AUTO SETS HOUSE AFIRE

Conflagration Is Started by Man "Cranking Up" Machine.

Structure of Cranford Paving Company Is Wrecked and Adjoining Buildings Are Put in Danger by Flames.

Fire early yesterday morning in the warehouse of the Cranford Paving Company, at Twenty-sixth and E streets northwest, caused by back fire from an automobile in the building, did $10,500 damage.

The loss is not covered by insurance. A second alarm was sent in. The nature of the surrounding property, mostly frame structures, taxed the firemen's resources to keep the flames confined within the building where it started and which was destroyed. The stables of the Heurich brewery adjoin the Cranford property. It was with difficulty that the large number of horses were gotten from the stables.

An employe[sic] of the Cranford company, cranking an automobile in the warehouse, caused the machine to back fire, setting the machine ablaze. The man threw a bucket of water on the flames, only causing the burning gasoline to spread over the floor and thus setting the place on fire. The auto truck which was destroyed was valued at $3,000. It was the only part of the property destroyed that was insured.

A bungalow owned by Frank Fletcher at Fifty-eighth and East Capitol streets, was destroyed by fire at 6:30 o'clock yesterday morning. Most of the furnishings were saved. The loss was $300.

Early last night a shanty in the Boy Scout camp, at Thirtieth and O streets southeast, was destroyed by fire of unknown origin, doing damage of $200. The place was unoccupied.

Appleton Post Crescent, Appleton, WI 28 Nov 1914
__________________

Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!