The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-29

1'I14N lo.-oA 1hOtANs%J 1esot GUOu1 IL 2
o'clock the carpenter shop of Mr.. D. W. Shott,
near the Market-houses was discovered to be
on fire. Everything about the building and
contiguous to it was of very infiammable ma
terial, and consequently the flames spread
with great rapidity. 1t was but q few min
utes before the tame store-room adjoining, oc-
cupied by H. c. Burgess, and belonging to O.
G. Morris, was implicated and yielded readily
to the devouring element. The lumber yard
of j. A. and Y. M. Bickle, cabinet makers,
and their work shops, were simultaneously g-
nited, and were soon under the mastery OF the
flames. The brick dwellings OF Messrs. O. c..
Morris and John Wayt. were saved from utter
destruction by the wel!-direeted efforts of the
citizens, who necessarily labored with buckets,
&C., to check the fire and save the buildings
and their contents. The fire company and
the hook and ladder company promptly re-
sponded to the first alarm, and worked hero
icaly. The old steam engine proved an OBJ
struction, as it always does, to the successful
resistance of the flames, and had if not been
for the service rendered by the old hand-en-
CINE and the buckets, the fire might yet be in
active progress. The cabinet store-room OF
Messrs Bickle and Bro, and the confectionery
and bakery of Messrs. Yeager and Bro, were
saved by the unremitting efforts Of those pres
emit, but not without considerable damage to
the furniture and goods they contained.
The loss of Mr.. shott in carpenter tools, &c.
is estimated at about $500. No insurance.
Mr.. Burgess loses about $500. No insur-
ance.
Owen c. MaFris' loss will reach at least 3d.
600, in the destruction of the store-roon, and
quantity Of substantial goods packed in a
room in the rear part of the building not oc-
cupied by Mr.. Burgess. Mr.. Morris dwelling
was also considerably damaged the back porch
torn to ncccs, the window frames in the south
gable end burned, and the windows broken
and the furniture damaged.
Mr.. John Wayt's loss ora his house is about
$500, fully insured, and furniture about $500,
partially insured. All the furniture, including
household relics, greatly priced, was more or
less damag ed Or destroyed.
| Messrs. Yeager and son were damaged in
their stock Of corrections and toys. and their
loss will probably be covered by $500 or $500.
Insured.
| Messrs. Bickle and Bros. lose large guam
tity OF valuable seasoned lumber, their work
shops, tools, and some furniture, while the
damage at the store room to their more Yalu-
able furniture was considerable. Their loos is
between 900 and $1,000, partially insured.
| Yeaser & Son were insured in the Amazon,
of Ohio, p. b. Sublett, agent, for 500.
| o. c. Morris, in the Southern Mutual, s. 200
on the frame bHilding, and the back building
fully.
Bickie & Bro, furniture in front ware-room,
for $4,000, iii Virginia Home, James Ker. Ag't.
Fhe back shop, tools and Iun Der were not in
sured.
j. Wayt, in the Continental, n. z, R. G.
Mayo, agent, for $500.
During the progress CT the fire, Mr.; Charles
White, fell from the roof Of Bickle's shop and
had his leg broken.
Mr. John Teager, was caught by falling
girccr Of the bridge, and kcocked down and
held by the timber until his stentorian voice
brought relief. He escaped with q badly cut
wrist.
Mr.. John Grattan was knocked FROM the
wall on the west side of the Lutheran Church
yard, and falling about fifteen feet, was much
stunned and bruised.
J. Fred Efiinger had his wrist sprained, by a
number Of able-bodied men running over him.
| From all we can learn the fire was the work
of an rcendary. There had been no fire in
the shop Of Mr.. Shots for several weeks, and
| there had been no one in the shop during
Monday after y O'clock. There was broken
window fronting on the alley opposite Wayt's,
and the presumption is that q lighted match
was thrown in among the sliayings.
1 While the fire was at its height, and the better
portion of community were brayely contencing
with the destructive element to prevent its
spread, and save the property OF their fellow
citizens, q number Of thieves were buisiiy plying
their vocation, carrying off everything that
they could seize with impunity. Articles Of
/ furniture from the store-reom of Bickla 6
Bro, were seen in possession of this .class OF
persons some distance from the scene of coli.
fagration. Household ware from the resi-
dence Of Dr.. Wayt was gobbled up and Sc
creted; CONNECTIONS from Yeager 6 Son were
dpPt oPi tilu q SCIIcIal SyStcHI VI tHiGstIS
perpetrated. We have heard of no arrests,
but it is hoped the tsqlce will institute vigi-
liant search for the stolen goods and bring the
offenders to justice.
The efforts of the citizens generally, to save
the property Of the sufferers were very com
mehdable. While in some instances, as is al
ways the case on similar occasions, they were
mfsdirected, and caused as much damage as il
the articles had been reached by the flames, as
general thing, there was manifested good
| judgment and cautious action. The colored
people joined vigorously and effectively their
| efforts with the whites, and deserve the high
est commentator for the services rendered.
We have on several occasions warned oul
citizens Of the utter unfitncss of the old Steam
Engine for the purpose for which it is designed
While we have as good a fire company as was
ever organized, it is utterly impossible for them
to get the steam engine in position and Wctk
ing condition, in time to check an ordinary
fire. When it is ready to work, the flames gen
orally have accomplished their destructive mis-
sion, and the labor OF the company virtual
amounts to nothing. Wc-again urge upon on
city authorities the absolute necessity of max
more effective provision for the protection o
the property of our citizens. Had Monda.
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