tele-
phone is placed, and called up central.
but before the call was answered Mr..
Tsllnan was driven away by the sudden
rush OF flames, and by the time he got
outside the interior of the mill vas all on
fire. He rushed to the west side Of the
bnilding in the hope Of finding Mr..
Christy, but be failed to discover him.
Hurrying to the residence of George
Killon he telephoned to town for help,
which was at once responded to.
Within short time after Mr.. Tallman
emerged from the building the entire
structure was in flames from basement
to roof.
A threading machine engine was hur-
ried to the mill. the sand pump used on
the city we'll secured and as soon q pos
sible the fire company commenced
throwing water on the ruins, but it was
not until after one O'Clock that the work
of searching the ruins was commenced
for the remains Of Mr.. Christy. This
work was kept up until 3 O'Clock in the
forenoon, when it became apparent that
the body of Mr.. Christy was not in the
basement. The workmen then turned
their attention to the mill race. a. it was
thought that possibly Mr.. Christy had
escaped through the open door on the
west side of the mill and jumped into the
race. The head of the race was dsmed,
and most of the water drained Cd. but q
careful search failed to reveal the re-
maine. At this writing the river above
the dam 10 being dragged.
The superstition is that Mr.. Christy. il
he is not in the river, became temporarily
dersngsd and wandered away.
At the time of the fire he had gone
into the basement with gasoline torch.
Luce Psrson, young man Of IL, passed
through the basement of the mill shortly
before the fire was discovered and saw
Mr.. Ghrisiy with torch in his hand
Some are of the opinion that the blaze
from the gasoline lamp iguited -four dust
in the air. and this theory is strength
ened BY the fact that the fire spread so
rapidly. enveloping the interior OF the
mill in flames in half minute from the
time Mr.. Tsllman heard Mr.. Ohristy g
cry for help.
Harry Fonda, resident member of the
firm, was in Omaha at the time OF the
fire, but Was informed OF his loss and
the probable death Of Mr.. Ohristy. He
left at once for Genoa. reaching Colum-
bus at 3 o clock Wednesday morning. and
Genoa three hours later.
The loss to Fonda Bros. 10 between
eight and ten thousand dollars. The
property was insured in the Aillers
Mutual Company for 5000. The firm
will at once proceed to erect new plant
on the site OF the old one. In the mean
time the business will be carried on as
Usual, and flour purchased elsewhere FOL
the firms patrons.
Since the above was placed in type. q
telegram was received at 3:45 Wednes'
day afternoon from Mr.. Christy, dated
at Grand Island. stating that he waa
alive and we'll. and requesting Mr.. Ponds
to notify his family.
The probability is that Mr.. Christy
after q narrow escape from death in the
burning mill. suffered temporary aber
ration OF mind and wandered away
walking to the main line of the Union
Pacific and boarding . west bound train
When he reached Grand Island. he evi.
IDENTIFY realized what had happened and
sent the message as stated above.
Mr.. Ohristy reached home late or
Wednesday evening. He was at Chap
man, q email station on the U. p. eleven
miles east of Grand Island. when he
came to himself He had thirty cents il
his pocket and purchased ticket FOL
Grand Island, and from that place wired
brother living in Kansas City to tele
graph him some money, and later wired
to Genoa that he was alive and we'll
His mind, after jumping out Of the mil
window, was Q blank until he reached
Chapman.-Genos Tines.