Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-04-06

Continued from page ~

occupied by the families of Will Lay
man and r. D. Olmstead.
There was practically no fire pro-
lection, and the fact that there were
several barrels Of gasoline and some
dynamite in the hardware store, made
work about the place especially dan
gerous Realizing the peril in which
every person about the place was as
long as the explosives remained in
the burning building, women as we'll
as men fell to and rolled out the red
barrels. A bucket brigade Yves formed
IN an attempt to save the buildings
which had not yet caught fire, but as
there were only two or three avail
able pumps the work was slow Chem
icals were used to little avail A line
of small hose was laid to the Layman
resi- +ence and the roof was kept wet.
Several times sparks carried by the
east wind to barns opposite the fire
set them ahre, but they were quickly
extinguished
Shortly before 10 o'clock Mrs r.
J. Lathrop realizing that they were
helpless, telephoned from the post
office to Alma for help. Chas. FISH
beck, Alma's fire chief Immediately
got together what men and equip
ment he could preparatory to going
to the aid OF the neighboring town
Supt. Ruggles Of the Alma ManufaA
turing company, very kindly allowed
the use of the company's truck TO
transport the fire department and its
equipment William Naldreth, man
ager of the Alma Roller mills, also
allowed, without a moments hesita-
ton, the use OF every liquid chemical
extirguisher in his mills. Several lad
ders were packed on the truck,
dozen men clambered on, and the
truck was off. The trip of five miles
to Elwell over roads that were mud
dy and full of ruts in some places was
made in the remarkably short time Of
twelve minutes. John Banders, the
driver of the car, made the trip with
out hitch. Chief Fishbeck and two
others were driven over by Walter
Caple in his car Ralph Miller took
four more. Will Naldreth four, Bert
Forquer drove over in his Brush and
R. c. Saxton drove a team over.
The Alma men under the direction
OF Mr.. Fishbeck Immediately went to
work, but nothing could be done ex-
cept to protect the neighboring build
ings. Stoves and bales of wire fence,
cutlery and harnesses, in fact all kinds
Of hardware were scattered about A
few pieces OF household furnishings
had been saved, also. AS soon as the
flames were under control, the Alma
men returned to this city.
A sad incident of the fire was the
removal of body from the hospital
of DR.. McLaohlan, two doors north
Of the fire The body was placed on
the 10 o'clock train bound east. Short
ly after Geo. Dalrymple was brought
in on a stretcher. He was too badly
hurt to permit an examination, but
after an injection OF strychnine he re-
vived somewhat. He fell about six
teen feet, lighting on his hips His
injuries were very painful
The Alma men making the trip to
Elwell were Chief Chas. Fishbeck
| ]. s. Knoertzer, Fred Delavan, Carl
Walters, Sidney Haas. Bert Thomp-
son, Ray Fulton, Ed. La Fontine,
Fenton Fishbeck and Carlyn Delavan
Mr. Fishbeck expressed his apprecia-
ton and gratitude to Mr. Ruggles for
the use Of the truck and to Mr. Nal
dreth for the use of the extinguishers.
The trip was triumph for the truck
as it was very difficult trip to make
in the short time Of twelve minutes.