The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-22
MOST VALUABLE
MACHINERY WAS
NOT DESTROYED
Structure Burned Was Used
As Main Stock Room and
Hundreds of Nearly Com
pleted Mowers Ruined.
TWO HUNDRED MEN ARE
WITHOUT EMPLOYMENT
Great Concern Was Right in
The Midst of Busiest Seas
on, Working Day and Night
TO Be Rebuilt.
TWO HUNDRED MEN ARE
WITHOUT EMPLO OYAaENT


but from an unknown source, fire last
night damaged the +. & N. lawnmow-
er factory, Washington avenue and
Eighth street. to the extent OF about
$4,000. The entire south building. a
frame structure covered with sheet
iron siding was completely destroyed.
The newer building. brick structure
located on the Washington avenue
side was damaged somewhat by
smoke and water. All furniture was
removed from the offices and none of
the records was damaged. A box car
on q side track adjacent to the ruin
ed building was destroyed. The loss
Is covered with insurance. John M.
LOntz, president and chief owner OF
the concern, was not prepared today
to state whether or not the factory
will be rebuilt on the present site.
Both day and night shifts were EN-.
ployed, rs the rush season 10 on, and
200 men were given employment. The
shipping room was not damaged and
about 5000 Grated machines escaped
the flames.
A Modern Factory.
The r. & N. lawnmower factory was
one Of the largest of it's kind in the
world. During the past year it had
been thoroughly improved and the
owners had striven to make It model
plant. 1t was equipped with the lat.
est machinery for making lawnmow.
ers and electric power was, used in all
departments. The furnace was oper
ated solely for heating purposes. IT
was located on the ground floor and
in one end OF the building destroyed
It was entirely enwrapped in flames
when the night watchman's attention
first was attracted.
Many Machines Ruinai
The most valuable machinery was
In the building which escaped. The
structure burned was used in the
main as a stock room and for the
completion OF machines. Hundreds
Of almost completed machines were
piled In mass when the floors burn
ed through. One of the paint depart
ments, also, was located In this build
ing and Its contents were quickly
consumed. Several score Of punching
machines. lathes and drills fell into
the seething pit and will be absolutely
worthless except for junk.
Pitman Turns in Alarm.
II was just 10:4O o'clock, when the
general alarm was sounded from box
l6, at No. hose house. An A. D. T
alarm came in at the same time as
the members Of the company were
notified. The night watchman sent in
tho telegraph call. Harry Pitman, q
craftsman for the company. was al
the Pennsylvania depot and seeing the
flames ran to the hose house and mott
fled the company. Companies 1,
and ; and the hook and ladder re
epondsd. In few minutes Chief Mil
)er cav = hard task was before him
and his men and No. 4 company was
called. Az many lines Of hose as
could be attached to the water plugs
) IN the vicinity were laid. 1t was nee
esUaxy to cross the railroad tracks
Wl0 Ne hose and several trains were
Oelave4 Aps about two hours before
thGy could leave or enter the station
Both freight and passenger trains
@sre 0aeke6. an4pT the latter being
- Is - ~ eEdbAGD and Indians