The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-03-09
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN ROANOKE
One Life Lost and Several Person
Iuiured-Loss $4,000.


Injured-Loss $40, 900.
The Roanoke Times of Sunday Says:
The most serious fire which has visited
Roanoke broke out at $50 this morning
in the Brunswick Hotel. The first init
nation of the fire to the outside public
was loud report and a huge volume Of
flames rolling up the central lightning
shaft over the barrOom. Fromthe Iana>
es building it looked like a volcano.
The building burned like a finder box,
and all the water in the reservoir couldt
have stopped it. Barrels and cases of
liquor exploded in the intense heat, and
dense volumes of smoke poured out of
the upper windows of the building inn
mediately to the west
Here most appalling sight was pre-
sented. In the third story window hung
three human beings, middle aged man
hurridly dressed, a woman and a beau
tiful girl of some twenty years. They
were both cool and brave. Where were
the ladders? Where was the Wanted
aerial truck? Slow, fearfully slow in
comming, and when the latter came the
electric light wires at the sidewalks and
the trolley hung over the middle of the
street. Up went the truck right into
the trolley, and then fireman ran up
like a cat and bravely cut the trolley.
With terrible blast hot sheet of
flames broke through the windows of the
building and the poor unfortunates were
forced to jump.
First came the man. He sprang
straight for the mass of electric light
wires, struck them, clutched convulsive>
ly missed his hold, turned a complete
somersault in the air and landed heavily
on his back.
Then the girl She fell on her side
Willing hands lifted the poor sufferers
Johnson's barber shop. The mother was
taken to Dr. Frye's Office on Salem
avenue.
The family of J. W. Clinelinst lived
in the upper floor of the building to the
vest They were:
John w. Clinedinst, Mrs. M. J. Cline
dinst, and wife; A. B. Clinedinst, his
sons wife; and girl child of eleven
months; Archie Etoile Clinedinst, daugh-
ter of John w. CllnedlnSt.
The father is carriage worker who
came here from Woodstock, Va, only q
week ago. The son is a printer and has
in the city, He has been here about
four weeks. His wife is the daughter of
Maurice ZOO.
A. B. Clinedinst gives the clearest sto
ry of the fire:
I'VE. were awakened by my father
coming in and telling US the house was
full of smoke. l arose, dressed hurridly
and ran down the back stairs with the
baby. | asked several bystanders to
hold it but no one volunteered. | went
half block and gave it to policeman
Gee and ran back after my wife. She
had fallen down the stairs. | picked her
up and brought her to the Times builds
ing"
DR.. Staples rendered aid to Mrs Cline
dist, and two OF her sisters, daughters
of Maurice Joo aided in comforting her.
Her injuries are slight.
The mother was taken to DR.. Frye's
office. Stimulants were administered,
and it was found that she had not only
been badly bruised but her left leg was
broken Drs. Gale and Harrison came
in, but in spite of all efforts the poor
women expired at o'clock.
The father has broken leg, and has
probably suffered injury of the back.
The daughter was badly burned on the
face and hands and is probably injured
internally. No more wonderful heroism
was ever shown. She was cool from the
first, and never lost consciousness for a
moment. She bore her fearful pain with
calm composure which brought ex-
pressions of admiration from all who
witnessed it. The three survivors are
resting quietly at the Home for the Sick.
The three buildings and their contents
are a total loss