Fighting fire furiously

Connersville Evening News Oct. 9, 1908

FRANTIC FIGHT BY

ROSEDALE WOMEN

Not With Each Other,

However, But With Fire

ABOUT NOON TODAY

Corn Shock in corner of McFarlan field ignited and threatened serious spread

The sight of three good looking matrons of Rosedale, fighting, was a sight that any chance passerby might have looked upon shortly after noon today.  But let it be understood that they were not fighting with each other but had concentrated their forces on a common enemy -- fire.

A corn shock in the large field belonging to J.B. McFarlan, had caught fire and the fire spread rapidly in the dry grass and leaves and threatened their homes and other valuable property.

Men are like alleged policemen -- never about when most needed. And did the women sit down and wring their hands and weep and moan?

Not so you could hear them over the back fence. On the contrary, they just went after that fire as if it had been a keg of beer at a WCTU convention. Mops, brooms, shovels and any old thing that could be wielded was brought into use and after half an hour the danger had passed.

About that time, some men folks showed up and the ladies went back to their homes and did back their hair that had become somewhat "joggled" during the assault.

The ladies feel that Mr. McFarlan ought to set 'em up to the peanut for their heroic rescue of the property. But one shock of corn was burned. The cause of the fire is a mystery.

The ladies engaged in the battle were Mrs. Joe Scott, Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Lewis Perkins.

Notes: McFarlan was the most important man in Connersville during the late 1800s. LINK

It's worth noting that the women don't have real first names, but we are proud of them anyhow.

No idea what the peanut reference meant.