Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-20
H'B'G COMPANIES
AT HIGHSPIRE FIRE
[Continued From First Pagel

ISOntInlIcu FROM t1fSJ rage
time, when it was seen that the Orris
home could not be saved, to prevent
the fire from reaching the church.
which stands within Il few feet of the
frame dwelling. Their efforts brought
little results as the flames set fire to
insulation on electric wires running
into the church, then spreading under
the entire roof.
Water From Frozen Creek
To fight the fire, one line of hose
was stretched more than a thousand
feet from a creek at the lower end
of the town where the Hope Fire En-
sine of Harrisburg, was stationed. To
get the water, firemen had to cut
through four inches of ice and then
shovel out the mud and slush ice to
prevent the engine from clogging.
Near the end of this line n '"r'' joint
was placed so that two streams could
be attached.
The only other line of hose was
1880 feet long extending through the
main streets of the borough from the
Htghspire Distillery But for the as
sistance of the Harrisburg and Steel
ton companies, Fire Chief Leedy said
that little could have been done to stop
the blaze and prevent a serious loss.
Blaze Starts at 3 O'clock
Members of the Orris family, at
cred the flames shortly before 3
o'clock. According to Mrs. Orris she
had noticed a strong odor of smoke
for almost two hours, hut after going
through the house could not find the
fire.
She then called Mr.. Orris and to-
gether they began another investiga-
ton finally discovering the flames,
they claim, under the rear porch.
Neighbors were called and the Citi-
zen's Fire Company, of Highspire.
was summoned. For more than two
hours the firemen of the borough,
with only a small chemical stream bat
tied with the blaze, and when they
saw that it was beyond control. sent in
the call for aid from Steelton and
Harrisburg.
Fire Chief o. e. b. Malehorn, of
Steelton, and Assistant Fire Chief
Marion Verbeke, of the Harrisburg
department directed the men when
they arrived, to prevent the destruc-
ton of the church, which was only a
few feet away, but the flames had al
ready eaten their way under the caves
of the roof. Before enough streams
could be played on the church, the
entire roof was ablaze.
Scores of men in the borough who
had arrived at the scene carried prac-
tically all the furniture out of the
Sunday school department, but could
not save any church furniture. S. A.
Brehm, treasurer of the church coun-
Gil, estimated the total loss on the
property at $4,000, with $500 in
surance. Mr.. Orris estimated his loss
approximately at $4,000, partly COW
cred by insurance. Little furniture
was saved by the Orris family, who
had to leave only partly clothed.
The home of Benjamin Offender
fer, on the north side of the church
was slightly damaged by fire and
water, but most of the furniture was
removed. The damage here will not
exceed 500 according to Fire Chief
Leedy.
Incendiary Origin Belief
Fire Chief Leedy also said the claim
that the fire was of incendiary origin
will be thoroughly investigated and
State authorities may be called in to
run down clues.
Numerous people in the borough
during the morning hours bitterly
scored the lack of facilities for fight
ing fire. Although the chemical truck
now in service is motorized, there. is
no plug in the town and the only sup
ply is from the distillery or the creek
at the lower end of Highspire.
Fire Chief Leedy declared that it
would be an impossibility to prevent
the spread of a big blaze at the north
end of the town, and that something
should have been done long ago. A