Big Fire

Owenton Tobacco Barns With Contents Go Up In Flames

Fire Alarm Turned in at 3:30 O'clock Wednesday Morning

No Clue to Origin

At 3 o'clock Wednesday morning the Owenton populace were aroused from their slumbers by the ringing of the fire bell and the terrible roar of flames. The scene of destruction was soon found to be on the lot occupied by the tobacco barns.

The large barns owned by Gayle and Minor, one of which is leased to the American Tobacco Company and the Equity barn, occupied by the society of Equity, went up in flames and smoke.  The fire was discovered about 3:30 o'clock and by 5 o'clock the scene was one of desolation, all the buildings on the lot having been burned.

All of the buildings were tall, the American Tobacco Company's barn being a four-story building.  There was no tobacco in the American Tobacco Company's barn, but there were about 125,000 pounds in the Equity barn.  The value of the Equity barn is estimated at about $10,000.  The entire loss is estimated at about $50,000.  The origin of the fire is not known.  There was no evidence of night riders. [This point is again noted in the subsequent edition of the paper].  Some shots were fired by Mr. G. W. O'Banion, who being unable to awaken his tenants otherwise, took this method of arousing them.

By the prompt efforts of the firemen and successful working of the new engine, the adjoining property was saved.  Owing first to the comparative stillness of the night and again to the change of the wind from one point to another, the danger of the adjacent property was lessened; but that alone could not have saved the town.  But for the prompt and efficient work of the fire department, Owenton would have been faring worse today.

 

From the Owenton News Herald of March 26, 1908