Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-05
Fire Ia Lynchburg-Five M"n Killed.
PRINTING OFFICE, HARDWARE STORE,
BANK, AND TOBACCO FACTORY
DESTROYED

On last Wednesday, in Lynchburg, by
some means the oil stored in the cellar of
of the Hardware Store of Jones, Waters &
Co., took fire, and resulted in the destruc-
ton of that building, the Tobacco factory
of Flood 6 Peters, the Lynchburg Frgi'a-
ian office building, and the Commercial
Bank, in that building, causing pecuniary
loss of about $3.50, 000. The fire spread so
rapidly that persons in these building just
had time to get out to save their lives. The
office Of Hon. John W. Daniel was in the
FirginiGn building, and he scarcely had
time to get out. Whilst assisting at the
fire, by the fall of wall, five citizens lost
their lives. In the language Of Hon. John
W. Daniel, who delivered the funeral ora
tion,-
give brave men-not one of them fire.
man-each but citizen and volunteer.
under no prompting but that Of q generous
spirit and under no command but that of
their own daring will, have yielded up their
lives as sacrifice; and when the evening
came, the scene of their brave endeavors
had become their tomb,-the crumbed
ruins and the dying flames their funeral
pyre."
These men were,-James A. Vaughan,
native of Richmond, for seven years a
citizen of Lynchburg, aged SO years, the
father of two children.
Capt. VIM. R. Moore, native of Frank
lin county, citizen of Lynchburg, freight
conductor, in the prime of life, leaving
three children.
Felix Beldelvre, native of Louisiana,
came to Virginia with the soldiers of that
State in 1S61-a Confederate volunteer-to
risk his life in battle for Virginia and the
South,
James T. Clements, native and citizen
of Lynchburg, aged % years minus one day
leaves young widow.
We conclude this mournful catalogue in
the language of John W. Daniel, who said
"And Halsey Gouldman, he who dared
so often and so often was unscathed; he
who was ever so ready to help when help
was needed;-he who seemed to find Joy in
perils which blanched the cheeks of the
brave,-he, too, alas! is dead.
None was better known than he. Boy
and man, his face was familiar both to the
gray haired man, and to the child at play,
and all saw in it the kindness of o nature
that was happy in rendering generous SER
vice, and never happier than when that
service elected daring deeds,
The ancients gave highest honor to him
who had saved the life ola fellow man. This
he had done on one occasion at hazard of
his own; and if you could get together in
one heap all of the property of the citizens
of this town that he has plucked from the
flames, in the many exegencies in which he
wrought to save, you would have reared to
him monument that would overtop your
tallest spire.
Poor Halseyl many an eye grows moist,
and many a heart feels keenest pang of
grief at mention of his name; and the
mother who loved him, and whom he loved,
and brothers and sisters, and little one,
who now mourn the son, brother and
father, dead, knowing full well thas sor-
rowing people mingle tears with THEIRS
The procession that attended the burial
Of the bodies of these victims on Thursday
afternoon was the largest ever seen in
Lynchburg. The citizens of that city will
erect monument in honor of their memory
and will make provision for the support of
their orphan children. Such conduct is
alike creditable to the living and honorable
to the dead.
We are sorry that our friend and editor
ial brother, Chas. W. Button, lost his very
valuable printing Office building with its
contents, but are pleased to learn that his
paper-one Of the best, if not the very best,
in this State,-will soon be published
again, rising like the Phoenix from it's
ashes. We shall hail it's temperance
with great pleasure, and hope that it will
enjoy even greater degree of prosperity
than before its baptism of fire.
FIRE AT SALEM, RoANoAKE COUNTY
The Town Hall, at Salem, was destroyed
by fire on Tuesday. The Masons, Odd
Fellows, and Knights of Pythias had their
lodges in the upper rooms of the hall.
These lodges lost about $1,000. The dam
age to the hall is estimated at 81, $780, paFt
ly insured.
Ex-Governor Horatio Seymour ended his
73d year Thursday. He is ''well and quite
contented,' enjoying the simple life that he
leads.
Hon. j. Proctor Knott, democratic no1hi-
nee for Governor of Kentucky, is i'll at the
residence of DR.. Matthew, in Louisville.
Robert Henderson, who murderd his wife
near Oxford, N. O., last November, was
hanged at Oxford Friday.