Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1919 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Ttlsgraphic Reports From Many Parts of the ConntrySHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings Ln the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many localities* LEN LEFLER SUSTAINS LOSS When Tecumseh Trail Pleasure Resort Near Lafayette Burns. Len Lefler, formerly of near Rensselaer, suffered a loss of sl,000 or more by fire about 10 o’clock Tuesday night when the Tecumaeh Trail pavlllion and the adjacent buildings were completely destroyed by a fire supposed to have been started from crossed electric light wires in one of the buildings. There was a dance on at the time and some 40 couples were in the dancing pavilllon. There was little or no facilities for fighting the fire and the flames burned over an area about as large as two city blocks in a comparatively short time, destroying many of the trees thereabouts. Tecumseh Trail is located on the west bank of the Wabash river a short distance north of Lafayette, immediate opposite the east entrance to the Soldiers' home grounds. The plot of ground and the buildings were owned by the Ft. Wayne & Northern Indiana Traction company. Mr. Lefler had operated this resort during the summer season for several years and was again operating it this year under a lease. The traction company estimates its loss at froin SIB,OOO to $20,000 and Mr. Lefler’s loss is about |l,000, both of which are understood to have been covered by Insurance. In mentioning of the fire the Lafayette Journal says: "Some of the furniture and equipment after being removed from the building was burned on the spot where the fire fighters had placed it, thinking that it was safe. The flames spread in an incredibly large circle, covering an area as large as two city blocks and it is a miracle that the ticket station at the - entrance to- he Trail was saved either from the spreading fire or from the falling sparks. was practically the only thing of much value that was saved. Mr. Lefler, when his attention was first called to the fire, attempted to use a small hose to extinguish the flames, but owing to lack of sufficient pressure it was useless effort. "The huge blaze to the north of the city attracted a great deal of attention and it was noP long before some 200 or 300 townspeople had arrived at the acene of the conflagration in taxis, private automobiles and in every other conceivable way. The flames shot up for several hundred feet Into the sky, above the tall treetops, scattering blazing faggots and sparks even as far back as the Soldiers’ home settlement. It was one of the largest fires, in point of size, which has occurred ini the vicinity of Lafayette for years. The heat within a radius of 200 yards was terrific. The fire continued to burn with unabated fury for almost an hour, after which time at about 11 o’clock nothing remained but a smoldering mass of embers.”