Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-02-27
FIRE AT SHENANDOAH JUNCTION
j. n. Crabllrs Cigar Factory and Residence and
the Masonic Hall Destroyed

little town at Jne Junction oI Iue WI
folk & Western and the Baltimore q
Ohio Railroads, was visited by very
destructive FIRE Tuesday night OF this
week. The new cigar factory and res
idence of Mr.. J. H. Crabill and the
building known as the Masonic Hall
were entirely destroyed by fire, with a
large part of their contents. 1t was
about half-past eleven o'clock when
Captain Cline, who runs the Washing
ton and Chattanooga limited train
from Washington to Shenandoah juno
ton, saw flames at the rear end Of the
cigar factory. The fire had already
gained much Roadway. Captain Cline
at once aroused Mr.. Crabill, who first
got his family out of the house, which
stood but seven feet from the factory.
Other persons were awakened, and
soon a considerable crowd gathered
and began to save what they could OF
the property. Several hundred dol
lars worth of cigars and some other
articles, including the books and pa
pers, were saved from the factory, but
a large quantity of cigars and tobacco
and nearly all of the fixtures and tools
were destroyed. The dweling-house
had by this time caught fire, and was
seen to be doomed. Willing hands
began to carry out the furniture, etc,
and most of the contents Of the resi-
dence were saved, though many arti-
cles were lest.
The Masonic Hall, owned and &C.
cupied by Elk Branch Lodge, a., F..
& y. NJ, to the north Of the factory,
soon caught fire, and burned like tin
der. The records Of the Lodge, part
of the regaIa and furniture, ETC., We're
gotten out, but some valuable property
was lost. 1t is the third time that
Elk Branch Lodge has been burned
out-once at Duthelds and again
couple of years ago at Shenandoah
Junction when the Blackford building
was burned. The Masons had their
property insured for $500 with Wash
ington 4 Alexander, Charlestown, IN
the Jefferson County Mutual. Their
loss is placed at 81, 100.
The flames were so intensely hot
that there was great danger that the
large dwelling-house owned by Messrs.
John Aglionby and ]. L. Virtz, occu-
pied by Mr.. Bell, would catch sfre,
but men on the roof drenched it with
water and so saved it. The stable
and outbuildings at the rear Of Mr..
Crabill's lot were burned. Mr.. Frank
Osbourn saved the passenger and
freight cars of the n. & w. Railroad
that were nearby on switch by run
ming them down the track.
1t is believed that the fire was Of
incendiary origin. No one had been
in the factory for several hours prior
to the fire, and in the place where 1t
first caught there was neither stove or
lamp. Sunday night the building had
been entered by some one, who, how
ever, had done no damage. Tuesday
night it is believed that it had again
been broken into. 1t may be that It
was visited by thieves, who accident
allv get it ahre OF who started the
blaze to cover then tracks.
Mr.. Crabills loss amounts to be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. His dwell
ing house was handsome frame build
ing Just completed, into which he mad
moved but a month or two ago. The
o;,,.r factory was also new. having been
occupied only about four months by
Mr.. Crabill, who moved to the June
ton from Tom Brook, Va. The to-
tai insurance is $3.50, in the follow
ing companies Through Harrison anc
Schley, $3.50 in the Fire and Marine
OF Wheeling through Washington <
Alexander, 81, 400 in the Hamburg
Bremen and $500 in the Royal of Liv-
erpool; through A.G, WyncoOp, 81 GOO
in the North American. One policy
of $500 had been received only few
DAYS before the fire. Twelve persons
were employed in the factory at the
time it was destroyed.
Mr.. Crabill has not yet decided
what he will do about rebuilding a
the insurance has not yet been ad
iusted He is a man of indeiatigabl,
energy, however, and it will not b'
many days until he has his factory IL
operation again. His customers vii
find him ready to supply them witt
very little delay.
The people of Shenandoah junction
were extremely kind to Mr.. Crabil
and his family, who were so untor
tuuately burned out of house ant
home. Almost every dwelling in tn
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