Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-04-17
Disastrous Fire. and sad death OIL
DIR. VIM. T.. Alexander.


,nent of the fact, that the large brick
building at Duflields, including the
store-room and Masonic and Temper
ance Hall, was destroyed by fire during
the previous night. Mr.. a. &. Draw
baugh, who was carrying on the mer-
camille business in the building burned,
had one of the finest and largest
stocks of goods that could be found i'll
any country store, all of which was en-
,irely consumed. Although the build
ing burned was in close proximity to
other houses, none were in any way al
fecled by the fire.
How the fire originated there are
various surmises and speculations, but
no definite conclusions could be arrived
at. One impression is that it might
have been caused by the explosion OF a
lamp which was kept burning during
the night in the store room. And an
other is that the store was entered aud
robbed and then set on fire in order to
cover up the tracks of the midnight
depredators. Which is correct we do
not pretend to judge. The building
was owned jointly by MIR. X. l.. Wy
song. and Pheuix Division OF Sons OF
Temperance; and the loss in full is
about $4,000, of which there is an in
surance on the goods of Mr. Draw
baugh of $4,000 and on the Temper
ance Lodge of 5000, which is believed
will cover the loss of these parties; but
upon Mr.. Wysongs portion there was
ITO insurance, and therefore his loss is
entire. Insurance on stock of Mr.. Draw
baugh, 81 900 in Jefferson County Mu-
,ual, and $4,000 in Etna of Hartford; ;
Temperance Hall insured for 5000, in
Peabody of Wheeling. Every effort
was made TO extinquish the flames as
soon as the fire was discovered but they
were of no avail.
Although the result of this conhagra-
ton was of serious consequence to those
directly interested, the effect was in
significant to the shocking and heart
rending disaster which betell Duffields
and the community on Saturday night,
viz: the sudden and untimely death OF
DIR. WIN. F. Alexander, of that place,
one of the most useful and highly re
spected citizens as well as prominent
Physicians ofthe county, which occur
red in the following manner as reported
to US. 1t appears that between 9 and
10 o'clock Saturday night, the wind
rising and blowing in almost a gale,
DIR. A. in company with MIR. Il. l..
Wysong and others becoming sppre-
hensive of danger to the other wellings
near where the fire Of the morning had
taken place, from some still burning
embers, went to extinquish the same,
and while withfSihe walls Of the burnt
building, heavy blast of wind struck
the wall, blowing off number of brick
one of which struck the DR.. on the back
of the head, inhictlng fatal wound. A
colored man named James White was
also struck by the falling bricks, and
from his cries attracted the attention of
Mr.. Wysong, who grabbed him and
pulled him outside of the walls and
when OH inquiry discovered that the
DR.. was not among the crowd, he with
several others started IL search OF him,
and found him lying unconscious on the
ground, from the effects of the wound
as above stated. He was Immediately
taken to his home, and every assistance
of medical and surgical skill applied, but
to no purpose, he dying about one
O'Clock that night, about hours after
he was injured.
His funeral obsequies took place from
the Presbyterian Church at Duffields, on
Monday at o'clock p. NJ, the funeral
sermon being preached by Rev. W. II.
Meade Ct the Episcopal Church, Charles
town, at which place his remains were
Inferred the same evening at 4 o'clock,
with the honors Of the Masonic Fratern-
lty of which he was prominent mem
Der, the order turning out in large num-
bers. The funeral procession was one
of the largest that has taken place in
that community for long time. His
mother was of the well-known Wash
ington family, being daughter Of the
late Bushrod G. Washington. He mar
ried daughter of Mr.. John 7. Henkle
of this county, and leaves wife and
three children and large circle of re-
latives and friends TO mourn his I'M
timely demise, and who have the uni
versal sympathy OF tie entire commu
nifty. His age was about 3S years.
Hob. u. RANDOLPH TUCKER.