Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-04-14

Md, thirty-eight miles from Baltimore,
was the scene of terrible conflag ration
Monday night, which at one time threat
ened the destruction of all the property IN
the place. Twenty buildings were burned
to the ground, including Lutheran
church, the finest edifice in the city. lt
is generally believed that the fire was the
work of an ineenGiary. Early Monday
morning an attempt was made to set the
Montolr Hotel on fire. A pile of kindling-
wood and paper was found burning under
the ear stairway, and but for the timely
discovery would, by setting fire TO the
stairway, have cut Off one of the prlncipal
means of egress and endangered many
lives, as the house was full OF guests at
the time. Allan Loop and Joanna Green'
both colored, were arrested on suspicion,
and the first fire extinguished with but
trifling loss.
Near midnight fire broke out again IN
Ii. Thorn pson's livery stable and spread
with great rapidity. Robert Thompson
ard Aaron Shaefer, who were asleep in
the hay-loft, persisted i'll the flames and
ONLY few blackened pieces OF their bod
les were scraped up from the ruins.
The stable being situated OH the principal
business street stores and residences one
after another caught the blaze and in haii
an hour an entire block Of buildings were
in flames. There were couple OF small
chemical engines in the place, but they
were of little use in such cenfiagratlon,
and the only water obtainable was from
DUMPS and wells and 4 small pond on the
outskirts Of the town.
The citizens became fairly panie-strick-
en-. Women in their night clothes, with
children i'm their arms, rushed frantically
ont of their houses, and persons residing
squares away from the burning district
threw their furniture out into the streets.
So rapidly did the fire spread that few
persons whose houses were destroyed were
able to save much of their furniture or
clothing, and many of the merchants lost
their entire stock of goods.
About one o'clock in the morning the
town officials telegraphed to Baltimore for
aid and Chief Fire Marshall Heiskell, OF
that city. ordered two Of the regular fire.
engine companies, with the engines and
hook and ladders, and two Of the county
chemical engines to the scene. They were
taken on special train over the Western
MARYLAND Railroad. but. the train was
somewhat delayed in starting and the en-
zines arrived too late to be OF any service,
the fire having reached the limits OF the
town and spent its fury when there was
no more material to feed it. 1t was kept
from spreading in other directions by the
tearing down of several frame buildings
and furious rain-storm which began
about two O'Clock and lasted several hours.
Two little children were rescued from
one of the burning dwellings by young
woman. The roof of the house was on
fire and the mother, an invalid, was alone
in the house with her little ones. She
tainted from fright and was borne out In
safety. Her children for the Zine being
were forgotten, until neighbor remem-
boring them fastened up stairs and groped
her way about in the binding smoke un-
til she found the children, who were near
" suffocated, and escaped with them. In
a short time afterward the building was
burned to the ground.
The total loss OIL buildings is estimated
at 500, 900; about one-half covered by IN
surance. The less on goods in stores,
clothing and furniture in dwellings is
roughly placed at $4,000. Several poor
families are rendered homeless.
The proprietor of the livery stable las
made a statement to the States Attorney
that about ten o'clock last night four men,
at times employed about the stable, asked
him for lantern. He refused their re-
quest, but later saw them playing cards
by the light of lantern in the back part
of the stable. A short time Afterwards he
heard cries of fire and saw the rear OF the
building in flames. Robert Goodwin,
JOnN CldTh, HAHoou bOiooy "iA~ N"'1N
Warfield, the men who were in the stable,
have been arrested, pending the Coroner's
inquest. Thirty horses and two COWS that
were in the stable were Burned to death.
Several Of the animals, with their names
and tails on fire, escaped from the stable
and dashed madly through the crowd on
the street, injuring three or four persons.
The principal stores and dwelling
houses burned are those of Jacob Thomp-
son, livery stable; Bixter It Lenef, boot
/ and shoe dealers; Guselman 81 Marris,
furniture dealers; Mary Lester, dwelling
house; F. X. Herr & Brother, carriage
factory; NJ. C. Strasburger, liquor store;
A. J. Malehern, millinery establishment;
Thomas Erb, provision store; j. Cacha-
rias and Mrs. Babylon, residences. Nearly
all the policies of insurance are in Mary
land, New York and English companies.
Owing to open threats of lynching, the
Jail was guarded at night by twenty-five
men, who were well armed. Quiet and or
der prevail at present, but there is deep
feeling of Indignation against the men who
caused such destruction of property and
loss of life.
A Druggist Sentenced.