Evening Times Republican

DOG SAVES TWO LIVES

Barking of Faithful Watch Dog Arouses Sleeping Inmates of Burning House—Barely Have Time to Escape Thru Flames and Smoke.

The barking of a faithful watch dog is all that saved the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Will Ennis, of West Main street, at an early hour this morning. Between 3 and 4 o'clock their home, situated immediately west of the Iowa Central railroad tracks, caught fire and was enveloped in flames when the occupants were awakened by the dog's cries and noise made by scratching on the side of the house. Mr. and Mrs. Ennis escaped down the stairway of the second story, running a gauntlet of fire and smoke, and were nearly suffocated when they reached the open air. The house was soon a mass of ruins and the contents a total loss.

Mr. Ennis is unable to explain the cause of the fire excepting the explanation that it might have been due to a defective flue. For the first time this year, on Sunday evening, a small fire was built in one of the lower rooms. Mr. and Mrs. Ennis were up until 10, when they retired in their sleeping apartments in the second story. When the dog awakened them they barely had time to save their own lives, and were unable to see that any of the contents were removed. One or two small articles of bedding and clothing in the room they occupied were thrown from the window. While the family lived within the corporate limits of the city, at the extreme western edge in the new addition, there is no fire protection as yet, and no alarm was sounded.

Mr. and Mrs. Ennis occupied the property owned by Mrs. Herrick-Clark, known better as the old McMillan place. Mrs. Clark's loss will be total, about $1,200, but Mr. and Mrs. Ennis will lose but $100. Their household effects were valued at $500, and they were insured for half their value.