Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-05
COL. HITS HOMESTEAD
IS DESTROYED BY
FLAMES
$400 IN CASH LOST
ROBERT lLiFF AND SON, SOUTH
OTTAWA DAIRY MEN. HAVE
EARNINGS EITHER STOLEN OR
DESTROYED IN DESTRUCTIVE
SATURDAY NIGHT BLAZE.

Fire of mysterious origin Saturday
night at $50 o'clock entirely destroy
ed the farm house of Robert llift
South Ottawa dairy man. causing a
loss to Mr. Tiff and Rector G. Hit
owner OF the farm. OF approXimately
$4,000. Despite heir response to an
urgent appeal for help, the deport
ment, which made 4 run outside the
city limits. to lend MIR. llin what aia
possible. there was nothing the train
ed fighters could to save the buiid
ing En an hours time the .welvc
roomed residence was only mass
OF smoldering ruins with furniture
clothing and other valuables totally
consumed.
Presence In the home OF almos,
$500 in money, besides jewelry, com
bined with the announcement that m,
telephone was ont Of commissions
when Mr.. llff tried TO call the flremen
gives rise to the theory that incendiar
ism. with robbery as the motive, lies
behind the sconfagraton.
ineendiarism ana Robbery.
Mr., lllff admits that he had $22
concealed in the house, while his son
Elmer llif, had in his clothing $50
which he was to use on a trip 70 Chi
caeo, Besides these two large sum,
toy bank, containing sl2 in silver
disappeared. Other articles whicl
lay near the small bank have beer
found but no trace has since been
had bf the savings II an incendiary
is responsible for the loss he wa,
possessed Of enough criminal cunning
to prevent the use of the telephone BY
making it unserviceable, as safe
guard against his being detected al
his operations.
The blaze was first discovered by
Mr.. lliff, while he was coming intC
the lanyard after completing ht
milking and evening chores The
entire upper part Of the house, whicE
was protected by lin roof, was ;
roaring caldron of flames and hyinl
sparks. Runnings into the residence
Mr. Iliff undertook to call the lie
men, but found the phone out Of com
mission In the excitement Of th'
moment he did not take time to eX
anime into the phone to ascertain
what caused ii to be useless. II,
summoned neighbors who sent in tn,
alarm to the department.
Save Col. Hit RELICS.
People from nearby. the lliH farm
being just outside the city limits
rushed to help save the remainin
buildings. and do what they coul,
towards geeting the contents ont o
the house. The house, being the oil
homestead of the late Col Hit, an
one OF the historic landmarks of th
community, contained many priceless
relies gathered by Mr.. Hit. Fortl
nately they we're all taken to safet
and preserved to posterity, Ate
rescuing the Hit collection the me
gave their attention to removing tn
furniture but this task was prove
hopeless. The piano was gotten a
far as the door and there had to b
abandoned.
Stretch 1000 Feet Of Pipe.
The truck was first TO reach tn
scene but by the time the men lai
aid connected up two thousand ie'
OF hose. the length required from III
Marcy street hydran' to reach II
doomed structure, flames had game
such headway the water pressure WI
of little avail. Chemicals were use
in large quantities but they didr
even make an impression on the fir
When IL was seeA the house was b
yond saving all attention was pa
to the nearby farm buildings, ever
one of which was saved Tho pil
stretched from the corner Of Mar,
and Glover streets was the longe
ever used by the local department, a
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