The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-08-04
DESTROYED
BY fire
We're Two Homes In The
Village Of Lexington
Flames Started From Some
Blazing ParaffiRG
And Spread With Rapidity To
Two Houses
Residents Turn Out And DO
Much Good Work
In Saving Other Property
That Was In Danger

Lexington, o., July 31.-The village
of Lexington was visited by dis
astrous fire late Wednesday after
noon, two residence properties hay
ing been destroyed by the blaze and
nearly all of the contents of one Of
them having been burned.
The fire started few minutes af-
ter 4 o'clock at the home Of Mrs.
Fannie Craig, who has been i'll for
the past several weeks, having been
out driving at the time with a rela-
tive.
Her daughter Beva and Barbara
Logan, a girl friend, we're at work
in the kitchen preparing parafllne In
which to preserve butterfly, the
girls being interested in securing a
number of verieties of butterflies for
preservation.
The parafline, which was being
heated ran over the edge of the pan
onto the stove and caught fire. This
frightened the girls and they threw
water on the parafiine, hoping to put
out the fire but this caused an explo-
sion which set fire to some loose wall
paper hanging from the rather low
ceiling and the girls, now panic
stricken, ran from the house to sum
mon assistance. The Craig girl ran
to the square, "A couple of blocks dis
dant from her home, before she found
anyone to whom she could appeal for
help and by the time men reached
headway that 1t was impossible to
control II with the meager facilities
at hand and the entire structure was
soon a mass Of flames, time having
been given to take out only few
pieces of furniture.
TO the west and separated from
the Craig home by only narrow al
ley was the home of Ray McCueu
and this also caught fire In short
time but opportunity WAS given tC
get practically everything out ol
work OF clearing the rooms having
started as soon as possible by the
crowd which had quickly gathered
The entire population of the vii
rIagge turned out to give assistance
either in the bucket brigade or IN
helping to take out the contents OF
endangered houses and a telephone
call was sent to the Mansfield fire
department asking II assistance could
he sent. Chief Knoliiock secured al
automobile and with the Rev G. A
Kienle and Howard Miller made the
"trip 10 Lexington in thirteen minutes
He found that the spread of the fir,
had been checked and that II woult
do no good at that time to try TO sent
any fire equipment from here.
During the fire sparks set fire L
the roof OF the ID. X. Andrews home
but q close watch was being kept TO
such occurrences and the blaze wa
extinguisbed before 1t had chanc
TO gain headway.
The Christian church. which /
near the burned properties, was Ell
dangered for a time but as resul
OF the efforts OF the bucket brigad
did not catch on fire.
The property occupied by Mri
Craig and family was owned by Joh
Fish, who occupied one of the ul
stairs rooms and who lost his clotl
ing and $50 in money which he ha
left in one OF his pockets. He carrie
some insurance on the building.
The property occupied by Ray Nj
NCuen and family was owned by Fire
Walter who also carried some insu
ance
The Craig family Is staying ter
porarily with relatives in Lexingtc
'snd the McCuen family mas moved i
30 the Engelhart property