100 years ago in The Saratogian

Thursday, Oct. 10, 1918. The offices of the Ballston Spa Daily Journal newspaper are damaged by fire early this morning, but The Saratogian reports that the paper appears on schedule later today

Tracing its history back to 1798, the Journal publishes a four-page edition six days a week. The Saratogian’s Ballston Spa correspondent copies the Journal’s own account of the 8 a.m. fire.

“An oil stove used to warm the composing room of the newspaper was started and left by the attendant. The flame evidently crept up and probably the stove finally exploded, setting fire to woodwork near it and the ceiling of the room” a Ballston reporter explains.

“Owing to the dense smoke the firemen were unable to enter the room and had to turn in the fire hose.” Nevertheless, “Prompt work on the part of the firemen and volunteer helpers prevented the spread of the fire to other parts of the building” and “the fire was under control in a few minutes.”

Despite the damage to the composing room, where the paper is typeset, the Journal is able to publish by using the resources of its job printing office elsewhere in the building. The editors issue an apology for “the shortage of news” in today’s paper, but “trust our patrons will bear patiently this condition until permanent arrangements can be made.”