Wade Mansion destroyed by fire

40 ROOM HOME

RAZED BY FIRE

Fire men Helpless As

Flames Sweep Through

Palatial Homestead.

CLEVELAND, April 25. — Five village fire companies stood by helplessly early today while fire swept through the 40-room homestead of the late Jeptha H. Wade in Hunting Valley Village, near here.

The palatial two-story structure and all its contents were destroyed. George Garretson Wade, son of the late philanthropist and present owner of the homestead, estimated loss of the house at $300,000 and furnishings at $150,000.

The fire was discovered by Andrew Robson, a groom employed on the estate of Mrs. Amasa Stone Mather, nearby. He called the attention of Mrs. M. A. Wick who notified the Gates Mills village fire department.

When Fire Chief Charles H. Freunz arrived he discovered the flames were beyond the control of his men and summoned fire fighters of Mayfield Heights, Lyndhurst, South Euclid and Chagrin Falls. All were powerless to stop the fire despite a grim battle.

The only water supply available, they said, was a pond three-eighths of a mile away, and they could not reach it.

It is believed the fire had more than an hour's start before it was discovered.