Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1906 — TRAIN SAVES A TOWN [ARTICLE]

TRAIN SAVES A TOWN

Would Probably Hava Baan Wiped Mb* Out by Fira but for tha Whistle. BLAZE THAT LICKS UP $226,000 Watchman Could Give No Alarm Until the Train Came in—Haircut Ordered by Court. • Greenwood, Ind., Dec. 13.—Fire, of which the origin is not positively known, but which Is believed to have been due to sparks from boilers, completely destroyed the large plant of the J. T. Polk Canning company, on the eastern side of this place. The loss will aggregate $225,000, and about 75 per cent, of it Is covered by insurance. The officers of the company say the plant will be rebuilt. The fire started in what are known ns the pea sheds, small frame structures. In which peas are stored during the canning season. These sheds were not far from the engine room. Could Not Ring an Alarm.

At 2:30 a. m. David Johnson, the night watchman, went into the engine room to look after the fires under the boilers. He stirred up the banked fire and resumed his patrol of the plant In a few minutes he was startled by the reflection of flames coming through the windows. He ran for a bell near the office, one that had been placed there for fire alarm purposes, Johnson grabbed the rope and jerked it violently. The tope broke, leaving the bell high on a post. He then turned back to the engine room to use the whistle to alarm the town. He found the entrance to the room shut off, and there was no way to arouse the citizens except to run through the streets und eiy an alarm. Train Saves tbe Town. Johnson fairly flew Into the heart of Greenwood shouting: “Fire| Fire! Fire! The canning faetory-ts burning!” Johnson was almost breathless when a fortunate thing happened. A Pennsylvania freight train came dashing into Greenwood, and the engineer gave the alarm with the engine whistle. Greenwood awakened to see four acres of buildings In flames. The citizens hurried to the plant, hut it was beyond salvation, and their efforts were directed toward saving the town. But for the passing train’s alarm it is probable that the whole town would have been wiped out. One Man Badly Hurt. While the fire was at its height Frank Peak, one of the volunteer fire fighters, was caught beneath a falling wall and was seriously injured. He was dragged unconscious from a pile of debris, and taken home. He will recover. COURT ORDERS A HAIRCUT Wants the Jury to Have a Fair Show at the Bumps on a Man’s Head. Noblesvllle, Ind., Dec. 13. “The court orders the plaintiff’s hair cut; send for a barber.” This official order is believed to be the only one of Its kind ever made In Indiana, and, as a result, John Phenis, of Cicero, had to occupy a sent before a Jury labile a barber cut his hair. Phenis Is plaintiff against the Indiana Union Traction company, claimingdamnges for personal injuries, having been struck by a work car while driving across the track in a huckster wagon. There was a number of bumps on his head. Several physicians testified that the bumps arose from natural causes, while others asserted that they were the result of injuries sustained In the accident. The court then ordered the plaintiff’s hair cut, and each individual juror examined the head of Phenis.

Pocahontas Hia Ancestors. Greenfield. Ind., Dec. 13. G. H. Owen, of Eden, this county, claims to be a lineal descendant of Pocahontas. He has numerous documents to substantiate this fact. Owen is in his “70‘s” and he and his wife recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Owen hns made a collection of old legal papers, and has several aheepskins, deeds or patents signed by Adams and Jackson, former presidents. Indiana Hetall Merchants, Anderson, Ind., Dec. 13. Ralph B. Clark, of this city, president of the Indiana Retail Merchants’ association, has been advised that the merchants of Evansville have practically completed all arrangements for the seventh anuual meeting of the association to be held In that city on Jan. 13-17. Novel Cause for Blood Poisoning. Columbus, Ind., Dec. 13. —Mrs. Lena Dedrlck, wife of Henry Dedrick, !s dead at her home, west of here, as the result of being struck In the eye by a cow’s tall while milking, a few days ago. A physician pronounced It blood poisoning. She sank rapidly until death came. Took It Out Muzzle First. Frankfort, Ind., Dec. 13.—While taking a shotgun from a buggy on returning from a hunting trip, Harvey Walters. of Middlefork, bad his left hand •hot off, the little finger only remaining. Their Fiftieth Anniversary. Newcastle, Ind., Dec. 13. —The fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Trueblood, was celebrated at their home In tbia city Tuesday.