Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1919 — FRANKFORT GARAGE IS BURNED [ARTICLE]

FRANKFORT GARAGE IS BURNED

122 AUTOS DESTROYED AN# ENTIRE SECTION OF THE CITY THREATENED. Frankfort, Jan. 26.—'Fire of unknown- origin today totally destroyed Ithe Model machine shop, a three story building on East Clinton street, and 122 high priced automobiles which were stored in the garage, the total damage being estimated at more than $175,000. Burroading buildings ■. wcredflßßaged by the intense heat and by an explosion which occur re d at. 2:30 o’clock this morning about thirty minutes after the fires was discovered. A’t first “ft believed an entire section of the city would burn as sparks were flying south and east as far as the city limits, and calls for assistance were sent to Lafayette and Kokomo. After the explosiop, which shook the whole town, the roof cavedin.the front, rearand east walls fell on the fire and the fire fighters thus aided, the calls for help were cancelled and within a few hours the firemen were able to. get the conflagration under control. The firemen had the blaze in 'hand ,by 7 o’clock .this morning but tonight some debris in the rear of the building became ignited and the department was again called to the scene. J. D. Miller is manager of the garage and Perry Oaffee, who is in the service of Uncle Sam, owns the building. The intense heat of the fire cracked the glass in several buildings near the burning, garage and the prisoners in the Clinton county jaal, but twenty feet across an alley from the blaze, were terror stricken. Windows an the high school building were shattered by the explosion and cracked by the terrific heat. The local telephone exchange is located on the second floor in the building adjoining the garage and with the exception of an Associated Press telephone cricuit to Indianapolis, Kokomo was completely isolated from the outside world as for -telephone communication. Local telephone communication was discontinued for several hours, but tonight all butt about 500 phones were working. There were 122 cars in the garage when the fire, which started in the office, was discovered. There were several Packards, Cadillacs, Maxwells, Hupmobiles, a large number of Buicks and a few Fords. About one-half of the cars were insured. There was a Stutz car in the fire and al Ithat could be found of it was a piece of the crank shaft.