Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-01-12
Big Firein Charles Town.
Valuable Property Burned, and Sin
Business Establishments. Odd
Felloms' Hall and Co. IAr-
mory Totally or Par
tiauy Destroyed.

lie UlOSJ uGSttuCNlfO NJ "'~-
has visited Charles Town for num-
Der of years occurred on Saturday
morning last.
The fire broke out in the carriage
factory of NJ. W. Thrush, next door
TO the southeast corner of Liberty
and Charles sts., and from thence 1t
communicated with the corner build.
ing, q large stone and frame struc-
ture, which was entirely destroyed.
1t next spread to the adjoining build
ing on the south, large three-story
brick building, erected about three
years ago. The top story of this
building was entirely destroyed and
the second story greatly damaged.
All of the real estate destroyed be-
longed to the heirs of the late Will
liam F. Weirick, and their loss is es-
timated at Sc, 900 to 81 900.
Mr.. Thrush lost his entire stock
and tools, including several new We
hicles, books and accounts. His loss
is estimated at 81, 800 with $500 in
surance in the Standard Fire Insur-
ance Company of W heeling and 5000
in the Northern of England. In the
stone and frame building DIR. S. V.
Yantis occupied the north end as q
saloon and most of his stock and
fixtures, valued at 81 900, were saved.
He had no insurance. Another por-
ton of the building was occupied by
Mr.. E. Hiney as bottling establish
ment of light drinks, and he lost a
good portion of stock, valued at $500,
with no insurance. A portion of the
third story of the brick building was
occupied by WildeY Lodge, No. 81,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and the Order lost nearly all of its
paraphernalia. Its loss is estimated
at $500 with S270 insurance in she
Franklin of Wheeling. The other
side was occupied by the Citizens
Fire Company, who lost some little
furniture. On the second floor Co,
L, First Regiment, National Guard
had its armory, but its loss was
small. Another room on this floor
was occupied by the printing office
of the Farmers Advocate, which was
greatly damaged by water and the
loss of type in the attempt to carry
it from the building; covered by in
surance, with agency of Washington
& Alexander. On the first floor Mr..
j. w, Russell had large tin-shop
and stoveroom. His stock was much
damaged by water, but well insured.
On this floor there was flour and
feed store, owned by the Weirick
heirs, which was damaged by water.
The Weirick heirs were insured as
follows: On carriage factory, a
frame building, $500; on stone and
frame building, $1,000. in Scottish
Union and National of EdInburg; on
brick building, Georgia Home,
81, 900; Virginia Fire and Marine,
$4,000; jefferson County Mutual
81, 900; on -four and feed, 500, in
Franklin of Wheeling.
The origin of the fire is unknown.
1t was O'Clock when the fire was
discovered and the two fire compan-
les quickly responded, but the heat
was so intense it was some time be-
fore the fire could be controlled.
.NorEs.
The Odd Fellows goat was saved,
Rev. j. p. Stump finding him in
Mayor Browns kitchen, coolly sur
veying the fire at safe distance !;
but We skeleton did not fare quite so
we'll, being ignominiously cast out
among the debris from the fire and
causing wonderment among the I'M
initiated as to what poor mortal had
become victim to the devouring
element.
Mr., George Washington, Presi-
dent of the Town Council, had n
heavy stream of water from the nozel
men of pipe in the hands of the
firemen accidentally thrown directly
into one of his eyes, causing pain
full injury to that organ.
The need of a good hook and lad.
der outfit was here made even more
apparent than in the recent Alexan-
der fire; for with it many hundreds
of dollars worth of valuable property
could have been saved. Water was
plentiful, but it could not be thrown
where most needed, for want of lad
ders; and hooks to have torn away
the south end Of the burning old
building would have relieved the fine
new building from the hot furnace
sending its heat up against it.
The fire department, we under
stand, is short of hose, and if so this
is a matter that should be looked af-
ter at once. Delays in this regard
are especially dangerous.