News Clippings.

Reese River Reveille.
Feb 3rd. 1887.
Motor House Fire.

About 15 minutes to 4 o'clock this morning Thomas Karney discovered the fire at the motor house, at that time the roof was ablaze but had not gained much headway. He immediately gave the alarm by ringing the bell at the Manhattan Hose house. By this time James and John Nagle, living close by, were awakened and rushed to the fire. The door was shut and it took some time to batter it down. A. E. Johnson, W. E. Jackson and John Malloy arriving they set to work to pull out the motor. The flames were consuming the framework or cab, and the smoke being dense and stifling, it prevented the men from working to any advantage. But the hose belonging to the motor house was found and water turned on. The fire was quench slightly at the end of the motor next to them so they could see what they could do. Jackson entered the cab having a stream of water thrown upon him and threw off the break. The flames were all around him. He also had to crawl underneath to take out a block which was before the wheel. There were six persons altogether who tried to pull the engine out by catching hold of the cow catcher. Frank Dixon and others arrived, and some one bringing a wench rope they tied it to the cow catcher and pulled her out, the fire burning fiercely. Frank Dixon stood by the break and stopped her about 40 feet from the house. Shortly before this the boys had got the Manhattan hose cart just below the shop and the hose was stretch from the hydrant across the ditch to the fire, and as soon as the nozzle was secured the water was turned on. As the motor came out the boys directed the nozzle upon her, putting the fire out in a short time after which the whole attention of the fireman was turned to save the motor house. The fire had consumed the roof but the strong force of the stream soon began to show its effect by checking the fire. In about an hour's time the fire was over. The roof of the building was burned, leave only a shell, but the walls being adobe were not damaged in the least. The cab of the motor was badly damaged, the windows melting but there was no damage to the machinery or the motor proper, with the exception of the woodwork. The Eagle Hose Company came promptly with their hose cart, but there being only one hydrant they did not use their hose. Luckily there was no wind otherwise the Boston mill and the hoisting works of the Samson mine would have been in danger of catching fire. Those holding the nozzle had their hands benumbed with cold and their close wet. Chief Engineer J. E. Farrell directed the firemen in their work. This is the second time the motor has been burned. The flames lighted brightly the surrounding neighborhood, and there must have been fifty men altogether congregated, coming from every quarter of Austin. Almost every member of the Manhattan Hose Company was ready for duty. It is supposed the fire originated by a spark from the smoke stack.