The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-04
THE TIMES KODAK.
Items of News Gathered About
Town.

night fire broke out from an unknown
cause in the small grocery and meat
shop of Shortt & Dummerville on Union
street, near the freight depot, and in q
few minutes that and the adjoining
large frame house, occupied by Darst
Smith X Co. as q wholesale feed, flour
and hay wa ehouse, were mass CT
danes. The fire company responded
quickly, but the stream OF water from
Finch main was SO insignificant as to
be OF little practical service. With
some difficulty the team of mules and
valuable Percheron mare, which were
in stable at the rear OF the feed store,
were liberated, and these, with few
barrels Of -four, were about all that the
bystanders could save, so rapid was the
spread of the flames. For long time
much anxiety was felt by Mr.. Smith
regarding the books and papers, valued
at ten thousand dollars, which were in
the safe, whose outer doors were open.
Owing in great measure probably 10
the efforts OF the fire company in throw
ing all the water they could around the
neig hborhood o. the safe its contents
were taken out an hour or two later un-
harmed. Messrs Short & Summervillo
lost their books, stock Of goods and
wearing apparel, which is hard upon til EN-
as they had no insurance and are men
of small means. Darst, Smith Il Co,
estimate their own loss at 81 coo, par
tally covered by $4,000 insurance.
They Will rebuild at once and in the
meantime are carrying on business in
the store in the Hoffman flock recently
occupied ty the Salem Hard ware Com.
pany. Five of the large plate glass
windows in the Hoffman block were
cracked from top to bottom by the great
frnp bn Epr pi,,,, I,,1 4
These windows each cost SIS and for
two years up to January 1893 Mr.. Heck
man had carried insurance on them but
when requested to renew the other day
he said he did notanGc,pate their being
injured in any way. Yesterday after.
noon the insurance company, through
their agent, were selling the charred
corn at p cents q bushel and the
smouldering bran at % cents per hun
dred, and dozens of peoole were at
work In the ruins filling sacks and load
ing them into wagons.
marriage license was issued in the
county clerks Office to Hampton Lafay
cite Hofanger and Anna Lillian Boon,
both of this county.
M. L. Haycock was among those who
left here yesterday for Washington TO
attend the inauguration.
5. NJ Martin, at the freight depot
yesterday, purchased theentire stock Of
hats, shoes, trunks, etc of G + Watts,
who goes from here to Winston in "A few
DAYS.
The regular March meeting of tho
Salem town council took place last
Thursday night, all the mem oers being
present except A. S. Duncan, and the
following business was trInsac ted: The
mayor reported SIC IS Collect ted in fines
ST &C last meeting. The street com
mlttee, after reporting as to the amount
OF work done by the street hands, rec
commended that the east bridge should
be shortened in the same way as the
west bridge and stated thatem ploymenu
at rock breaking had been furnished
several citizens, who were in need Of
work, by the street com mittee.
The light committee reported the
resignation Of L l.. Pickle as supcrin
tendent OF the electric light plant On
the 18th of February, and suggested
that the services of a superintendent be
dispensed with for the present.
Inc superb sendent Of the poor stated
that he had buriel one pauper, received
one new one at the poor house, had as
sisted several needy people in the town
with food and medicine, and that the
two old paupers seemed to be hale and
hearty.
The water committee reported the
pumps and reservoir in coed condition.
and mentioned several lines Of pipe that
had been lowered since the very cid
weather.
The finance committee reported c
Number Of accounts favorably and tho
same were ordered TO be paid, but re-
ported adversely in regard to petition
of The jeff Davis Rifles asking for as
sistauce, as the finances of tho town
would not permit any more than tho
payment of the current expenses and
necessary improvement OF streets. r.
ii. Magee, having asked for extension OF
water main TO his residence on Govern
mont Hill, the matter was referred 10
the water committee.
The city assessor, having stated that
there was some dispute as to the north
ern boundary of the corporation, the city
engineer was ordered to run tho north
crn line again and mark same.
Apple atoms from Mr. Beck and Mr.
Halthof, asking for employment as
electricians, and q proposition from
Electrician Hill, were referred to tho
light committee.
The council then went into executive
session to elect q water su oerintendent
and policeman. After considering the
claims OF several citizens Alcck John
son, who had previously held this po-
sition, was declared elected at salary
OF Si5 per month.
After lengthy though informal dis.
cussion upon the proposed extension Of
the town hall, the committee was con-
tinued and the council adjourned.
Near to a Serious A ccident.
SALEM, Va, March 3.-About7 o'clock
to night servant was reftting the