Here is an article from the March 9, 1912, St. Tammany Farmer newspaper telling of when the drying kiln at the Rausch Mill near Abita Springs was destroyed by fire. The employees managed to save the main part of the mill, however. Click on the image below to make it larger and more readable.
Main Mill is Saved By Employees and Outsiders
210,000 Feet of Dry Saps in Kiln is Destroyed
Loss Estimated at $12,000; Insurance About $6,000
The planing mill and dry kiln of the Rausch saw mill situated several miles northeast of Abita Springs burned to the ground Monday night. The fire was discovered by the night watchman about 9 o'clock p. m. He had a few moments previously made his rounds of inspection, but discovered nothing wrong.
The plant is fitted for fire fighting, and immediately the fire was discovered the dry kiln was flushed with steam at a pressure of 210 pounds until the pressure dropped to 20 pounds, but the fire gained headway in spite of all that could be done.
The mill whistle continuously sounded the alarm and attracted people to the scene who lived miles away. All joined in the work of preventing a spread of the flames, and although it seemed an impossible task, the mill proper was saved.
The fire was fought every inch of the way, and the men deserve great credit for their work. Probably one hundred people were congregated about the mill before the fire was over. The planing mill was also destroyed.
There were 210,000 feet of dry saps lost in the kiln. The damage is estimated at $12.000; insurance about $6.000. The owners of the mill have a large quantity of sap timber cut that should not lie out for any considerable length of time and should go into the kiln immediately it leaves the mill. What arrangements will be made for this is not known.
(End of article)
South Pole News
Next to that article was one telling about the latest conquest at the South Pole. It explains about the expeditions underway at the time to discover the South Pole. As it turns out, who and when was an issue of debate for some time (who actually reached the South Pole first and how they could prove it.) The timeline has been sorted out, however.
The first tent erected at the South Pole was left there and is now buried under the snow. It has been designated a prominent historic monument, but for some reason it doesn't get many visitors.
