Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-12-16
meal BENNETT HOME
DESTROYED BY FIRE
High Wind Contributes to Loss
as Result Of Defective Flue-
Partial Insurance


The home and residence build
ing of Neal Bennett, two-story
frame house, West Main street,
was almost totally destroyed by
fire shortly before noon Thursday
when fire broke out near the root,
presumably from defective fue.
The building and most of its con-
tents were destroyed, the fire
gaining an impetus that proved
uncomfortable by the high wind.
Neighbors, upon seeing the fire,
broke into the building and car-
ried out much of the furniture
from the ground floor, Mrs. Ov-
erton Harber, who with her hus-
band. occupied a portion of the
house, being absent from home
at the time. Mrs. Harber stated
the fires were as usual when she
eft the house shortly before 10
o'clock. The Harbers sustained a
'oss Of several hundred dollars as
| result of most of their clothing
and wedding presents{ besides.
some furniture, being on the sec
ond floor Of the building.
The Bennett loss will probably
exceed $1,000 on the building and
half that amount on the house
lold goods. The latter lwere in
iured for $1.5OO, and the building
for $4,000. Much of the clothing
nd furniture on the first floor
we're saved through the energetic
,fforts of neighbors. However,
IL above this floor was consign-
d to the flames, which were driv-
II from the front of the house,
there the fire started. through
he entire building. The second
loor was swept within a short
ime. The efforts oil the fire de-
parment proved effective below
his, and they saved I garage and
.wo other smaller buildings near
he house. Two lines d. hose,
were laid, being conrccteF from
he Main street l,iug. Thf hose
was in good condition.
Mr.. Bennett stated that wi;iie
the house had been rebuilt Is
Years ago as the result of aNfIre,
the structure was good and could
not be rebuilt at present FOR the
sum representing the building
cost then. The insurance viii
not cover one half Of the loss, it
S believed. Stculd the house be
rebuilt, which will probablyo be
the case, according to Mr.. Ben
nett, it will require building thru
out, owing to the damage to the
lower portions
Stone Maupin, in charge of the
fire truck, stated that the fan on
the truck front broke just before
the scene of the fire was reached,
and gasoline hood was found to
be misplaced, he claimed, which
he could not understand. With
his management, however, these
incidents did not deter the prog
ress made and the hose was soon
brought into play, although the
roof was sheet of flames and
the fire was rapidly eating its
way to the ground floor. The
city fremen were soon upon the
scene and the engine carried two
streams of water in a forceful
manner. The water service
could not be. complained of, many
believing the fremen would be
unable to save any part of the
building.
A part Of the furniture of Mr..
and Mrs. Bennett was removed
to the home of neighbors for the
time being, and a portion stored
in one of the buildings at the rear.
Mrs. Bennett is in the east on ac
count Of i'll health.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harber are called
upon to look out for a temporary
home. Neither Mr.. Bennett nor
Mr.. and Mrs. Harber have def
nite1y decided as to future plans
regarding their homes.