The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-02-18

BY flames
get within any distance of 1t in safe
ty. The gas could not be shut off
at the gate for the reason that the
water works power house is supplied
by gas from the same company.
Danger of Explosion
Another exciting feature connect
ed with the fire was the discovery of
some gasoline, paints and oils
in a small building located to the
north of the main building. This
fact was made known to the firemen
by employees of the plant and Chief
Fickard stationed two firemen with
a lire of hose at the building and
kept a stream of water on the struc-
ture all the time the fire was in
progress. In this manner the ex-
plosion was prevented.
fortunately there was no one in
jured during the progress of the fire.
although a number of persons had
narrow escapes from falling electric
light wires. The top Of a pole burn
ed eff just west of the main build
ing and a number ofwires fell across
the street. Police officers were on
the scene and kept the crowd back
so that no one was injured.
Passengers Excited
At the time the fire was at it's
height the east bound fast line on
the B. G. o. railroad, due at 1923.
pulled into the station. The pas
sengers were grealy excited over
the fire and every window oil the
west side of the train was raised and
every passenger was looking out to
catch glimpse of the burning build
ings.
Big Crowd Present
Shortly after the fire broke out
a large crowd of people commenced
to arrive on the scene and in a short
time the streets were literally block
AIDED with people. Owing to the in
tense heat it was impossible to get
within a half square of the fire.
The B. &c o. railroad yards were
crowded with people and the streets
were a perfect mass of humanity.
Smoldered All Night
The blaze continued until eleven
O'Clock and it was midnight when the
department returned to the engine
house. After the blaze had been
eXtingulshed the debris smoldered all
night long and occasionally there
would be small blaze start up, but
it would soon die down as every
ching combustible had been destroy
ed.
The Loss And Insurance
AS stated above it is a very diff
ficult task to determine the loss at
the present time. There has been
no inventory for some time and
it is impossible to determine the
amount Of work on the floor at the
time of the fire and what amount
of this work can be saved. Mr.. Is
rael is of the opinion that the loss is
from 100000 to $125,0O0 on which
there is an insurance of $4,000, car
ried in different companies. Another
thing to be taken into account In es-
tlmating the loss Is whether or rnot any
of the machinery can be again used.
or course, If this machinery, or any
part thereof, can again be utilized.
the loss will not be quite so great.
History of the Plant
The Mt Vernon Bridge company
was organized in this city many years
ago, the original plant being located
on West Vine street abutting the
property of the b. & o. railroad COM
pany. Just twenty years ago the
plant was moved to the location
which Is occupied at the time of the
fire on Monday. The plant occupied
a block, extending from Chestnut
street on the south to Sugar street
on the north, The buildings of the
plant were frame with a metallic
covering of some kind.
During the twenty years that the
plant occupied the present location
1t was closed down for some time.
but eleven years ago it was purchas-
ed by the present owners and has
been running full force ever since
The officers of the present company
are James Westwater of Columbus
president and general manager; Jas.