Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-10-26
Passenger
Handsome
Depot
DAMAGED BY FIRE
Firemen Do Very Effective
Work.
From Mondays Daily.

senger depot shortly after hve
O'Clock this morning, and the flames
were not extinguished until con-
siderable damage had been done to
this handsome structure, which,
since its completion in December
last, has been a source of pardona-
bic pride to our citizens. The dam
age wrought would have been
greatly lessened had the alarm been
turned in to the fire department
headquarters more promptly, and
also if the fire laddies had not been
delayed in laying their hose by an
unfortunate combination Of circum-
stances.
James Comedy, the head waiter
in the depot restaurant, who dwells
on KIondike avenue. was the first
to see the fire, and by free use of
his vocal powers, he sent the word
onward until it finally reached the
department house. But it was fully
fifteen minutes after the discovery
was made before the tocsln was
sounded and the scene of the con-
fagration was reached by the first
of the fremen.
The J. T. Jones hose company
was the first in evidence, fifteen
minutes ahead of the Citizens. Con.
nection was made with the hydrant
near the station, but it was impos-
sible to get a stream OF any conse.
quence from this source. This
hydrant is ted from a two-inch
main which extends to Charles
street and is totally inadequate for
an emergency like that OF this
morning. Much time was con-
sumed in making connection with
the next nearest plug, at the corner
of Charles and Brown Betty streets,
and it was necessary to use all the
good, bad and Indifferent hose
which the department possesses.
The fire had gained considerable
Roadway before the first stream
started in to quench it. In short
time a second connection was made
and then began a great fight with
the fire element. Our firemen dem
onstrated beyond cavil that they
are the champion volunteers fire
fighters of West Virginia. They
make no great hullabaloo. but
every moment is effective. When
operations were begun it seemed to
the onlookers that the building was
doomed, but after over two hours
of arduous work the fire was gotten
under control. The damage is
mainly confined to that portion OF
the structure which is above the
square. The slate roof made the
fire more difficult to subdue, but in
return checked the spread of ii
somewhat. This roofing is badly
damaged.
Nearly all the removable effects
we're removed intact. The plinci
pal personal loss is sustained by W.
A. Kelley, proprietor of the restau'
rant, who has a room overhead,
which he usually occupies when in
the city. He is now in New York
on business. Mr.. Kelley had sew
eral hundred dollars worth Of
clothing and furnishings in this
room, and although his employees
made a strong endeavor to save the
property their endeavors were SET
at naught by the sufocating smoke
which poured from the apartment
when the door was opened. The
restaurant end ofthe depot escaped
nearly unscathed. The loss has
been Appropriated at from $500 tc
5000. Telegraph wires were burned
out, but were repaired before ter
, o'clock. The ticket Office has been
transferred to the freight depot, as
; will also be the telegraph desk. II
, will doubtless be month before
,ba bu;Idir1 car1 he mt hack in IFS