The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-06-12
Fire Loss Strikes Local Capitalists.

The following account of the burning
of the mill and lumber yards OF the Cot
toneva Lumber Co., located at Hardy,
California, is taken from the Fort Bragg
Advocate of June 5th Some of the prin-
cipal stockholders of the company are
among our local capitalists, namely
George F. and Harry II. Wat, on, of Tio-
nesta, Hon. f. Y. Kreitler, of Nebraska,
w. A. Dusenbury, of Portvile, N. Y,
and w. r. Page, of Olean, n. Y. r. T.
Buzard, former Forest county citizen,
is the manager and one of the largest
stockholders. Mr.. Watson says the
loss given by the paper is considerably
exaggerated, believing that $3.50, 900 would
cover the amount. The mill was valued
at $4,000 and the amount of lumb Der de-
stroyed was little over one million feet
There was an insurance of $40, 900 on the
property:
At o'clock Tuesday morning the resi-.
dents of Hardy Creek were suddenly
reused from their sleep by the shrill cry
of the mill whistle-the dreaded fire
warning before they we're given
time to put on few clothes, the mill was
a heap of ashes and the lumber yard,
consisting of six million feet of lum ber
was ablaze.
No definite loss estimation has yet been
given, but it is likely to range between
md T.g
quarters state that all insurance was
dropped the first of the year, due to the
fact that their supply of timber was ex-
pected to run out in a few months and
they didn't figure it worth while to take
out a new policy for such short time.
1t is also rumored that the company in
tended to move the mill to Rockport
next summer.
The fire started in the engine room and
spread rapidly in the dry lumber and
grease. The engineer or watchman was
not present when it started. Within a
few minutes the engine was motion less,
the boilers blew up, and the water pipes
burned, thus wiping out all means of fire
protection.
The lumber yard, which adjons the
mill, caught on fire Immediately. Here
the real fight begun. Fire fighting with
buckets against such odds was no small
task, and it was dusk before the flames
were got under control. However, near
ly three million feet most of which was
clear lumber-was destroyed, out of
total of six million feet piled in the yard.
Al forenoon it looked as il Hardy
would be completely wiped out by the
flames. But in the afternoon the wind
went down and DR.. Brown arrived from
Fort Bragg with 300 feet of hose, which
was Immediately put into service. These
two disadvantages caused the fire to lose
ground. Consequently, the wharf, store,
hotel and part of the lumber yard sur
vive the disaster.
Manager Buzard of the San Francisco
office passed through town this morning
by auto. No plans have yet been stated
as just what will be done with the ruins,
but 1t is likely that the wharf and store
will be kept up until all 'the lumber can
be shipped and the remainder of the tim
ber made into ties.
The Hardy Creek mill is situated about
% miles north of Fort Bragg on the coast
and has run for the past l6 years. This
sudden disaster will throw between two
and three hundred men oit of employ.
ment, many of whom have families and
made Hardy their permanent home.