Newspaper Tidbits from Rick B Monday, June 26, 2006 "The South Bend Weekly Tribune", Saturday, March 18, 1905, page 11 TELEPHONE CABLE BURNS. Fire in Barn Causes Serious Damage to Big Lead. Box 57 pulled at three o'clock Thursday afternoon called the fire department to a frame barn in the rear of City Comptroller F. W. Martin's residnece at 522 North Main street. The fire had its origin in the hay loft and the flames raged madly, totally destroying the upper portion of the barn and causing a loss of about $150, which is covered by insurance. The horse, harness and vehcile were saved. The firemen had hard work keeping the flames from spreading to several adjoining barns. So intense was the heat that a big cable lead of The South Bend Home Telephone company in the alley melted in two. It was a 76-pair cable and placed 75 telephones out of commission. A force of men worked all night making the necessary repairs. The central station companies were called out by still alarm Thursday afternoon to the Oliver hotel. Some one threw a cigar stub into a quantity of excelsior just west of the engine room and kitchen. The engine room was filled with smoke and one side of a storage shed was burned. One window frame of the brick building was also burned out. A large crowd was attracted.