Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-02-02
Pre- vents the Town From Burn
ing and Lives Being Lost.
1t Was Discovered rat Three O'clock
und an Alarm Given-The burglars
are Scared Away by the Alarm-They
Secure Three Watches and Other jew
elry-Other Newsy Items.
Special to the Review.

morning at $50 o'clock by what
might have been a very disastrous
fire. It occurred in the business
block OF Mrs. Matthews on Main
street, in room occupied by c. A.
Warnecke as a jewelry and book
store. In the room adjoining is J
A. Burgbacher's tailor shop. In the
tailor shop Mr.. Everett Burgbacher
was sleeping last night, and about
three o'clock he heard something
falling, but did not get up, but in a
short time the smoke came in the
tailor shop and aroused him to a
sense of the danger. He immedi-
ately gave the fire alarm and
the citizens at once ran to the
scene of the fire. Mr.. w. E. Kirch-
ner was the first there and smashed
in the panels of the door and threw
in water on the burning books and
papers, which kept the blaze down
until the hose were fastened to the
water line, In a short time the fire
was under control. On a view Of
the room after the fire was eXtln-
guished, it was found that the heat
was so great that the plastering
had fallen off the ceiling and walls
so hot that they could not be
touched and ready to blaze, and a
confagration was only averted by
the timely discovery, and the room
being closed and, no air to fan the
blaze. After daylight the outside
of the building was examin-
ed for a cause of the fire
and it was discovered that the
screen shutter had been pried off
and mems tracks leading from the
window showing conclusively that
some person or persons had entered
the store by the window. The
theory Of many is that burglars
lighted match and set the gas on
fire as there was leak in plumbing
near where the most fire was, and
became frightened and left. Mr..
Warnecke was. in Wheeling, and
come home today at 2 o'clock, and
on being interviewed said he had
lost three valuable watches, and
perhaps jewelry, but could not say
until he made further investigation.
The damage done will amount to
about $500, but the exact damage
could not be ascertained by your re-
porter.
There is no clue to the burglars
as yet. The building and stock are
covered by adequate insurance. 1t
is high time that the fire plugs be
put in by the water company, and
hose obtained before the town goes
up in smoke. The citizens and
council must make united effort
to secure the necessary implements
to fight a fire and be ready for it.
Ex-Sheriff G. w. Sine and Elk
Deputy F. G. Locke were in town
today collecting taxes.
Principal Hill reports our graded
schools getting along nicely, and
the attendance good. There are
116 pupils enrolled.
M. H. Stealey has moved from
his farm into town. He will occu-
py part of Miss Mary Stealey's
house till spring when he expects
to build himself a new house on
Dodd street.
J. B. Spencer became so excited
at the fire this morning that he
missed the door and fell into the
cellar and hurt himself severely.
The machine shop is running on
good time now and water station
running under full head to supply
water for the Elk Fork field.
The Klondike we'll will not be in
for two or three days.