Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-14
BAD FIRE IN
BLOOMSBURY

a fire of unknown origin broke out
in Bloomsbury Sunday morning, in
which a dwelling was partially burned
and four barns along with much of
their contents destroyed, causing to-
tai loss of about $l2, 900 partially COW
cred by insurance.
The fire was located in the heart of
the residential part of the town at the
rear of the First Presbyterian church
on Market street. 1t originated in the
barn of William E. Hartman shortly
after 4 O'Clock and spread successfully
to the barns of Jacob Keller, Jerry
Hess and Fred NJ Gilmore. From the
latter barn the fire communicated to
the dwelling on the same lot owned by
Mr.. Gilmore and tenanted by John
Savitts. The barns were all situated
on Murray alley, the house around
the corner on Anthony alley.
Thrilling incidents abounded. Will
liam e. Hartman is the owner of the
bus line running TO the Pennsylvania
station. In this barn, beside his wag-
ons, harness and large supply of
feed, were five horses. When the fire
was discovered the upper part of the
barn was a mass of flames. Freas
Boon, whose residence is situated near,
was the first to reach the scene of the
fire He was Immediately followed by
Mr.. Hartman. They arrived just in
the nick of time to save the horses.
Mr.. Hartman dashed into the burning
barn and although the straw compos-
ing the bedding was on fire he sue
ceeded i'll leading out one of the horses.
Mr.. Hartman is afflicted with heart
much for him; he fell to the ground
insensible. AT this juncture Mr.. Boone
proved "a hero. At the first sight of
the fire he had hurried out of his house
without shoes. When Mr.. Hartman
gave out, in his bare feet he dashed in
to the stable over the burning straw.
BY this time the horses names were
on fire and their halter straps were
burned He delivered one of the horses
to Mrs. Hartman, who stood at the
door and returning again and again
through the fire succeeded in getting
out all three of the remaining horses.
By this time the fire had spread to
the adjoining barn, where four horses
were stabbed belonging to the prop
rietor of the Reading bus line. The
horses, along with number of carri-
ages, wagons, harness. etc, were saw
ed.
The fire department was on hand in
good time, but when it arrived the
four barns were doomed.
In Mr.. Keller's barn was his auto
a fine Stanley steamer. The
door was locked and there seemed to
be no way of saving the machine,
when W. l.. White, prominent resi- /
dent, broke in a window and leaping
into the building succeeded in open
ing the door. after which the machine |
was pulled outside only slightly dam
age.
The house occupied by the Savitts
family was soon on fire. The inmates
proved to be sound sleepers. Although |
the roof and one side of the house |
were burning it was impossible to 7.
arouse them, until a window of one of /
the sleeping rooms on the second story /
was broken in by stones thrown by the .
crowd. All the household goods were /
saved The fire was soon eXtinguish- !
ed but not until the roof and one side /
of the dwelling were badly damaged. |!
Several other buildings ignited but /
the fire was soon eNtInguished.
The heaviest loser is William +. /
Hartman, who lost busses,a "A baggage !
cart, a surrey, buggy, a sleigh, sew !
eral wagons, sleigh runners, II sets of |
harness, carpenter tools, 800 bushels
of corn, 250 bushels of oats and four
tons of hay. The loss is not fully cover |
ed with insurance. The losses sustained |
by the other parties is pretty we'll COW
cred
There is no theory as to the origin of
the fire.