Major Fire in Obermais and Rescue of St. George's Church

Daily report.

Merano, 16 March. On the 13th of this month, Merano and its surroundings were threatened by great danger. At a quarter to seven in the evening, a fire broke out in the neighboring village of Obermais at the so-called Jörgenmüller amidst a violent north-easterly wind. In an instant, the house, the mill, and the barn of the miller Matscher were in bright flames. The church of St. George situated in the immediate vicinity — an affiliate of the Mais parish — was already caught on several sides and particularly on the tower roof by the blazing flames. Yet, through united and strenuous efforts, they succeeded in halting the spread of the terrible element by around midnight, so that, with the exception of the aforementioned dwelling, the mill, and the barn, which lie in total ruins, and some damage to the church and the tower, no further damage was caused. The cause of the outbreak has not yet been determined with certainty.

While the credit for preventing the further spread of the fire must first and foremost be attributed to the many who hurried to help from near and far and from all walks of life, special praiseworthy recognition is nevertheless owed for their exemplary, self-sacrificing dedication to the transport squad of the Inf. Reg. Archduke Albrecht, who arrived here on a through march on that very day, the municipality of Lana and in particular Sebastian Rainer Pichler, who effectively directed the fire engine brought from there, as well as the master carpenter Jeni and master mason Moosbrugger of Meran. T. B.