The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-07-27
lINDStY'S BARN BURNS
A Stallion and Jack Burn to Death
when Fire Destroys the Big
Barn of O. N. Lindsey.

The big barn of @. M. Lindsey on
Commercial street, just across the
street north from the electric light
plant, was destroyed by ire last
Thursday evening which was discOv-
cred about $50 o'clock, and for a
time the business district of the city
was in great danger. When the tire
was discovered the whole interior oI
the big barn seemed to be q mass OF
flames, and fine draft stallion and
a Kentucky Jack owned by Mr.. Lind
sey were burned to death ;as it was
impossible for anyone to enter the
barn after the fire Was discovered.
The origin of the fire rs unknown,
but more than likely it caught from
q waste paper fire which had been
burning just west of the barn during
the afternoon and probably the dry
grass caught between the fire and
the barn or a piece of burning paper
was blown into hay around the barn.
Andrew Lindsey, who cared for the
stallion and Jack WIS at the barn
about O'Clock and bedded the ami
mails for the night, after which he
locked the barn and started home,
stopping at Frank Marshall's livery
barn where he had been talking with
the men there for more than an hour
before the fire broke out. Mrs. H. A.
Wright had been sitting in front of
Mr.. Wnght's implement store, just
across the street al evening and she
did not notice the fire until it was
ready to burst through the Sides
The stallion and Jack which were
burned were valued at about $1,000
and were insured for $4OO in the
Sigler agency. There was $500 in
surance on the barn in A. J. Aliens
agency. ~ra>,....S
1t was only by prompt and effect
i've work on the part of many citizens
that the fire was confined to the
barn as it threatened the buildings
to the west and north. The frame
buildings west of the barn were on
silre . number of times, but the fire
fighters were able ITO put. them ont
The shese attached to the electric
light water system at Benefiefs cafe
was used to good advantage as it was
carried down the alley between the
Farmers & Traders State Bank and
Hamilton7s barber shop, and the
water thrown on the sides of the
building and in buckets which were
carried to the roofs by many men.
The two fire engines were used to
good advantage, but much valuableI
time was lost on aueOunt of getting
them to work and on account Of
leaky and rotten hose. Burning en-
bers were carried all over the north
east part of the city, and several Of;
f,oov hN1f hn ct cS1 n
of the square we're tun fire at differ
ent times, but many men we're watch
ing them and these fires were
quickly put out. Uhe narrow es-
cape of the business district from
most disastrous fire, has aroused our
business men to the necessity of bet
ter fire protection, and a reorganiza-
tion of the fire department is de-
manded. Several years ago Leon had
most proficient force of fire fight
ers, but the old company was dis
banded and since then the engine
and other apparatus has been sadly
neglected, the members have not
continued the fire drills and the need
of better force of fire fighters is
evident to all. Perhaps by and by
we will have our waterw0rks system
installed and then the city will have
good fire protection, but 1T will take
some months yet to complete the
system and on account of the drouth
there is great danger of fires in all
parts of the city.
The Decatur County Mutual Tele-
phone Co. we're heavey losers in
the fire, as three of their cable lines
were burned and many city and rural
phones were put out Of commission
by the fire. The loss to the telephone
company will be several hundred dol
lars and they carried no insurance
on their lines. The linemen went to
work the next morning stringing
temporary wires to connect as many
of the phones as possible with the
central Office, but it will be some
time before the damage done by the
fire can be repaired.
Chautauqua Giving Satisfaction.
Wo have received comics Of the