Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-12-14

small number reached The building the
fire had gained such Roadway that IL
was impossible TO save anything except
few articles Of furniture in one room.
Fortunately, Mr.. Fravel was not at
hore and the children that usually slept
pn-stairs were sleeping on The lower
floor. Mrs. Fravel. when aroused
onened the door leading to the Kitchen
Int was met by the flames. One hand'
her face and head were considerably
bu,red A house belonging to Mr.
Edward Rodetfer aud occupied by Mr.
n. L. Campbell, situated about % 'ee'
from Mr.. travels, caught fire lew
minutes before the fire engine reached
the grounds. II was thought thai this
bouse could be easily saved by the lire
comnanv. but on attempting to throw
wafer thc engine was found to be out
Of order. 1t was then too late TO save
The Rodeffer house, by other MEANS
The engine and fire apparatus, costing
from $1,000 TO $500, was useless when
most needed. The negligence IN 'h'S
ros,sct is responsible Cor the burning OF
Mr. Rod,aer's house. The fire com
INV w.s almost ia a disorsanzed
s,.,c We called attention 20 this TACT
some months ago, and cur call Was
answ ,rcd and the himsy pre'eNt III 1t
that there a. no place 10 meet was AZ
vao,ed as a sufficient reason 'oF no'
calling the G.e company together """
uniting it anu lie apparatus III se'''''
"A bic condition.
We have IN excellent engine "u' " 3
oor. Siderable quantity Of hose, part Oh
Ii, recently purchased. We had near
,he fir. a Sufficient quantity OF wafer,
hot all was useless, because We n"u
Rallied to keep our apparatus IN go0o
condition. The fire was confined 10
.,o t,o houses because there we're 10
others near enough to be ignlted. Had
tho fire occurred on main street, a la'S'
y pmber IF our citizens would we nave
M donbt be today without homes. we
do M, think that any single indiVlouai
: alone responsible for tie loss Oc-
casloned by carelessness upon the part
# tbe fire company, but there is respo"-
sibilIty resting upon the fire company
and nnon the council who have IN
charge the affairs Of the town
Had the town been supplied WIN
hooks. Of proper design Rod.iiei's
bouse could have been saved wi'hou'
the fire engine.
II is ell foolshuess for as to waste
time in discussing the Responsiveness
of The fire company, of the council OF
Of ,he citizens. but it is not foolish lot
ns NOW TO prepare ourselves Tor calls
,ba, NAV be made upon us by other
eros Letus have a well organized
COMPANY. a light truck upon which Is
70 be placed ladders, axes. hooks wiz"
noles chains and ropes aud an addition
Al number Of public cisterns. Inc IRE
eno,ne should at all times be under lhe
charge of some good mechanic VINO
sbonld be paid for keeping 1t IN nrs'
class order. The ci sterns should De so
nlaced that they can be readily supplied
with water from the public wells. One
Of onr cjsterns. situated near .puoic
we'll could st the cost ofless than two
do,lors be so connected with the pump
as TO receive water from the pump
hut it has not been considered oeces-
sary. We may appreciate the necessity
when il is too late
Mr.. Campbell's household prop-r'y
was saved. without any loss worthy OF
mention. The condition OF Mi.
travels family excited the sympathy OF
the community, and il a short tlme'
almost enough TO replace his house was
subscribed b. our citizens. The loss to
Mr.. Edward Rodefler was severe, be-
cause it was all the property he owns
Veis at this time living Oh the larm
formerly owned By his father, and IN
which he lost his entire interest by
mistake 10 Judgment. Mr.. Edward
Rod. fer aud two of his brothers bought
the farm, at what they believed at the
time 10 be a reasonable price, but alter
TWO wears hard work with the exercise
Of vigorous economy, they found that
thay were unable to pay for the farm .
II was sold and the other heirs bought
il far thousand dollars less than he
and his two brothers agreed to pay Tor
the place. The accumulation OF III
terest, the costs and the decreased price
SWALLOWED almost the entire interests ol
the first purchasers. 1t is true all the
property which their father lett is sllll
there, but they forfeited their Interest
by a mistake orjudsment.
Mr.. RodefIer is certainly deserving
not only of public sympathy, but OF
substantial assistance. He is hard
working man, Was a faithful soldier and
was the Gfst Of the citizens vi Wood
stock that was wounded. during the late
war, having been shot at the iirat hattie
OF Manassas.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 5. V. A.
SOCIETY The meeting ofstockholder;
I IT. ,rac hold Monday.