The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-14
incidents of the Fire.

-
The people gathered shortly after the alarm
of fire was sounded, and in an hour two thirds
of the entire population women and
childr .n-was at the scene. The hopeless
ness of the situation soon became apparent,
and it was evident the whole square must go,
if not indeed all of the north side of Main
street. Many persons became overwhelmed
by the horror of the scene, and stood looking
on without thinking of being able to render
assistance, while many women gave vent to
tears and continually exclaimed 80, God!',
&C. The Fire Department was on duty and
with citizens worked nobly. f. X. Herr,
Chief of the Department, was at work at
building on Carroll street, whilst his own
property was burning, getting his face badly
burned. This shows devotion to duty in the
Department worthy of commentator and
special mention. Denton S. Gehr, VIM. I'll.
Bell, IT., and Frederick NJ. Eckenrode were
more or less burned or injured while contend
ing with the fire at the Oliver Croft building
on Carroll street, next to the Lutheran par
sonage The students of Western Maryland
College deserve special mention also They
turned out and worked faithfully and effec-
lively during the confagration. Among those
most active were r. L. Lihthicum, +. III.
Whitaker, A. c. Wilson, +. H. Flagg, Frank
Stevens 7. j. Shreeve, sc. 0hrum, {. B.
d L. L.
c. Wainwright. Mr.. Whitaker rendered val
liable aid at several houses on Main street.
No ladders being at hand, he jumped up and
caught on the sills of the second story win
dows, and drawing himself up, entered the
buildings, and handed out a large amount of
furniture and valuables that otherwise would
have been lost. Mr.. Whit ker is from North
Carolina, and stands six feet four inches, his
height serving him and the public good pur-
pose on the occasion.
A number of colored persons worked well
also, among them were James Hopes, Alfred
Bruce, David Ireland, John Snowden, VIM.
Chinn, George Cook, Jim Dorsey (hod car
rier), Hannah Spriggs, Amanda Toupe, and
others.
In the midst of the confagration and the
scenes of peril and distress incident to it, acts
of the most depraved villainy were being per-
petrated, and many valuables, rescued from
the devouring flames, fell into the hands of
ruthless thieves who bore off and secreted
every thing that they could lay their hands on.
Ameng the many articles stolen were feather
beds, blankets, sheets and quilts, sewing ma
chimes, bacon, lard, clothing, millinery, gro
ceries, etc. Trunks and desks were rified
of money and other valuables. Some OF
these Williams, who fancied themselves unob-
served, were identified, and will no doubt be
urouSHI W CoHulSH punishment. 1ho iiiooC
vigorous measures ought to be taken with all
such, and no efforts spared to bring their acts
of villainy to the light, and the perpetrators
to the bar of Justice.
The light of the confagration was observa-
BILE for radius of twenty-five miles. The
Gettysburg Compiler says a number of citi-
zens Of that place saw the light. 1t was also
plainly visible at Baltimore and Frederick
The Hanover Spectator says: ''The light of
the conflagration was so vivid and intense that
it illuminated the whole Of the Southwestern
sky, and the reflection of the flames was so
strong in our town that the steeples of our va
rious churches stood out in bold reliefin sea
of roseate light, causing many persons who
witnessed it to at first apprehend that fire
was raging in our suburbs or immediate vi.
cinity." . -.rs
At Uniontown it was light enough almost to
enable one to read newspaper, and gentle.
man living six miles from here says he could
see to pick up pin in his yard
During the fire flock of wild ducks,
flock of pigeons and many smaller birds were
flying about over the scene. 1t is supposed
they were blinded by the glare and could not
escape. The wings of some of the birds, from
the reflection, presented golden appearance
and looked like large sparks flying through
the air.
81 ... - -. Is tJ+ft 1he inquest. --- go n.
Justice p B. Mikesell, acting coroner, held
an inquest over the remains of Robert Thomp-
son and Aaron Shaeffer, at the Montour House
on Tuesday afternoon, the examination last
ing about four hours, and was conducted by
States Attorney ID. N. Henning. The wit
nesses before the jury were Augustus Oursler,
Jacob Thompson, Frank Sharrer, George A.
Shower, Harry Thompson, Israel Zeiber, X.
Charles Matthews, AndrewN. Stephan, Thos.
B. Bond, Joseph Smith, Chas. N. Smith, Thos.
J. Bond, Baker Myers and Theodore Black.
After the evidence was closed the jury rem
dered the following verdict in reference to the
death of Robert Thompson, and another YER
dict in the same language except as to name,
in regard to the death of Aaron Shaefer:
State of Maryland, Carroll County, to aOit:
An inquisition taken at the Montour House,
in the city. of Westminster, in Carroll county,
in the State of Maryland, on the 10th day of
April, 1883, before me, the subscriber, JUS
tice of the Peace of said State, in and for the
said county, acting as Coroner, upon the view
of the body of Robert Thompson, then and
there lying dead, upon the oaths of William
A. Wampler, Simon p. Weaver, jeremiah
Babylon, VIM. II. Orndorff, Charles Kretzer,
John Roger, Leonard Zile, John T. Anders,
James C. Mobley, Leander Hull, John G.
Skunk and Joseph Stout, good and lawful
men of the county aforesaid, who, being
sworn on the Holy Evangely of Almighty
God, and charged to inquire when, where and
how the said Robert Thompson came to his
death, do say, upon, their oaths that Robert
Thompson came to his death on thea night of
the 9th day of April, 1888, in Carroll county,
aforesaid, by being burned to death in the
stable of Jacob Thompson, in the city of
Westminster, in the county aforesaid, and the
said death was caused blythe gross negligence,
reckless disregard of life and property and
carelessness on the part of Hanson Dorsey,
Robert Goodwin, John Clark and Charles
Warfield, Of said county, in producing or
causing the fire in said stable, which produced
said death, and that said last mentioned par
ties charged were trespassers, and unlawfnlly