Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-10-16

$4,000 Worth OF Property
Destroyed.

Near four O'Clock Friday morn
ing the slumbers of our people were
broken by an alarm of fire. Our cit
liens, and especially those belonging
to the Fire Department speedily col
lected, and guided by dense volumes
of smoke, found the fire under strong
Roadway in the cellar underline build
ing belonging to the estate Of A. G.
Miller, deceased, on King street, OPP
posite the Stewart House, and adj
joing Grantham Hall.
The fire department soon had the
hose attached, when it was discover
ed that the pressure was not suni-
cient to throw water on the fire,
which was owing, we understand, to
the low stage of water in the Tusca-
rora, and forced the Engineer to get
up steam in order to get the necessa-
ny pressure. This was valuable time
lost and in the meantime the steamer
was taken out and the cistern at
the Court House soon emptied of its
contents. The Holly system was,
however, soon in operation, and the
/ iiremen attacked the destroying ele-
ment with four streams of water
Unable to get in the building on ac-
count Of the dense and suffocating
smoke they fought it step 10y step
until finally they were able to choose
their own position, and steadily put
it out.
AT one time it seemed as il gem
eral conflagration would be the re-
suit, and the town lose one of its
best block of buildings, but by per-
sistent efforts it was confined to the
one building and finally extinguished-
Too much praise cannot be given
the firemen for their pluck and perse-
verance, and many of them are de-
serving of special mention, but we
could not get all their names. The
fire was accidentally discovered 10y
Mr.. s. III. Martin, who was on his
/ way to the Railroad Depot, other
wise it might not have been discov-
cred until too late. The I'd story
was occupied by Mrs. A. G. Miller,
as dwelling, and all her personal
property was saved, though some of
it was considerably damaged. The
room on the first floor, adjoining
Grantham Hall, was occupied by
Messrs. Creque 81 Smith, as a saloon
and restaurant. Their loss is about
$1,000, and they were insured in the
''La Belle" of the city of Wheeling,
which, we understand, is worthless.
The room adjoining theirs, is occu-
pied by Mr.. E. G.. Kaufman, as a
grocery and his entire stock of goods,
whilst not entirely destroyed, are so
damaged as to be worthless. His
loss is about 81 900, and is insured in
the Franklin Insurance Company of
of Wheeling, to that amount. The
building belongs to the estate of A.
G. Miller, deceased, and the damage
done it, is estimated at S., 800, and is
insured as follows: Home Insurance
Company of Columbus, Ohio, ST 500 i;
Amazon Insurance Company of Gin
cinnati, So 800; Fanuel Hall Insur-
ance Company of Boston, $500
Fire Associate ion Insurance Company
of Philadelphia, $3.50. The prop
erty of Mr.. Flick, who lives in the
adjoining house, was somewhat dam
aged by hasty removal. Our town
has had a narrow escape from what
promised to be an extensive confla-
grafton, and Judging from its ma
ture and the place where it was first
observed, it looks like the work of an
incendiary, us there was nothing in
the cellar to warrant the preSump-
! tion of spontaneous combustion. Ii
! there are fire bugs in our midst, the
people and especially the authorities,
should take measures to prevent Il
recurrence of such villainouS work.