Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1912 — Sparrows Responsible For Early Morning Fire Alarm. [ARTICLE]

Sparrows Responsible For Early Morning Fire Alarm.

The burning of sparrow nests in the kitchen attic of the residence of Simon Hochstettler at an early hour this Saturday morning resulted in the sending in of a fire alarm and the prompt response of the company. Mr. Hochstettler had arisen early, and after starting a fire in the range, had gone to Babcock & Hopkins’ elevator and took W. C. Babcock to the depot to catch the early train, for Chicago. While they were enroute to the depot in an automobile they heard the alarm and when they reached the depot Mr. Hochstettler was surprised to see the fire engine in front of his own home. The fire proved to be a small one, however, and Ed Lane, who' lives across the street, and who is a brother of Mrs. Hochstettler, mounted the roof and subdued the flames with a few buckets of water before the department arrived. Sparrows had carried nesting material into the attic above the kitchen fend this had become ignited from tHe stovepipe. Timely discovery and prompt action doubtless saved the house.