The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-08-25

FIRE ScoURGEp FAIRMoNT-THE
DESTROYING ELEMENT AGAIN VTsITs
THE MOUNTAIN CITY.-From last
weeks Vest Virginian: About ten
o'clock last Wednesday night an
alarm of fire.. accompanied by the
ringing Of the court house bell, started
the villagers from their homes. The
fire broke out in the loft of the Noun
tain City House stable, which was
filled with hay, and the'fames were
soon beyond control. Although dis
covered almost Immediately, it
was impossible to get all the stock
out. One large mule, one COW,
and one horse were burned, together
with all the harness, utensils, DC.
The large brown bus horses were res
cued with much difficulty, but one Of
these was badly burned. Old doc"
the family favorite, came out without
a scratch, while his companion was
burned almost to death, one of his
eyes being destroyed, and it is thought
he will die. The fire developed tho
entire structure in less time than it
takes to write this sentence, and in q
few moments more the residence of
James F. Hough, just across the alley,
was on fire, and all efforts to save it
were in vain. AT one time the Noun
tain City House was in great danger,
but the heroic efforts of brave men
saved it. Here ought to be mentioned
Rufus Neal, colored man employe d
by Mr.. Thomas Hough, the proprie-
tor, about the hotel. He took his
station at the extreme gable end Of
the L on the roof, and in the face of
the burning, binding heat, poured
bucket after bucketful of water on
the burning cornice. His feet were
burned terribly and his face literally
cooked. He is a hero.
The loss to Mr.. Thomas Hough will
reach 81 800 or more in personal prop
erty. No insurance The Mountain
City House Company lose their stable
We can form no intelligent idea Of
the worth, but it was insured for
81 900. Mr.. James F. Hough's loss
is something over $4,000; insurance,
ST., 200. This is in addition to tho
destruction of vast amount Of prop
erty broken and damaged by water.
Fortunately for the property owners
the night was perfectly calm. Had
there been a northwest wind blowing
the en- tire business portion of the town
would have been at the mercy of the
flames. The stable has long been re-
garded as fire trap, and Il told you
SO" andjust as / expected were the
expressions of many p-ople wise and
otherwise.
Dickey Watson and Leslie Combs
moved out on the approach ofthe fire,
sustaining some loss by breakage of
their household goods. DC.
We feel like mentioning some Of
the brave workers at the fire, but
it would not be right to mention
few and leave out the many, besides
in the great excitement most every
body performed his part. 1t is true
some high-toned gentry sat around
and smoked cigars, not wishing to
soil their clothes. Generally the cit
liens worked with will and courage.
Charley Raymond was badly burn
ed about the hands while rescuing the
horses Bill Modoc was also consid-
erbIy burned. Bill saved all the cows
but one.
Jimmy" Hough took things coolly.
He said he had been expecting that
old stable to burn him out for several
years.
In spite of the fire the thieves were
there. Mr. Thos. Hough says that in
overhauling his household effects he
finds that some two or three hundred
dollars worth of. goods have been sto-
len and carried away, principally bed
ding.
The origin Of the fire is unknown.
Mr.. j. F. Hough's property was in
sured in the Etna Of Wheeling; the
Mountain City'sin some three or four
ofhor com M nias of tho s0uao nj aca