Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - May 30, 1903 BIG FIRE AT TELFORD One of the most destructive fires that ever visited Telford occurred on Thursday night, when about $25,000 worth of property was consumed. The main buildings destroyed are as follows: M.S. SHELLY's feed store and hay house, North Penn depot, block of three frame houses of Geo. EGOLF, carriage and blacksmith shop of Isaac ALDERFER, hotel stables of W.H. BLANK, barber shop of Harry KELLER, saddler shop of H. KNIPE. About twenty-one buildings were consumed, almost all were built of frame. About 10.30 o'clock the alarm of fire was given and it was at once noticed that the large frame buildings of M.S. SHELLY, alongside of the railroad were in flames. As these buildings are always well filled with hay everyone knew that they were doomed. The fire rapidly spread along the other frame buildings which were close to the hay house and in less than an hour about one acre was one mass of flames. A flying ember set fire to the Telford depot which was directly opposite and it was also destroyed. A block of three dwelling houses owned by Geo. EGOLF, of Philadelphia, were next consumed as well as all the furniture and belongings of the tenants Chas. LEISTER and N. WENHOLD. One was unoccupied. The family of Mr. WENHOLD narrowly escaped with their lives, as they had already retired and they slept soundly when the people tried to awaken them. Had not some one broken in the door and entered their bedroom in order to awaken them they would have perished. The child was carried out of the house ere the father was aware of the existing fire. The barber shop of Harry KELLER and the saddlery of Mr. KNIPE which were in the SHELLY building were consumed with all the contents. The carriage and blacksmith shop of Isaac ALDERFER which was in the rear of the SHELLY Buildings were also totally consumed with contents as well as the stables on the County Line Hotel. The horses were removed as well as some wagons and minor articles. A freight car filled with baled hay and standing on the SHELLY siding was also consumed. Many of the surrounding buildings were at times ignited but by the heroic work of the Telford Fire Company assisted by the Perkasie and Sellersville Fire Companies, they were saved. The County Line and the Telford Hotels were in imminent danger. The firemen were handicapped as their apparatus did not work for some time. The origin of the fire cannot be definitely ascertained as some claim it started in the engine house of Mr. SHELLY and other think a passing freight train threw a hot coal on the roof of the hay house which came in contact with the wood work and caused it to ignite. The loss to the owners of the buildings destroyed is very great as most of them or only partially insured and some of them are not insured at all. RUNAWAY ACCIDENT NEAR SUMNEYTOWN Peter SANDERS, the scavenger, residing near Morwood, met with a runaway accident on Monday evening near WENTZEL's hotel, on the Ridge Road, while returning to his home with his team. The harness broke which caused the horses to run away. They ran into a fence which caused a sudden stop which jolted Mr. SANDERS from his seat and he was violently thrown upon the ground. He received several ugly cuts and bruises about his head and face and his leg was severely sprained. Mr. SANDERS was removed to his home by Hiram SCHWENK, who lives close to where the accident happened. FRACTURED ARM IN PECULIAR MANNER Mrs. Dr. James G. MENSCH, of Pennsburg, on Thursday fractured her right arm in a peculiar manner. She has been confined to her bed for many weeks and while she was being assisted in changing her position in bed, she leaned against the nurse, Katie. While the weight of her body was thus thrown on her arm, the large bone fractured near the shoulder blade. Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER was summoned who reduced the fracture. HAD FINGER CUT OFF BY BROTHER Warren, the two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John MOYER, residing on the Pleasant View stock farm, near Kutztown, had a hatchet and was cutting sticks while his younger brother held the wood, and the former accidentally cut off the ring finger of the right hand and wounded the middle finger of the latter. GREEN LANE HAS A BOARD OF TRADE The borough of Green Lane now has a Board of Trade. A few weeks ago the board organized and elected the following officers: President, James J. SMITH; Secretary, Edwin KLINE; Treasurer, Samuel S. HARTZELL. The board is at present trying to have a knitting factory to locate here.