“On Saturday last at about 1 o’clock an alarm of fire was given, which was found to proceed from the Cabinet Manufacturing shop of Ben Morse, on East Hill, just west of Cascadilla Place. The building was totally destroyed and a large amount of materials and finished work consumed. It is claimed the fire commenced from the contents of a pipe emptied by one of the workmen. The woods on the opposite side of Cascadilla creek caught fire, and had not the steamers been on hand with sufficient hose to reach from the mill pond over the bridge and down the north bank, the consequences would have been still more serious. The steamer played through 1,750 feet of hose, over one third of a mile, with such force that Mr. Egbert, who happened to be in range when the pipe was moved around a tree, was knocked down and it was feared for some time one of his eyes was destroyed by the tremendous velocity of the water. No. 4 hand engine reached the fire and commenced operations first but was soon followed by the Steamers. The firemen attached to the engines express their thanks for refreshments furnished them by the proprietors of Cascadilla Place, Messrs. Bement & Benham. The loss on the entire property is supposed to be $5,000, with but $500 insurance.
Mr. Morse desires to thank the firemen and citizens for their efforts to save his property on Saturday last.”