Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-02-25
ADDITIONAL LOCAL NEWS.
Fbona be CHarleafotcra Papers. |

TTUW I've NfttAytc6tOtC1t 4 Upc5csi
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.-Charlestown
was ON Saturday night last visited
with most destructive fire, and one
which came very nearly entaiiing a
serious loss of life as well. The alarm
was sounded shortly after IL O'Clock,
aud the fire was fund to proved
from the rear portion of block OF
wooden buildings on the north side OF
main street, in the centre of the square
lying between Lawrence and West
streets, and near the division line be-
tween the rear of the saloon of MIR.
Thomas Kahn and wareroOm of Mr.. z.
F. Wall.
First in the block was the store
room of MIR. q. +. Wall, and above 1t
a dwelling occupied by Mrs. Annie
E. Rudrick and three children next
a ware-ruom occupied by Mr.. Wall,
and adjoining this the saloon of Mr..
Thomas Kahn, above which was a
dwelling occupied by Mr.. Wall. wife
and two children, and two clerks,
Edward Allen and Walter Welsh.
These persons we're aroused from their
midnight slumber by the fearful glare
of the flames arising from almost
underneath them, and SO quickly did
the flames spread that they barely es-
capped in their night clothes with their
lives, it being impossible to save their
furniture or even their clothing.
The fire soon enveIoped the build.
ing already named, and then leaped
to the nextadj0ining building, owned
by Messrs. s. S. and w. l.. Dalgarn,
and occupied below by the stOre-rUOnl
of Miss Amelia Hicks, and above by
the Misses Ware. The roof and up
per part of the building was destroyed
and the whole of it very materially
damaged, yet the fire on the east side
was stayed at this point, We do not
know exactly about what the total loss
by this fire will be, but it may posi-
bly, reach an aggregate of four or five
thousand dollars.
The occupants ofthe dwelling barely
escaped with, their lives. Nothing
was saved by Mr.. Walls and family
or Mrs. ROderick and children. They
fed from the burning buildings in
their night clothes-nO time to dress
or find clothing TO take with them.
So, barely escaping is not mere fig.
ure of speech.
The Misses Ware have four times
been burned out or driven from theil
homes at midnight by devouring
hames-and never by fra originating
in their own domicile-each time los
ing heavily and without Insurance
The first occasion, soon after the war
thew Lost nearly avQrvfhiug intlId.
ing fifty.two pieced quilts! OF two
saved then enc was lost on Saturday
night.
Mrs. Rodrick has had her second
experience in escaping at midnight
from her burning dwelling.
Mr.. G. F. Walls was in such haste
to save his sick wife and little child.
rem from the flames that he didn't
think about his money. He lost 6
hundred dollars less $l4 in silver pick.
ed up in the ashes.
Miss Ida Miller, ofthis vicinity, has
heen visiting the family of Mr.. VIM.
Wilger, of Martinsburg.
The signal officer at Harper's Ferry
at noon Tuesday, reported the river te
be seven feet above low water mark
The ice about the aqueduct has moi
yet broken, but the river below that
point is almost free of it.. AS yet nc
fear is apprehended of a freshet, hut
The merchants are taking time by the
fOrelOck, and trying to protect their
property along the river front as best
they can.