Flames Level Home At Union Valley
Ernest Shapley Runs Half Mile in Bare Feet to Summon Aid
Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the tenant house of Ward Loomis, Union Valley [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], Sunday morning about 2:30 and three people narrowly escaped with their lives when two jumped from the second story window. A small building near the house used as a chicken coop also burned. Ernest Shapley, who lives with his brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Shapley, who were in Livingston Manor over the weekend, ran a half mile in his bare feet to the home of Mr. Loomis to summon aid. A daughter of a relative who was staying with Mr. Shapley fled from the burning house uninjured, while her brother and Mr. Shapley leaped to safety from a second story window. The 16 room house, of wooden structure, was valued at approximately $5,000 and is only partially covered by insurance. The household goods of Ross Shapley were not insured, neither was the chicken coop. John Smith, a neighbor, called the Bainbridge Fire Department, which responded in a few minutes, even though the apparatus had about six miles to travel. Upon the arrival of the fire equipment, the flames had gained great headway which made saving the house an impossibility. The house which is located on the top of ta hill, burned very rapidly because of a strong wind. However, because of the strong wind, the flames and sparks were blown away from a large barn which housed stock belonging to Mr. Loomis. The barn was not damaged. Mr. Shapley is suffering from painfully bruised feet. Ralph Lord, a local fireman, endangered his life when he slipped and almost fell into the blazing cellar. He received a burned hand. [published March 20, 1941]
No comments:
Post a Comment