East Athens, PA Barn Fire, Dec 1907

-----The large barn on the Wheaton farm in East Athens, Bradford county was destroyed by fire on a recent morning together with its contents consisting of hay, straw, and farming implements. Three horses and a calf perished in the flames. Norton Wood, employed on the farm, went to the mow to throw down hay for the stock, carrying a lighted lantern. After throwing down the hay, his hat fell down the chute and leaning over to see where the hat had gone, he also fell down the chute, landing on top of the lantern. He hastily ran from the building and called to Alfred Wheaton. The latter ran into the barn with a pail of water, but such headway had the flames gained that it was useless to try to fight them. Wood ran to a neighbor's for help and Wheaton turned his attention to the horses, succeeding in getting out two. The cows had been milked and turned out in the yard, thus luckily escaping cremation. The loss is estimated to be $5,000, with $1,000 insurance in the Farmer's Mutual.

The Wellsboro Agitator, Wellsboro, PA 18 Dec 1907
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!