Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Hesperia Union March 16, 1911 ROWLAND'S MILL GOES UP IN SMOKE - FIRE IN HESPERIA EARLY SUNDAY MORNING About one o'clock last Sunday morning Oscar A. Rowland's saw-mill burned to the ground with all its contents. When the fire was discovered it had gained such headway that it was impossible to save any of the small tools which were in the building. Cause Unknown It was impossible to tell how or where the fire caught as the building was ablaze from one end to the other when it was discovered. It is supposed that the ashes were taken from under the boiler room as usual and contained some live coals. The wind was n the north and blew them into the build- ing. The First Person to See the Fire Mrs. A. J. Wright was probably the first person wo saw the fire. Mrs. and Mrs. Wright occupy the rooms over their cafe. Mrs. Wright had retired and Mr. Wright was in the cafe with some customers. Mrs. Wright saw the light from the fire reflecting on the wall of the room and thought that their building was on fire. There was a knife lying on a chair near by and she threw that through the stove pipe hole in the floor, thinking to attract the attention of the people down stairs and then she fainted. Mr. Wright heard the knife as it came through from the room above and thought his wife was giving him a hint to close the store, and in about 15 minutes the customers left and he went out doors to look around, as he always does, as he is usually the last business man to close up, and saw the fire and ran to ring the fire bell, which aroused the whole village. The Night Watchman's Story Herbert Binns, the nigh watch, made the state- ment that he was all around the mill at twelve o'clock and everything was all right at that time. He said that he then sat on top of the boiler and dropped asleep for a few minutes and was awakened by a crackling noise, and discovered the mill was on fire on the second floor near the slab saw. He saw at once that it was more than he could exting- uish with pails so he ran for the fire bell and when he got to the printing house, the bell began to ring. Chancy Hubbard, the engineer left the mill about nine o'clock and called the nightman's attention to some coals in the ashes. The First Man on the Scene Sam Giggy, who lives about a half block from the mill was the first man on the scene of the fire. He arrived just as the bell began to ring and said that the boiler soon was entirely gone and the mill was on fire from one end to the other. Ben Giggy and Charles Rumsey went past the mill about 12:15 and saw a bright light in there, but thought it was the night watch with his lantern. Firemen Unable to Save Building The firemen arrived in a remarkable short time after the alarm was given, but the fire was burning so fiercely that it was impossible to save the building and they directed their efforts to saving the tramway and lumber piles and they had a hard fight for that. The sparks carried over two blocks, and every one living south of the mill felt considerably easier when the fire was out. The firemen worked steadily until nearly six o'clock before they dared to leave. It was supposed that the fire was all out at that time, but a strong wind was blowing and in two hours the ruins were burning again and James Edsell was employed to watch all day Sunday and Sunday night to see that the fire did not get into the lumber piles. When Morning Dawned When daylight broke upon the scene, the charred and blackened timbers lying criss- cross in every direction and the bent and twisted machinery presented a woeful sight in comparison to what the mill once was. A Great Loss Mr. Rowland built the mill 28 years ago and it has run a part of each year since, giving employment to from 12 to 20 men, and it is a complete loss to Mr. Rowland as there was no insurance on it. Another Mill to be Secured John Mahan, representing the Nufer Cedar Co. of Whitehall is trying to secure a portable mill to locate here to finish the sawing this spring, which will take about two weeks. Humorous Incidents The tragedy was accompanied by many humorous incidents. Some of our citizens had the time of their lives getting dressed. One could not find the way into his clothes; another could find only one sock until he got to the fire, when he found the missing one around his neck. One man got into a crook of the hose and the firemen gave it a pull and the man stood on his ear for a few seconds; another man got in line of one of the nozzles and thought that being hit in the solar-plexis with a 3-inch stream of cold water on a cold and windy morning was no joke. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================