The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-08-05
100000 FIRE CUTS
BRADFORD, o. WORK
OF FIREBUG, THOUGHT

The business section of Bradford.
O., Pennsylvania railroad junction
town of 1000 population, between
Richmond and Columbus, was Destroy
ed by fire early Wednesday, only
blackened ruins and smouldering de-
bris remaining where, few hours
ago, business houses and residences
stood.
Twenty-three business houses and
nine residences were destroyed, the
loss totalling $1000,0 900. The fire
started in the property of Arnold &
Sons Lumber company and ]. H. Lay
er and D. r. Faun, who discovered the
blaze, stated that they noticed an
odor of oil, leading the authorities TO
believe the fire was Of an incendlary
origin. =.
The water supply was exhausted
and volunteer workers, with firemen
from Piaua, Greenville, Covington,
Gettysburg and Versailles, were un-
able to combat the flames. ..I
The principal loser was the Arnold
company, whose loss on buildings
alone reached s15o,O0O. The postofice
and First National bank were destroy
ed. Other losses included Iower 8
drug store; Porter e Slower, furnl-
ture; Ora Slower, photographer; Z. +.
Livingston, poolroom and residence
Star theatre and flat above; the Ar
mold & Iddings elevator; L. Z. Gar
ver's residence; DR.. c. w. Bausmans
office and residence; Fred Durr's res
idence; Albert Wise's residence; l.:
E. Harvey's law office; the Bradford
Telephone exchange and Moore's
hardware store.
The fire was directly north OF the
Pennsylvania railroad Y. M. y. A.
in the block between Miami avenue
and Main street and in this area no.
one building is standing. So great
was the heat that concrete and brick
buildings were reduced to dust. The
block is obliterated, and there is COM
paratively little debris left to be re-
moved before the work Of rehabllla-
ton can be begun.
Immediately after the alarm had
been sounded the entire village was
awakened by the cries of those at
the scene of the blaze, whose reallza-
tion of the danger confronting the
village was evident. The BRADFORD
fire company, with equipment made
cuate for such a fight, was assisted
by citizens.
Hampered as the firemen were by
the small pump and short lines OF
hose the volunteers aided in the pat
tie for 10 hours At II o'clock, when
Il was evident that the town was en-
tirely at the mercy of the flames, tele
phone calls for aid were sent to Plqua.
Greenville, Gettysburg, Covlngton,
Versailles and smaller towns were
called upon for their volunteer orl-
gades.
Within an hour all the equipment
summoned was at the scene, but the
water supply gave out, leaving the
visiting firemen, under the direction
of Chief P. J. Caulfield, of the Piqua
department, to fight the flames with
nerve alone.
The telephone exchange was aDlaze
when the calls for outside assistance
were sent out by Anna Lehman and
Gerna Gutheil, operators. Half an
hour later the building was blacken-
ed mass of ruins. A few minutes
later great masses Of wire fell from
burning cables, and Bradford was cut
off from all outside communication.
Railroad Trains Are Stalled.
PENNSYLVANIA railroad trains by the
dozen, passengers and freight alike.
were stalled at the crossings where
lines of hose were on the tracks, and
passengers and crews went to the aid
of the fire fighters.
Permission was granted by the
Pennsylvania railroad officials for use
of water from the roads towers in
the village, and when the supply of
water was exhausted the railroad Off
Gals placed other equipment at the
use Of the villagers.
snr to %1~
and there is not one bakery, clothing
store or confectionery store. Orders
were sent to Piqua warehouses for
supplies of clothing and food, so that
actual suffering will not add to mis-
fortune the residents have suffered.
Members of the American Legion,
wearing their army uniforms and car