LITTLESTOWN HAS ANOTHER BLAZE.

TWELVE HUNDRED BUSHELS OF WHEAT IN FIRE AT CANNING PLANT.

BETWEEN $5000 and $6000.

THAT IS ESTIMATE PLACED ON LOSS CAUSED BY SECOND BIG FIRE IN SOUTHERN END OF TOWN.

Another disastrous fire visited Littlestown Monday afternoon when the large barn and stables of the SCHRIVER Canning Company were burned to the ground together with 1200 bushels of wheat, all the hay and fodder, and much of the other contents. No theory is held concerning the origin of the fire other than it might have been the work of an incendiary.
The buildings burned were on the southern part of the properties on which are located the buildings of the SCHRIVER concern. The big canning plant was saved only through the direction of the wind and the efforts of the Littlestown firemen who handled a good supply of water very effectively and kept the flames from getting a headway anywhere except in the two structures in which they first appeared.
One building in which were stored thousands of cans and hundreds of cases for packing, caught fire but the company was able to save it and prevent any serious damage.
The barn burned was a large structure. The fire originated there and, when first discovered, smoke was pouring from the comb of the roof. The blaze had evidently been given a very great headway before it was seen and the barn was doomed when the fire company arrived. The steer stable, a structure about 80 by 40 feet, caught from the barn and it, too, was destroyed.
The SCHRIVER canning plant is one of the largest industries in the southern part of the county and the news that a fire was in progress created general alarm. The plant has had a busy season, much of the product going to the United States Army. While the theory of incendiary origin is generally held there is no indication of who may be responsible.
The loss on buildings and contents is estimated at between $5000 and $6000, the wheat destroyed accounting for nearly half of this sum.

Star and Sentinel Gettysburg Pennsylvania 1918-10-12
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!