The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-03
Destructive FIRE.
$4,000 Loss-FoUR STORE HOUSES AND
STOCKS BADLY DAMAeED7FERoIc WORK OF
TILE IrIRE DEP ARTAIENT

A $4,000 Loss-FoUR STORE HOUSES AND
STOCKS BADLY DAMAeED7FERoro WORK OF
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The most disastrous fire that has occurred
in Stanton for years, was that Of Friday
morning last, supposed to have been caused
by the explosion of a coal-oil lamp in A.
Swltzer's store 1t broke out in portion OF
the city that has long been regarded as almost
as dangerous as powder magazine AT four
o'clock, flames were discovered issuing from
the roof of the store of Mr. A. Switzer, on
New street, adjoining the clothing establish
ment of Mr. j. W. Abby. The alarm was at
once sounded, and in an incredibly short time
both fire companies and the Hook and Ladder
Company were on hand, and four tremendous
streams of water were playing upon the fire.
From Switzer's the flames communicated to
AIhy's on the one side, and to Armentrouts
building on the other, and thence to Marquis
building, occupied by the shoe store OF L..
Eiserman. Despite the most heroic action of
the firemen and an abundant supply of water,
the fire quickly communicated to the buildings
named. 1t crept under the roofs, burning
luriously on the inside and out of the reach OF
the water. The roof of Alby's store was de-
stroyed, and the building otherwise badly in
iured by the fire and water. Jno. Engleman' s
building which was occupied by A Swltzer as a
clothing store, had the whole upper part burn
ed off, and was otherwise damaged; Armen-
trouts property adjoining suffered a similar fate
and Marquis house was burned on the inside.
In rear of these properties are number OF
wooden houses, dry as finder. Adjoining AL
by's is a large old frame building, in the same
condition, and it is really a marvel that they
were saved. Thousands of times has the pre-
diction been made that if fire occurred in
that part Of the city, and gained any Roadway
at all, no earthly agencies could prevent the
destruction OF a block or two. When the
dreaded element asserted itself on Friday
morning the belief was universal that ire
mendous conflagration had begun, and people
in the vicinity commenced to pack up and
move out. Fortunately the night was very
calm andss thesuppl yaof water phntifhls The
firemen went stomork sithe will, and flor
three long Jhoars4he conflict waged. Finally
the fury of the flames was lsubdued, but not
until the men were well nigh exhausted and
many ofsthem wetsato. the skim Too much
praise cannot. he bestowed upon the members
of the Department. If their. services
were never before appreciated, people formed
some idea Of their valueon Friday night
THE LOSS. 80 - y
The lossIis Estimated at between 15e0D and
$4,000 j. w. Abby, clpthier, building I'M
rooted and badly damaged; goods badly in
iured, many of them ruined and some con-
stunned Estimated loss on stock and building
$1S ,000-insured as follows: On stock, 50 900
in Home of New York, 81 800 in Westminster,
Arista Hoge, agent; 81, 500 in Georgia Home,
r. Craig, agent !; $4,000 in Phoenix, Cooke &
Subett, agents. total on stock, $4,000; on
building, 81 $50 in Va Fire and Marine CO..
Gordon tS,Morton, agents, and 81 $50 in the
Philadelphia Fire Association, Cook & Sublett
agents.
Jno. B, Englemen- Building insured for
81 200 in La Confidance, w. A. Burke, agent /;
will cover loss lAsii a5qs i.s'f@-7 =isi'r 7e' 5F
A. SwitzerALoss $500, in clothing insured
for $500 in New York Underwriters Agency,
| W. A. Burke, agent. ...fai7.,i ,.o ss-. .,sitle
Geo,,Armentrout- -Building--loss $780,; no
Insurance. g. E. 'Haihes, stock oftobacco and
cigars. loss $500, insured for $500 in Va, Fire
and Marine Co., Morton & Gordon, agents, j
G. Kruger, .Jeweller, loss $10o;no insurance.
J,,C. Marquis. Building, loss estimated at
81 900; insured for 81 ,500in Old Dominion OF
Richmond, G. L. Cooke, agent. -a'l q '-"'i
b. Eisernlan Stock Of boots, shoes, SC,
loss, 4,000; insured in Home of Columbus,
Ohio, for $500, and Liverpool, London and
Globe for 81 900. Cooke 81 Sublett, agents. a
Since the above was in type, we learn from
Mr.. Switzer that it is his belief the fire was the
work of an incendiary. 7ss5sl.- =-t.r.- ,.,.. 80