The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-06-10
Fire In Hauerstown, Maryland.


The Franklin Repository says = The
Washington House, the newest and
largest hotel in Hagerstown, Md, was
totally destroyed by fire on Thursday
morning last. When the fire was discov-
erered, about half past TWO o'clock, the
flames had gained considerable head
way. The alarm was at once given and
the fire companies responded promptly,
doing good service. The fire, which is
supposed to be the work of an incen-
diary, spread rapidly, and in less than
two hours the building was complete
mass of ruins. The fire was discovered
in closet under the steps, on the first
story of the house, leading into the main
building from the back yard. The stairs
were soon burnt to the floor above, upon
which are the offices and sample rooms,
cutting off communication above by
means of the main stairway. There
were over seventy people in the house at
the time, and the excitement was in
tense. Frightened with terror they tried
every conceivable way to make their es-
cape, jumping from the windows, de-
scending by ladders, but the majority
climbing down the porches. All were
fortunate enough to escape with their
lives, with the exception of one man,
Mr.. J. E. Troxell, of Cumberland, who
perished in the flames. His body was
found after the house was consumed,
mangledand burned beyond recognition.
Mr.. f. B. Snively, of Shady Grove, in
descending from his room to the ground,
by rope made of his bed clothing, fell,
it is thought from the rope breaking, to
the ground, receiving severe injuries
from which he died, in Hagerstown, on
Friday morning.
1t is almost impossible to estimate the
loss. The Washington House was val
ued at $40 900, insurance $4,000. The
furniture and fixtures were valued at
$4,000, insured for $4,000. The loss sus-
tanned by transient borders cannot be es-
timated. The permanent boarders lost
everything their rooms contained. Mrs.
Middlekauff, the proprietress, lost every
thing with the exception of some furni-
ture, consisting of beds, bureau, &C.,
which were in her private room and
were gotten out before the flames reach
ed that part of the building. Mr. F. b.
Snively threw his coat from the window
containing 81 900, which was either
stolen or burnt in the fire, as nothing
has been heard of it since. Quite num-
ber of packages and some of the books
belonging to the Adams Express Com
pany, who occupied room on the
ground floor, were also destroyed.
The walls have been torn down and
workmen will commence the erection of
a new building as soon as the debris can
be cleared away. 1t will be of a modern
style with all the conveniences of first
class hotel.
Later reports In regard to the case of
F. b. Snively, Esq, say that the man.
ner of his escape from the hotel is the
subject of much speculation. He occu-
pied oom No. "a, with Messrs. Exlene
and J enkins, of Hancock, Nd, on the
fourth floor of the main building back,
facing the yard and rear wing. Escape
by the stairway being cut off by the
flames, they concluded to descend by the
window into the yard. Jenkins made
the first attempt by sheet torn into
strips and tied together, but fell the
height of three stories. Exline fol.
lowed, and let himself drop from the
window into the yard. Snively climbed
out on the window sill, and fell to the
ground. He was fearfully burned and
suffered severe internal injury.
Mr.. Snively died at o'clock on Fri
day morning. He rested comfortably
under opiates, and was delirious and un
conscious almost all the time. His wife
father, mother, and other relatives were
with him in his last hours. Owing t.
his condition, the statements made by
him in regard to the amount of money
in his possession are very Indefinite
AT one time he placed the amount a
$500, and at another $1,000, but il ii
the opinion of many that he was to,
shrewd business man to travel will
so large sum in his pocket. Nothinl
has been heard of the missing money.