Cincinnati (OH) Daily Enquirer, August 24, 1869, p. 1.
PLANING MILL AND CHURCH DESTROYED BY FIRE
Seymour, Indiana, August 23-The extensive carpenter shop belonging to Messrs
Carter & Co., and the Christian Church, took fire today about noon and
burned to the ground. The church had just been completed. The loss to Mr.
Carter is about $20,000, there being no insurance. He had two co (sic)
tracts-one the Seminary now in process of erection, and a new church. The
work on both will now be suspended in consequence of the fire. At least 20
men were overcome by the excessive heat in their exertions to save the
adjoining property. Lines of men were formed in every direction from the
house tops to the cisterns and wells, and water was conveyed by this means
to save the adjoining buildings. Several men fell from house tops, and
others were carried away completely overcome by the heat and were restored
to consciousness by the direction of the medical faculty who were all on the
ground and labored assiduously for the sufferers.
Apprehension as felt at first that the boiler would explode as the engine
was in motion and the steam hissing with fearful noise; but the locomotive
engineers present tested the amount of water and the steam in the boiler and
immediately assured everyone that there was no danger in that quarter, and
all then went to work to prevent the fire from spreading.
The thermometer stood at 104 in the shade at two o'clock P. M.
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