Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 12 Aug 1908
Page 4 Column 7
BRADFORD.
<section not transcribed>
BARLEY FIELDS ON FIRE.
SEVERAL ACRES DESTROYED.
A disastrous fire, involving the almost total destruction of five acres of barley, occurred at Trefusis Farm, Bradford, in the occupation of Mr. F. HEMBROW on Friday last. The field is situated close to the main line from Taunton to Wellington, and on Friday the barley was “stitched,” as it is called, that is standing in long rows of sheaves. Just before half-past one one of the Cornish expresses passed, and it is thought that a spark from the engine ignited the barley.
A lad named Charlie BAKER, who, by the way, is a member of the Y.P.L. connected with this paper, gave the alarm, first noticing that one of the sheaves was on fire. He shouted out to Mr. HEMBROW, who was coming up the road. He hurried to the field, but hardly had he arrived there when the fire broke out in three different places, and spread with great rapidity, there being a strong wind blowing. Fear was felt lest the outbreak should spread to the rickyard close by, where several large ricks were standing, and for a long time there were in considerable danger. There was plenty of help, Mr. HEMBROW's men and several employees on the line giving their aid in preventing the fire from spreading beyond the field. Dense clouds of smoke arose, and it was found impossible to prevent nearly all the barley being destroyed, only about twenty “stitches” being saved. Ere long there was hardly anything left of the “golden sheaves” with which the field was once filled, nothing but half-burnt stubble being left. The loss, which is stated to be considerable, is covered by insurance.
All along the line at this spot the hedges were burnt and some of the crops destroyed, while another disastrous fire occurred at Mr. J. KIDNER's, Blagroves Farm, Oake, about three acres being burnt. This, however, is on the Barnstaple line. It is not an unusual thing for the hedges near the line to become ignited, but such serious fires have not, we believe, occurred before.
Another fire of a similar character was also reported on the same day from Beam Bridge, near Wellington, a spark from an engine setting fire to several acres of barley. So furious was the fire that a man with a reaping machine had to drive his horses to a place of safely. [sic]
<NOTES: Mr F. HEMBROW is Francis Henry HEMBROW son of William Brewer HEMBROW and Ellen GARDNER, married Annie Elizabeth ROWSELL>