The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-02
SHOP OF An
INVENTOR IS
|. BURNED DOWN
E. R. Drawer, Expert Builder
of Flour Mill Appliances.
Suffers $4,000 Loss at Ear
" Hour Today.
BIG EXPLOSION OF
PRESTOLITE ALARMS
Blow-up in Garage Section Of
Building Fortunately Oc-
Cured Before the Firemen
Went Within.
DANGER FROM BULLETS
Flew Thick and Fast While
Fire Fighters Worked
A Residence District Was
Threatened by Fire.
DANGER FROM BULLETS

The residence district on the west
side Of South Seventeenth street was
threatened with destruction by fire.
early this morning. when fierce blaze
consumed garage and machine shop
in the rear Of the home OF E. n.
Drawer, a well known Inventor OF mill
appliances, ~ South Seventeenth.
street. The loss was nearly $1,000 In
cluding stock, completed machines,
patterns and the building. A two
thousand dollar automobile had been
removed from the building In the
morning. Although incendiarism ID
an origin Of the fire.
Just before the arrival Of the fire
companies. presto-lite tank exploded
within the barn. hurting the burning
fire brands high into the air. and
arousing the neighborhood by the re-
port.
During the fire the lives Of the on
lockers and firemen were endangered
by exploding thirty-two calibre revol-
yer cartridges, which had been plac-
ed In the garage. The cracking OF the
explosives continued until the fire was
well under way. but no one was struck
by the flying bullets.
A Spectacular oiaxe.
The fire was one OF remarkable brill
liancy and lighted up the entire south
estern residence section Of the city.
When Harry w. Thompson. baker,
living at a South Seventeenth street,
arose early this morning he was alarm
ed to find the Drawer machine shop
in flames. Shooting tongues of fire
bursting through the roof and sides
Of the frame building. Before he was
able to turn in telephone alarm the
roof fell in. For few seconds the
heavens were filled fifth fiery bits Of
burning shingles.
Members Of the fire companies say
the flames as they whirled up from the
doomed building, seemed higher and
more fierce than In any fire Of recent
years. The blaze was placed under
control after nearly an hour and q
half of battling against q stiff north
west wind and the tinder-like interior
OF the building.
Inc HuITOuuulH8 UulIOIUkBs mOOtiy
frame, we're wet from the recent heavy
rains, but several times the hose lines
were played on them to prevent 4
possible spread Of the fire. A large
| crowd OF persons watched the fire
men fight the blaze and many Of the
surrounding property owners, used
their garden hose to soak their homes
and barns.
Automobile 10 Saved.
Yesterday morning, Mr.. Drawer re-
moved the lamps, cushions and other
accessories OF his large motor. and
sent it to the paint shop. A handful Of
cartridges were taken from one OF the
pockets OF the machine and placed in
a paper box In the garage. The pres
to-lite tank was put nearby. The en-
tire automobile equipment, including
one or two new extra tires. was de-
stroyed.
In the other section of the building,
| and in the upper story. were stored
complete flour mill machines. some OF
them Grated for shipment, also Mr..
Drawers mechanical equipment, stock
and valuable patterns. The flour mill
kmachines are made out of the city.
but assembled, painted and inspected
by the inventor. It is thought about
4 rs Of these machines were totally de-
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