Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1890 — “TheSoda-Fountain” Vindicated. [ARTICLE]

“TheSoda-Fountain” Vindicated.

Last Friday evening H. J. Dexter’s house, across the river, took fire from a defective flue. The fire began in the shed roof of the kitchen, and from there communicated to the main building. The members of the famjily and near neighbors began to get Ito work with buckets, as soon as the fire was discovered. They threw a great deal of water, but the fire was in the attic where it was difficult to reach and though the progress of the lire was checked, there seemed scarcely a possibility but that the building would be totally destroyed, and therefore everything movable inside the building was hastily carried out. The fire alarm was sounded as soon as practicable, and in a commendibly short time, considering the distance to the fire, the roughness of the street and the scattered condition of

the fire company, the little chemical engine and the hook and ladder truck arrived at tlw scene. On arriving at the fire, a hole was cut in the roof to enable the nozzle of the engine to be inserted inside the blazing garret, the pressure was turned on and the fire was quenched like a candle under a bottle. The result, in fact, was marvellous, and excited the admiration of every beholder whose prejudices against the little -‘soda-fountain” were not entirely hide-bound and rockrooted. In fact, this fire afforded the first good opportunity since its purchase, the engine has had to prove its efficiency, and the result is entirely in Its favor. It is now certain that so loug as the engine is kept m |>roper condition, that it will have great efficiency in] fighting fires, at least so long as the fires are mainly confined within the walls of a building. Mr. Dexter’s loss on the building was in the neighborhood of SIOO, which is covered by insurance. Some considerable loss by breakage and otherwise. was.lnflicted on his household goods. Upon t!>i< part of, hi# loss thro- i- no insurance.