West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-30
KINGW00D'S BIG BLAZE!
THE HUNGRY FLAMES LICK UP
THE BEST BLOCK IN Town.

The Exchange Hotel, DIR. Pottcr,s
Hardware store, Ex-senator Bish-
ops Store, MrS. Barr's millinery
store, and the Exchange stable
burned TO the Ground i'm less than
Two Hours.
On last Friday afternoon at $3.50
o'clock the alarm of fire was given
but not until the flames were breaking
through the roof of the stable, belong.
ing to the Exchange Hotel. All the
efforts to prevent the flames from
reaching the Potter and Bishop build.
ings amounted to nothing and were
soon abandoned. The flames spread
over the rear end Of the buildings
and every effort was made TO save
the store goods. DR.. Potters store
was soon cleared of all the hardware
and paints and oils that it was pos
sible to get out; but the goods were
greatly damaged and quantity of
them stolen.
Mr.. Bishops store adjoined the
Potter building and it also took quick
work there. There was large guam.
tity of -four in the upper story of the
building and but very little of it was
saved. A large lot of valuable goods
in the back part of the store room be.
low could not lie reached-so rapid
was the course of the Hames-and
they were soon destroyed.
During the time most heroic efforts
were being made TO save the new
post-office building, across the street.
the Exchange Hotel, on the corner,
and the old stone hotel stable across
the alley from the Potter building.
The efforts made TO save the old stable
was for the purpose of keeping the FIRE
from the conrt house and other build.
ings, The Exchange Hotel now
caught FIRE at the north end of the
building. The flames were fought
vigorously for time; but soon all
hopes of saving the building were
lost, and it was left to the mercy of
the flames. Successful forts were
now made to save the residences of
Senator Dawson, Benjamin Shaw and
Capt. Goodwin, the two latter having
caught fire in several places. The
territory to be guarded was so large
that the forces were necessarily scat
tered otherwise the Exchange Hotel
building might have been saved
1t was one of the largest and most
destructive fires that has ever visit
ed Kingwood and its influence will
be felt for years to come. Our PEG.
pie, as they always do at fire, work.
ed heroically and did all they could
to save the property and the homes
of their neighbors. We hope that
their service will never again be
needed under such circumstances.
The losses and insurance are as
follows:
Doctor Potter's loss on hardware
stock, $500; no insurance. Ed. Stuck,
loss on Potter building, $500; in
surance, 1000. j. +. Murdoch, loss
on post-office building, $50; insur-
ed. Jas. l.. Stone, loss on Exchange
Hotel building, $4,000; insurance
$4,000. Benz. Shaw, loss by moving
household goods, $50; no insurance.
Peter r. Smith, loss on hotel fur
niture and bedding, $500; no insu-
rance. Mrs. Barr, loss on millinery
stock, $50; no insurance. e. NJ. Bish-
OPP, loss on store goods, $4,000; insu.
rance 81 500; loss on store building,
$1,000; insurance $1,000.
NOTES.
Gus Crcsap and Jas. A. Brown per-
formed important parts during the
FIRE.
A great many persons we're out of
town and on this account the force
of workers was reduced.
The fire was in the heart of the
town and many persons living near
were interested in saving their prop
erty and this reduced the working
force also.
Many persons were in town since
the fire viewing the ruins.
No man ought TO be allowed to
put up a building in the heart of
town unless it be made FIRE proof.
Kingwood has had five fires in less
than four years,
Some proper precautions ought TO
be taken by our people against FIRE.
How this is TO be done is the question
yet to be solved.
This fire leaves our town but two
hotels and they have not sufficient
room to accommodate the people on
opvfhfn.r lilo o. 10, H.. l.. 49,.