The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-08
0. 6. JENNINGS ESTIMATES FIRE
 LOSS AT $45,000
Special to The F'armer.)

I Fairfield, April 8.-Not since the fire, l some 10 years ago, which destroyed the
 Rubber Factory, has the town wit messed such conflagration as took 1 place yesterday on the side of Osborn l Hill, on the estate of O. G. Jennings. 1 north western portion of the hay lot | of the big central barn, around which 1 was grouped some half dozen other 1 farm buildings, some of them of large proportions. It was about 1:30 p. m. when the fire broke out, and MT Jen-
 nings at once sent one of his auto mobiles to the house of the Hook & Ladder company to take the fire fight ing apparatus to the burning buildings.
 The truck arrived on the spot at 1:46, but it was seen at once that at least the main building could not be saved, as one end was completely wrapped in flames, which were rapidly eating their
 way towards the western end of the
 structure.
 In a short time it was discovered
 that there was no water to be had,
 save very small stream from gar
 den hydrant. All the fremen could
 do was to assist in removing the tools.
 carriages and farming implements, of
 which there was a great quantity. The
 horses, cows, pigs and calves, had
 been turned into the fields before the
 dremen arrived. It was said on the
 grounds that Mir. Jennings had water
 mains connected with those of the
 Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, but
 that they were in bad condition, and
 y161QGQ 0uCs I1CCl6 WaTeT. soon De-
 evident that no human power,
 in the absence of water, could check
 the flames, and such proved to be the case. The large barn was the first
 to go, with all of it's contents in the
 shape of hay, and a well filled corn
 crib. The livery stable next took fire,
 followed by the poultry house house. the
 other smaller buildings, For nearly
 two hours the flames fed upon the buildings without let or hindrance. nr1 $Nd @HN~S A1a<N <AAk fresh material.
 At one time the laundry. which stands across the street from the nv- cry stable, began Sto smoke, and the fence around 1t took fire. By wetting blankets and placing them on the front of the building it was saved. Meanwhile all of it's contents had been removed. By heroic efforts the COW stables, which are situated south of the main buildings, were saved. Men mounted the roof, and with broonns | put out the small fires set by sparks l and cinders. The wind was blowing l in a southwesterly direction, but was his sister were on the grounds, wit | nesses of the fire. MT. Jennings said i to the Farmer correspondent that the | barns destroyed cost Ii1p about S45,- l 900. He was well insured, but could | not give the exact amount. He said 1 that perhaps he had made mistake l near together. But, he added, it is | inconvenient to have them l and I took my chances. | The structures were of Georgia pine, l and they burned like finder | Various theories were advanced yes- terday as to the cause of the fire. | One was that some days ago quan- tity of cornsta1ks had been cut up with which to feed the cattle, and that some of them being wet, spontaneous combustion resulted. When the fire | had nearly burned itself out, and peo- pie were returning to their homes, the Southport fire department put in an appearance. One thing was plain to l all observers, viz, the town has no efficient fire fighting apparatus at present. and if it had ever so good an outfit, 1t would be useless without ! water. The fire had made such pro- gress no chemical engine could have 1uenched the flames, and in the ab- sence of hydrantS and a high pressure there was nothing to do but stand by ii and see the buildings go down.