The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-05-07
FIRE SET IN CHURCH AT MID
NIGHT, IN so-MlLE GALE.
ROPE ON FIRE BELL WAS CUT
NEW METHODIST CHURCH AND
TWO HOUSES DESTROYED.
ENTIRE TOWN SEEMED DOOMED
MEN FRUSTRATED BY HEAT, Wo-
MEN TAINTED AWAY.
40 SMALL FIRES GOT STARTED
CHURCH, BROKEN INTO, SOAKED
WITH GASOLINE.
HEROIC BATTLE a IL HOURS
40 SMALL FIRES GOT STARTED
CHURCH, BROKEN INTO, SOAKED
WITH GASOLINE.
HEROIC BATTLE a IL HOURS
Burning Embers Were Carried to All
Parts of Town-The Church Was In
the Northwest Corner OF Town,
Where Fire Could Spread.

the Northwest Corner Of Town,
Where Fire Could Spread.
Piainview, Neb., May Especial to
The News: The most dastardly case
of fiendish incendiarism ever known
in northern Nebraska resulted in the
burning of the Methodist church, the
Methodist parsonage, the home of e.
N. Alderman and shed Connected with
the Davidson livery barn early this
morning caused the starting of forty
other smaller fires all over the town,
and for four and half hours, in the
sixty-mile gale, threatened destruction
to the entire city of Plainview. =.
Flend Sets Church Attire.
An unknown fire fiend broke the
front doors of the Methodist Episcopal
church open after midnight, went to
the basement of the building, saturat-
ed it presumably with gasoline, applied
a match and retired to watch the en-
tire city of Plainview wiped off the
may by flames. The church is In the
northwest corner of town. Frame
dwellings stood on either side OF 1t.
The sixty-mile gale was from the
northwest and in the teeth of this
tremendous wind the firebug had rea-
son to believe that no power on earth
could check the sweep of the red
sheets Of fame.
Cut Fire Bell Rope.
And on top of setting the fire, the
hell.hound who tried to burn Plain
view diabolically cut the rope to the
fire bell so that no alarm could be
given. Men climbed to the top of the
fire tower and gave the alarm by
hand.
Firemen and Citizens Fight Herocally.
And but for the fact that firemen
and citizens of Plainview worked like
Troians for four and holt solid hours
In the middle of the night, bathing
against an almost hopeless fight, ana
but for the splendid manner in which
the waterworks worked, PlainvieW
probably would be heap of ashes to-
day.
BY the most difficult kind of work in
face of wind and fire, the flames were
finally checked, after they had de-
stroyed the church and two homes.
Men Frustrated, Women Faint.
Men were Frustrated by the heat
and women tainted away in the III
tense excitement and nerve strain OF
the fire. Morton Taylor was prostrat'
ed by the heat and Mrs. Bruce Sires
tainted. Many other men were com
pletely exhausted by the long strain
Some cut their hands on glass ant
many burned their hair and eyebrows
but none was seriously hurt.
New $4,000 Church.
The Methodist church, which wal
completely burned, was a new struc
ture, having been built about two
years ago and dedicated only las
year. 1t was frame building and wal
worth, with the church furniture In
side. about $4,000. There was deb
of $4,000 still on the church, but l
was insured for $4,000.
The parsonage. occupied by the pas
tor, Rev. Mr.. Goodell, was totally de
stroyed. 1t was worth probably $4,000
and was partly insured. Mr.. Goode'
saved about half his furniture ant
clothing.
Mr.. Aldermans house. on the othe
side. was Quilted completely, the wall
alone remaining. The firemen praC
tically tore on the roof to get at tn