Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 22, 1930.
THOMAS MAIR SAVES LIFE BY QUICK ACTION
Escapes from Burning Home Early Sunday Morning Just before Roof of Structure Falls In.
RESIDENCE IS A TOTAL LOSS
Thomas Mair, former milk dealer, escaped cremation by an eyelash Sunday morning about 4:15 o’clock when his home at 1004 North Franklin avenue was practically destroyed by fire.
Mr. Mair was sleeping soundly in the west part of the house when the roof on the east portion was ready to fall in. He just had time to grab his clothes, kick out a door and gain the outdoors in time to save his life.
Two fire calls were sent into the central station. Firemen were compelled to wait for some time after the first call to ascertain where the fire was located. The informer simply hollered fire and then put up the receiver.
Vernon L. Philley, of the Philley News company, who had rushed to the scene in belief that the old Philley home was afire, turned on the second alarm. Mr. Philley, who was enroute to the Pennsylvania depot after Sunday newspapers, was attracted by the brilliantly lighted sky.
Telephone wires at the Mair home were burned out by the fire, and the line at the Joseph Horn home nearby where Mr. Mair took refuge, was also put out of commission.
Firemen worked valiantly in the cold biting winds to stem the blaze and save the major portion of the home. Through their efforts the barn and milk house were saved from destruction.
Despite the fact that copious quantities of water were poured on the flames for more than two hours, the firemen were forced to return a second time to extinguish a fresh outbreak of fire which again threatened to make further trouble.
Mr. Mair was unable to ascribe any cause for the fire other than it might have been due to defective wiring. Today he was buying new clothes, practically all his clothing being in the burned home.
The home is a total loss as far as repair is concerned, and rebuilding will be necessary. Mr. Mair carried insurance on part of the loss.
