The Mena weekly star., 1910-10-06
FIRE DESTROYS
 FINE MENA HOME
Dr. W. C. Vaudiver's Residence Burned to Ground Last Probab- ly luceudiary Origin - Loss
 S4,000. Partly Insured.

Dr. w. c. Vandiver's beautiful sev- en-room home on the corner of De- Queen street and Gillham avenue was completely destroyed by fire, which started a few minutes after twelve o'clock Thursday night. The entire contents were also lost.
 Dr. Vandiver, Mrs. Vandiver and Ralph left Thursday for a few days fishing trip in the eastern part of the county and only Misses Lille and Dovie were here when the house burned. They were staying at the home of Mir. and Mrs. Jack Jenkins, which is just across DeQueen street from the house which burned.
 The cause of the fire is unknown, but the opinion is that it was ofincen- diary origin and that the house was probably thoroughly ransacked before the fire was started. G. F. Crawford, who lives at 1900 Fourth street, went out on his porch just after the alarm had been turned in and says he saw a man running away from the fire along a path over some vacant lots next to Reuben Harrisons home at 1902 Mena street. This morning a waist belong ing to Miss Dovie Vandiver was found near this path, over a block away from the home. Miss Dovie said that she knew that the waist was upstairs in the house on Wednesday evening. There had been no fire in the house since Thursday morning when Mrs. Vandiver had prepared breakfast just before leaving on the fishing trip. The two young ladies were at school all day Thursday and were not in the house till about O clock, when Miss Lille went there for a few minutes only. Everything was all right then.
 The fire was probably first noticed by Will Gates, the barkeeper at the Palace Bar. He had just closed the saloon, mailed a letter at the post office and started across the street to eat a lunch when he noticed the flames. He ran into the Postoffice Cafe and told those in there of it and soon the fire bell was sounding. Three or four struggling volunteer fire men got the hose cart on the scene as quickly as possible, but on account ol the long start which the fire had, were unable to do any thing toward saving the house. They devoted their time to putting out the fire in the barn and saving nearby houses.
 The barn was badly damaged, the side toward the house and the roof be ing burned. The Oliver Cox house, now owned by the Kansas City Southern Railway, but still occupied by MT. Go, and family, just south of Vandi- s, had close call. It was badly scorched and one window pane wa: broken out by the heat. The bunch O trees which is between it and the house burned was great help in saving 1t This morning big pieces of charcoa were found as far north as the ice plant. It is remarkable that othel fires were not caused by some of tho flying coals.
 The loss is estimated at abou S4, 900 on the house and $1 800 or the furnishings. There was 5000 insurance on the house and $500 in surance on the furniture.
 pr. Sanford of Silver Center wal called Friday morning on the telephon, and asked to locate pr. Vandiver anC tell him of the fire. Later he called and said he had found him on BoarC Camp creek and that he had started at once for Mena.