The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-14

EATON, O., Jan. 14--While several
theories are advanced. yet no definite
conclusion has been reached at this
time as to the origin of the f1re that
early Thursday morning Quilted the
Eaton Tire Service company's garage,
taking SO automobiles as toll, and
swept into ruins the White Star OH
company's offices on the second floor
of the two-story brick front section of
the building.
One theory advanced is that wires
in one of the cars might have become
"shorted" and started the disastrous
blaze. Another is that it might have
from some part of the apparatus in
the vulcanizing department in the
rear of the building, near where the
fire was first discovered. A third is
that a pile of ashes lying against a
wooden wall of the building on the
outside might have been responsible.
Fire Chief George Shaver states he
has reached no conclusion. He in
clines to the belief that the fire win
eventually have to be recorded as
many others-"origin unknown"
Ruins Undisturbed.
The ruins of the building today re-
NAMED just as they were left by the
fire department after it had quenched
the last smouldering embers of the
debris. Nothing will be moved or dis
turbed until after instance adjustors
have viewed the wreckage and COM
.pleted their adjustments.
Lined up on either side of the de-
'hris-strewn floor of the building are
the SO cars, twisted. battered and rep
resenting so much junk. Nothing but
the hulls of the bodies remain, with
every vestige of wood and upholster-
ing gone. The lineup reminds one of
so many soldiers. They range from
the modest Ford to the pretentious
sedan. In the ruins of a small store
house of Eikenberry & McFall, furni-
ture dealers, are the remains of a
light truck and touring car.
E.. G. Wysong, local man, owner OF
the burned building. today declined to
make any definite statement as to his
plans to rebuild. His loss will reach
around $4,000 or $4,000, according to
present estimate. He also owns the
building occupied by Eikenberry & Nc
Fall, which escaped the flames with
very slight damage. 1t is said he had
only $1,000 on the garage building,
and $4,000 on the Eikenberry & Nc.
Fall building.
Ross Focht Of the Eaton Tire Serv.
ice company. places his loss at prob.
ably $4,000 or $4,000, well covered by
insurance. He has a stock of new
tires, which escaped injury, that he
values at approximately $4,000. Al
though the office quarters were more
or less damaged by smoke and water,
the company resumed business Thurs.
day forenoon as best it could under
the circumstances.
Charles Frech, officer and manager
Of the White Star Oil company, re
sumed business Thursday forenoon, a
few hours after the fire, in temporary
offices in building of the Eaton Tele.
phone company He roughly estimates
his company's loss at $4,000, with sui
ficient insurance to about cover the
loss.
Ralph McFall of the Eikenbery &
McFall company, is in Michigan at
tending furniture manufacturers
and dealers convention and no accur
ate estimate of the company's loss is
obtainable, although it is thought il
probably will reach $4,000 or $4,000
Frank Eikenberry, of Camden, is the
other member of the company. He
would not estimate the loss, as he said
he was unfamiliar with the stock OF
the burned warehouse. He operates
furniture store in Camden.
Twelve Cars Insured.
Twelve of the automobiles were in
sured, according to information OBJ
tanned from local insurance agencies