BENNETT HOUSE HAD NARROW ESCAPE

Firemen Fought Fierce Flames Friday Night at School Street Blaze

MUCH LOSS FROM WATER

Fine Furniture Belonging to C. Hasinger and Thos. Dugan Was Damaged.

NO INSURANCE ON DWELLING.

For a time Friday evening Indiana people had good reason to fear that the handsome double house owned by Michael Bennett on School street, near Sixth, would be destroyed by fire. Energetic and efficient work on the part of the volunteer firemen, however, resulted in the flames being confined to the attic of the house.

This house was built to accommodate two families, Clementa Hasinger and Thomas E. A. Dugan being the tenants at this time.

The blaze originated from some trouble in the furnace in the basement on the Hasinger side.

While the family was at supper, Ralph Hasinger remarked that smoke was issuing from the basement. He had, shortly before, attended the [ineligible] fire in the furnace and everything was then apparently in order. Ralph hurried to the cellar and by the use of a small hose attempted to extinguish the blaze. Seeing that the fire was gaining headway, he notified Mr. Dugan, who attacked the flames from his side.

In the meantime an alarm of fire was turned is and the volunteers were soon on the ground. When they arrived the flames had followed the studding between the two apartments and had reached the attic, which was finished for sleeping rooms. There the fire was most stubborn and it frequently broke out in several places through the roof.

The firemen ran lines of hose through the two upper floors and by also throwing streams of water on the roof and eaves, they had the blaze under control within half an hour. During this period Hasinger's carried out part of their furniture and rolled up the rugs, carpets, and mattresses. Practically the same conditions existed as Dugan's.

The losses came principally from the water that leaked down from the attic to the bed rooms. Messrs. Hasinger and Dugan say their financial losses are fully covered by insurance, but many things were disarranged for them.

Mr. Bennett will be compelled to repair numerous holes in the floor, several openings in the roof and also to repaper and repaint several rooms. His loss will reach $800. This is the only residence on which the did not carry insurance.

Indiana County Gazette, Indiana, PA 25 Dec 1907
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!