The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-28
Quick Work on Part of the
Department and by the
Church Members Prevents
A Serious Blaze.
FIREMAN JOS. MILLS
SUSTAINS AN INJURY
Toe Broken and Foot Crushed
BY Ladders Fall Priests
Help Fire Fighters Subdue
Flames.

Help Fire Fighters Subdue
Flames.
That st. AndrSw's church. South
Tifth and c strAets. shoald be struck
By lightning ami set on pre- in identi-
cally the SANG spot as itsswas struck.
and set on ffe, and subsequently de-
stroyed. nin} years and welve days
ago. almos. ITO the minute.sls regarded
ls an odd coincidence.
The chu{ch was struck " lightning
turing th{ severe storm hst evening
a little before nine o'clock. The bolt
hit the aktic. above the altar. at the
east end fof the edifice. FIRE resulted
but cauaed little damage rs the fire
men and members of the church were
able to iget to the scenes Of the fire
before \ got beyond control.
Joseph Mills. one OF the firemen OF
No. hose company. while attempting
10 asceid an extension ladder which
had beeh placed alongside the church
sufferedla painful injurt. The ladder
had not been securely fastened in the
caves Of the roof andfa as soon as he
mounted \he second }section. it fell,
hlighting d his rig)ft foot. His big
Eoe was brdAen AMI the others we're
crushed. Hea~s6 removed to his
home In the ambulance after being
taken to q physician's office where the
injuries were dressed.
loss 70 Very Small.
While the loss TO the church itself
vas almost nothing. yet the fire was
attended BY scenes Of bravery on the
part Of the congregation in attempting
20 save the building. Many men and
women wept while the stronger went
TO the assistance OF the firemen. The
church is one Of the finest In the city.
being brick. covered with stucco. The
Interior. which is finished In the most
Expensive style contains pieces Of
Btatuary and other decorations which
hre the finest in Eastern Indiana.
It Is supposed that the lightning
O'Clock last evening. The bolt struck
the most eastern point Of the attic OF
the church and ran along the timbers
on the inside few feet until It reach
I'D place from where the perpetual
tight is suspended. It was several
much OF start. Frank Vessel, who
was on G street, noticed flames in the
attic through the bulls eye window.
and Immediately summoned help and
sounded the fire alarm. Just previous
% the discovery by Vessel. Rev. Faith
or Roell. pastor. and his assistant,
Rev Father Weiland, had gone
Through the church to see whether 1t
had been struck. However they dis
covered nothing.
littie Water Used.
The fire department upon its arriy-
u soon had the Are out. It was neces-
bary to use little water and chemicals
were employed almost entirely, in fact
30 such an extent that the damage by
water Is practically nothing. Outside
Of . few. charred rafters within the
space Of ten feet, the 1re did no dam
age according to the report OF Chief
3. H. Miller. Although the fire was
out within fifteen minutes after their
arrival, the department did not leave
until half hour later-at 9:45 o'clock.
the time when the steeple fell nine
years ago.
For while the fire looked as though
It would prove serious It was remem-
bered by all that the destructive fire
Of nine years ago burned slowly at
0rst and appeared to be under control
until all at once. when the whole
church became mass of flames
Nothing less than this was expected by
the crowd Of hundreds Of members Of
the church and nearby residents who
collected upon the sounding OF the
large church bell. calling the members
TO the scene The bell was rung loud
and long.
Priests Fight Fire.
Fatehr Weiland assisted the firemen
In putting out the IRE In the attic. In
fact he was there before them. Father
Roell also was on the spot and direct
ed and assisted the flremen Follow
Ing the announcement Of Chief Miller
that the fire was out. they passed
among the large crowd In the church
and on the street. giving words Of
cheer and encouragement Father
ROoll was heard to say to one Of his
parishioners 'sWhat, the headache al
ready: Don't become discouraged: It
d III over: there was little damage
done: give thanks that the damage
was not greater than It was
Tho perpetual lamp. which II Of
gold. and one of the most expensive
ornaments In the church WAS guarded
BY abOut TWENTY-FIVE Of the congrega-
ton, ready to be removed upon an
1nstant's notice. Other objects Of value
were also ssi1ed. ready to Be removed
p : placs = ntsty.