Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-02-09


FIRE AT HANCOCK -MARTINsBURa
F1REMEN PROMPT To THE RESCUE. On
Tuesday afternoon fire broke out in
a large saw mill along the canal at
Hancock, and for long time it look
ed as if the whole town would prob
ably suffer from the flames. A tele-
gram was sent TO the Martinsburg
Fire Department for assistance, which
was at once complied with. Within
20 minutes from the alarm the De-
partment, under the command of Mr..
VIM. Hollis, Assistant Marshall, was
at the b. Il o. r. r. ready for de-
paTture. Shortly after, an anony-
nous telegram was received telling
them not to come. They at once put
the engine and reels back to their
positions. 1t seems, however, that
the telegram Was an error and they
were again sent for. This time thew
left Martlnsburg at 902 p. M, and
arrived al Hancock about ten clock.
Some of our citizens, with forty fire.
men, went up, and worked vigorous
" to save what they could, but when
they endeayored to start to throw
water on the spreading fames,it was
discovered that when the engine was
put back in the afternoon, water had
been left in it, and one of the fues
had burst. This was to be regretted,
but the citizens of Hancock, after the
further spreading of flames were
prevented, appreciated the efforts of
our "lire laddies." The telegram
asking the second time for the fire.
men to come, was sent when it was
discovered that the wind had yeered
and the flames caught the large su.
mach mill, opposite the saw mill and
two warehouses that were already
destroyed. This mill also burned.
but would have been saved, except
for the unfortunate bursting If the
fue in the fire engine. After the en-
CINE had been put on the cars fer
the return home, the Hancock PEG
pie generously gave the firemen and
those of the citizens who went along
and aided, nice lunch. The night
was bitter cold, and the boys made
excellent use of the hot coffee. Nav
or Wilson was among the first of the
citizens to aid the firemen and pobly
stuck to bis post in pulling the en-.
CINE. To him and others the de-
partment returns its thanks, as well
as to the citizens of Hancock. The
train left Hancock about 2 o'clock,
anG arrived here an hour later. The
B. & O. R. R. gave special train ser
vice aud charged nothing. In such
time their act was most generous.
We are sorry to note one thing,
however, and that is the disgraceful
conduct of some of the people, who
went along. They regarded it as
frolic. and neither aided the firemen
nor the Hancock people. They acere
not .tfremen, and it may be said to
the credit of those who belong to
that organization, that the Martins
burg Fire Department always has be,
baVed ITSELF and done excellent SER
vice when possible. There was a
fight we understand. in saloon at
Hancock, which resulted from the too
frequent use of "red eye" by some
who were not firemen. We feel sure
that Hancock people will appreciate
the truth of this statement and place
no blame upon those who willingly
went up to save their town.
We are sorry to note the fact that
Mr.. James Martin, one of our fire.
men, was so unfortunate as to run
nail in his foot, while at the fire from
which he suffered considerably, and
had to te carried home. We trust
that be may soon be all right again.