Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-05-18
HUGH MIDDLETON'S
HOME DESTROYED
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE OCCURS SUM-
DAY MORNING. CONTENTS
ARE RUINED
NEW ENGINE GIVEN WORKOUT
Fire Company Handicapped BY
.Thoughtlessness Of People Driving
Cars To Fire

Fire, which had its origin from
sparks from the chimney, played havoc
with the handsome home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Hugh Middleton, early Sunday
forenoon. The alarm was turned in
as soon as the fire was discovered,
and as speedily as the firemen could
be assembled the new engine was
hurried to the scene. There was con-
siderable delay in getting the newen-
gine to the fire, for no other reason
than that a dozen or more thoughtless
persons drove their cars directly in
front of the engine house on Main
street and then expected the fire truck
to rush from the building to the scene
OF the fire. The second delay was
caused when the fireman reached the
first hydrant west OF the Middleton
home. Here another string Of cars
were lined up. These had to be NOV /
ed before the engine could get with
in proper distance Of the hydrant. The
high wind Sunday morning famed the
flames furiously, and by the time the
fire company were ready to throw
stream OF water, the entire roof was
In flames, and for time it looked
as II the entire building would burn
to the ground. All OF the household
effects belonging. to Mr.. and Mrs.
Middleton were stored in the attic
Of the home, while the family were
using the household goods belonging
to Rev. and Mrs. Kidder, who occupied
the home while Mr.. and Mrs. Middle
ton were in the south. Mr.. Middleton
carried $4,000 insurance on the build
ing and $500 on the contents OF the
home. The greater part Of the heuse-
hold goods on the first and second
floors which was the property OF the
Kidder family, was taken from the
burning building.
Had Manchester not had the fire
engine, there is no question but that
the building would have burned to
the ground. The water pressure in the
mains was 30 light that it would have
been impossible to throw a stream
to the roof OF the building. The high
powered engine. however, threw q
stream of water that soon subdued
the flames.
Chief Issues Warning
Fire Chief A. C. Philip has asked
us to warn persons who are in the
habit Of driving their cars to fires,
to keep off the street on which the /
fire engine is making its run to the
fire. AS soon as a fire alarm is turn
ed in, Main street in front OF the en-
CINE must be cleared OF all cars, SO
that the big engine may be able to
get out on the street and turn In
either direction, without having to
wait for some one to get his car out
of the road. The city ordinance abso-
lutely prohibits anyone from parking
a car within a certain distance OF
fire hydrant, yet the company had to
make some fellows move their cars at
the fire Sunday morning. We would
suggest that owners of cars, better
take this gentle hint from the chief.
If you don't please don't blame the
driver Of the fire engine If he hits
.your car and sends both the driver and
the car into the next township. The
new fire engine is going to get to
the fire, as fast as its power will
get it there, and If anyone interferes
with the work of the fire department,
they can be prosecuted under the city
ordinance.
A word to the wise should be SUI
ficient.