The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-07
INVESTIGATING THE FIRE.
A coroner's Jury Examining
Into Sundays Holocaust.
The Origin of the Fire Is Still "A Mvstorv
Many Theories Advanced as to How
the Building CauGht-The LnyestIra.
ton stiii In Progress Condition of the
Injured.

hoahoke on early Sunday morning,
carrying with it the precious burden of
human life and the destru ton of nearly
$4,000 worth Of property. has been the
all-absorbing theme of the past forty.
eight hours. The smouldering ruin of
the buildings that have been Quilted by
fire and explosives all day yesterday
wss the object OF curiosity and examina.
ton to hundreds Of spectators.
The probable cause of the disast err was
discussed all day long by the people of
tho city, but the secret of the terrible
disaster is still clouded in mystery.
The postofiice department was handled
with rare skill and energy, and Sunday
everything had been moved to the bill.
lizard saloon directly opposite tho old
stand on Campbell avenue, so that bust.
ness was being conducted in n clock. like
manner yesterday morning.
The losses to the occupants and own
ers OF the building are as follows: The
postofdce building and fixtures. the
property OF Mrs. r. Ii. Day, cost $4,000
ana were insured for $4,000 Also the
brunswick Cafe building cost 50, 600.
with an insurance of $4,000. d. G.
moomaws building loss, SO 900; insur.
ance, $4,000; the Crescent Club lost
$4,000; insurance, $4,000; Groves & Co :,
loss, $4,000; insurance, $500: A. A.
Leavy, loss, $1,000; insurance, $1,000;
DR. ii. A. Sims, loss, $1,000; insurance.
$1,000.
The losses to the insurance companies
are as follows: Scottish Underwriters
and National Insurance Co., $4,000;
Royal Insurance Co., So. 500; London and
Lancashire, $1,000; Western, S3,sUo;
Guardian, S2,SO0; Hartford, S2,7OO;
Home, $4,000; Queen Insurance Co.
$4,000; I'm perial, $4,000; British Amcri
can, $1,000; Norwich Union, 81, 500; Lion
FIRE Insurance Co., $500; Continental,
$500; Pennsylvania, 81, 900; Caledonian,
$1,000; Niagars, $1,000; American, So, ) 10.
Sunday afternoon Justice Samuel G..
Williams, acting coroner, summoned a
coroner's jury to investigate the cause
OF the death of Mrs. Clinedinst; also the
cause Of tho fire. The following gentle.
men were selected: VIM. WEIGH, fore.
man; S. A. Copper, Jool ~. Jamison, w.
II. Bowles, R. S. Williams and Frank
Taylor.
The body was vowed by the iury,
which then repaired to tho MAYORS
Office, where the Investigation was con
Quoted. The evidence submitted cor-
roborated the account in Sundays
TIMES.
a. b. Clinedinst gave the following
description OF his experience: He first
found out tn st there was fire from his
father lie started out to locate it and
found that it was the Brunswick Cafe.
His father and mother di6 not realize
that there was danger or they might
have been saved. Continuing no said:
~ returned to my room and picking up
my b1by told tho rest of Thorn to follow
me. Inc first person mot was Officer
Gee. handed him the baby and then
returned. My wife had escaped, but my
father, mother and sister were standing
in the windows facing Campbell avenue
from which point they jumped. He
also stated that it appeared to him that
tho explosions were caused by paint or
alchohol and that he did not smell any
whiskey.'
Officer Tinsley was tho next witness.
lie said: 81 first discovered the fire in
the front part of the Brunswick Cafe.
Tho three people wero then in the VIM
dows. Several explosions followed each
other in rapid succession. 1t seemed as
II It was oil or whiskey. Tho aerial
ladder did not reach tho window. The
trolly wire seriously interferei with the
work. do not think the people could
have boon saved even if the wires had
been cut when first suggested. No
effort was made to catch any of the
persons who jumped. can't say who
prevented the wire from being cut at
first. 1t was finally cut by Vigilant
fireman."
A. a. Leavy testified substantially as
reported in Sundays TINES.
Chief Knepp, of the fire department.
testified as follows: Tho alarm was
turned in shortly after = o'clock. Hose
was laid in the rear of tho hotel and it
was supposed that the fire was out
Had not the trolley wire been in tho
way the firemen could have rescued the
people. The wire was not cut. not
kno wing whether the wire was charged.
Persons near it might have been killed
The water had but little effect upon the
fire."
Doctor Frye testified that Mrs Cline
dinst came to her death by injuries from
the fall and consequent shock.
Edward Lyle testified as follows :
Tho aerial truck struck the trolley
wire, and some one said Cut the wire.
Several replied, Don't cutit.' The three
persons in the windows looked several
times as IL they intended to jump. The
ladder seemed to be- out OF order. 1t
mover reached the windows. The man
jumped first, then the woman and the
young girl. hoard several explosions. "
Officer Gee: 81 was on Franklin road
when saw the flames. ran to turn in
an alarm, but before could do so it was
sent in. met Mr.. Clinedinst and took
his child and placed 1t in charge Of Mr..
Donaldson. saw the people in tho
window. The spectators said DON'T
jump. wo will save you Tho aerial
ladder did not seem to work. The wire
was not cut until some time after |