Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1898 — A Bad Fire. [ARTICLE]

A Bad Fire.

The Rensselaer Planing Mill Destroyed Wednesday Mornjng. Good Work By The Firemen Saves A Much Greater Loss. . HJf Rensselaer had another quite bad fire at an early hour last Wednesday in which property worth $4,090 was destroyed, and much indirect loss from the destruction of the business will also be sustained. The fire was in W. C. Babcock’s planing mill, on Vine street, near the railroad, and near Mr. Babcock’s mill and elevator. The fire was discovered about 2:30 by Mr. Norman, and had a big start when discovered. The fire alarm was sounded and the fire company got

there very promptly, considering the time of the fire and the distance to the place. The fire was under too great headway to hope to eave the planing mill proper, but close along its north side was a long stretch of corn cribs filled with corn. These and other cribs, the Lay trnrn, mill and elevator wore all so closely connected that if the cribs had once got fully on fire, the whole property would almost certainly have been taken. The cribs next the mill got on fire for 20 feet or more, on top and sides, and at one time the heat was so great that the line of bucket men were driven back and could not reach the fire with water. Right here the little chemical again demonstrated its great efficiency, when used at the right time. It was got in position and a stream of fire extinguishing liquid thrown on the burning cribs 'and the fire was subdued, alihost and thereafter the bucket men had no difficulty in keeping it under control. The big fire cistern built some time ago by Uncle David Nowols was brought into requisition and proved of inestimable value.

The planing mill was covered with iron, and that was us great help in preventing the spread of the fire to the adjoining sheds. The planing mill was built about 6 years ago by Frank Osborne, and was sold to Mr. Babcock four years ago. It contained a large amount of excellent wood working machinery, a good engine and boiler and also about §7OO worth of lumber. It bad been closed for about two weeks but would have resumed operations again this week. The machinery is believed to be all totally ruined, wirh the exception, perhaps, of the engine boiler. There had been no fire of any kind in the building for many days, and the origin of the fire is entirely unknown, but it is suspected that tramps may have got into the building to pass the night and started the fire. There is also always a possibility of fire by spontaneous ccnbustion, in case oily rags or waste happen to be laying around in out-of-tho way corners. The loss on the building and machinery is estimated .at $4,009 and on this there was an insurance of $1,500. .