The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-01
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
At NEW SHARON
ELEVATOR BURNED AND OTHER
BUILDINGS DAMAGED. ~
THE LOSS MAY REACH $4,000
Flame Started About Ten O'clock
Last Night From Some Unknown
Cause - Destroyed Struct-
ures Will be Rebuilt. -

ures Will be Rebuilt. !,
New Sharon, June 30.-Fire of uu-
known origin, starting about 1880
O'Clock last night destroyed the New
Sharon elevator, owned by w. X.
Neill, of this place, and G. f. Nom
yer, of Algona. Several properties
adjoining were damaged to a greater
or less extent and the barn on the
M. cambridge place also burned. To-
tai loss will be between twenty and
twenty-five, thousand dollars, practic-
ally covered by insurance.
The elevator will be replaced at
once. In the meantime temporary
Accommodations will be provided for
the patrons of the. elevator company
and there will be no suspension of
business.
Losses and damage were sustained
by the following:
Neill and Momyer, elevator and
contents.
new Sharon Cement Block Factory,
building damaged.
M. cambridge, barn burned.
Eclipse Lumber Company, dam
aged.
Will Champion, residence ccorch-
ed
Starting about ten.thirty o'clock,
the fire spread with incredible rapid
ity and the whole of the big elevator
building was soon trapped in fame,
from foundation to the top of the
high cupola. The flames shot high
into the air and famed by stiff
breeze from the northwest, burning
embers were carried long distances.
The heat of the fire was intense and
near by buildings were soon smoking
and burning The fire was so fierce
that the property of the Eclipse Lum-
Der Company three hundred feet to
the west was in danger, and piles OF
material in the yards we're soon
smoking. Only prompt and diligent
work prevented the fire taking hold
here.
Fire Spreads Rapidly.
Fire soon spread to the plant of the
New Sharon Cement Block factory
to the south and attention was direct
ed to the building, which at times
was burning tiercely and but for the
continued effort of the fighting force
to save this property, it would have
been entirely destroyed. A consider
able quantity of material was stored
here and willing hands gave assist.
IanCe in removing the contents of the
building to safe distance.
Outbuildings on the M. cambridge
property near the elevator were less
fortunate than the barn, nearest the
burning elevator was soon af1ame
and could not be saved.
viii Champion, who occupies the
old Champion home place, suffered
some damage and only careful fight
ing and watcnfulness saved the resi-
dence from total destruction.
Fierceness of the fire can be inn.
agined when it is known that in a
little more than an hour the frame of
the elevator hal fallen and the big
building was practically in ruins. The
fire however burned through the
night and this morning.
Origin of Fire Unknown.
Cause of the fire cannot be placed
at this time. Some attribute the
blaze to sparks from the NJ & st. l..
Ry which passes to the east short
distance with side track along the
east side of the elevator but others
are inclined to Jisoredit this source.
No fire was about or near the build
ing and when the elevator was closed
early in the evening, everything was
10 X.
Once building of the Neill & Nom.
Yer Company, which was located at
some little distance from the eleva-
tor building was not destroyed and
the business of the firm will be con-
tinued at this place without inter-
Eruption.
Loss on the elevator building alone
represents an investment OF about
fifteen thousand dollars. Contents
of the building amounted to about
$4,000 or $500.
| Loss to the Cement factory, the
| damage to the Lumber Company, the
| burning of the cambridge barn, dam
age to the Champion house and other
incidental damage will bring the total
fire loss to around $25, 600, almost all
of which is covered by insurance.
Fire was first seen by Win Champ
ion, residing near the big frame
, structure. II had good start when
} discovered. AS quickly as alarm was
given and response of the department
made, the fire was beyond control,
, Flames quickly mounted along the
west side OF the building to the roof
and encircled the cupola. The fire
was the most spectacular in the his
tory OF the town. The elevator stands
upon high ground and the flames
| leaping high into the air could be
| seen for miles in every direction from
D New Sharon. The whole town was
Q soon aroused and Witnessed the de-
3 struetion of the property. No Lack or
help was experienced by the fire
fighters but the heat was so great
that near anurOaeh IN the building
o ton was given TO saving adjoining
a properties.
nj Fortunately for the owners OF the
e elevator, little grain was in tho build