Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-05-02
BIG FIRE WINCHESTER.
Eight Business Houses Burned--Loss
About 100000, Ttro-thtrds Insured.

Special Dispatch to the Baltimore SIN.
WINCHESTER, VA, April 29.-Again
Winchester has been visited by most de-
structiye fire, which was discovered at about
half.past o'clock this morning in the rear
of John Vilwig & Sons furniture ware
rooms, on the east side of Main street and
near the centre of the business part of the
city. The flames spread with great rapidity
and before the department, which respond
ed with usual promptness, could control the
fire eight business houses were total wrecks,
as follows:
John Vilwig & Son, furniture dealers and
undertakes, building and stock about sl6,-
900; insurance $4,000. Horsey & Atwell,
clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods,
occupied the lower floor of the Vilwig
building; most of their stock removed, but
greatly damaged; value of stock $4,000 /;
insurance $4,000. Solenberger & Stouffer,
dealers in stoves and hardware, on north
side of Vilwig building, loss about SO, 900 /;
insurance $1,000. Levin Bros, clothing,
dry groods and notions, most of the stock
saved, but damaged; loss 800; fully insur-
ed. The building occupied by the last two
firms was owned by Mr. Charles A. Heller !;
loss SO 1000; insurance $4,000. The build
ing on the south side of Vilwigs and ad-
Joining, and owned by II. Evans & Bro,
Whose losses are about $4,000, insurance
about $1,000 was occupied by the Adams
Express Company and Messrs. c. w. Hen
sell & Son. The express company will lose
nothing; goods and valuables were removed
from the building G. w. Hensell & Sons
loss is about so 900, insurance $4,000; part
of the stock saved, but greatly damaged
William II. Hardy, manufacturer of har-
ness, saddles, &C., loss from $4,000 to $4,000,
insurance on building and stock $1,000 !;
part of the stock saved but damaged.
The paint on all the property on the west
side of Main street, directly opposite, was
more or less damaged, including that of the
TAYLOR Hotel, and but for the excellent
management and faithful work of the fire
department would have been Destroyed
For an hour it seemed the entire block was
destined to destruction, and while the fire.
| men we're at work on Main street the fire
was gaining considerable Roadway in the
rear toward Market street, destroying sta
bles, outbuildings, &c. The falling walls Of
the Evans and Vilwig buildings soon pre-
vented the fremen from entering or APP
preaching from the front. Not an accident
of consequence occurred. Mr.. E. J. Vilwig,
in attempting to gain admittance to his
Office, which was on the second floor, by
means of a ladder, fell and received slight
bruises The fire was undoubtedly of in
cendiary origin, is the second which has &C.
Cured here during this month, and destroy
ed more property than any since the late
war. Four weeks ago the Nelcs office, fur
niture rooms of Funk & Ray, and others,
an account of which appeared in the Sun Of
April /, was of like origin.
Mr. Charles B. Rouss of New York city,
who has always been staunch friend to the
city, was wired this morning by gentleman
who is visiting here on business for Mr.
Rouss, and he received the following re-
spouse; "Ofer 81 900 reward for the arrest
and conviction of the incendiaries. Mayor
Lupton Immediately had handbills printed
offering the reward and posted through the
town While there is no excitement, the
citizeus are aroused and will leave nothing
undone to bring the guilty parties to justice.