The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-24
EARLY BAD BLAZE
IN EAST DURHAM
Several Houses ConSumd,
Loss About $4,000.
INSURANG E MAY BE $4,000
PYTHIAN HALL, STORES AND
DWELLINGS DESTROYED.
S. J. GOoCH KNOCKED FROM A LADDER
His Injuries Serious but Probably not Mortal,
R. A. Crabtree Awakened by Fire
Dropping on his Bed from
the Burning Ceiling,

Durham. n. c., Oct 23-Special. y
ire broke out in East Durham about
) o'clock this morning, and i'm short
time several houses were burned. 1t is
/ estimated that the total loss Will amount
to between $1,000 and $4,000, covered by
perhaps one-third insurance. The losers
and the amount of insurance CARRIED are
as follows:
J. S. II. Proctor, three-story building,
total loss; one residence partially de-
stroyed; loss about $1,000, with $1,000
insurance!
q. a. Crabtree, drug store, burned to
the ground, loss about 5000, with in
surance of 1000.
II. j. Brown, stock of groceries; loss
about 81 800, with $1,000 insurance. Mr..
Brown also lost 1919 in cash.
Herbert and Smith, contractor, new
brick building of Y IT, Smith amid Conn
$500 and labor ON building, with no in
surance.
knights of Pythias Hail, over Crab
trees drug store: loss in furniture and
parapheqnalia, about $780, with no In
surance.
b. +. Abernethy, manager of branch
store of Thomas and Campbell; loss
about 800 ON stock and 500 ON per
sonal effects, with no insurance.
G. /. Beavers, meat stall; loss ON
meat, butcher tools and carpenter tools,
aEout $100, with MO insurance.
II. A. Crabtree, brother of G.. A. Crab
tree, lost $15 i'm cash.
L.:
cd to be the rear of Browns grocery
Store. II. A. Crabtree, who roomed III
his brothers drug store building, and
b, Il Abernethy, who roomed in his
place of business Cn the opposite side of
the grocery store, awoke about the same
time and discovered that the ceilings OF
their rooms were on fire. Both had
marrow escapes, as fire was falling upon
Mr.. Craibtree's bed when he woke up.
ne saved nothing but his clothing that
he had taken off on going to bed. In a
very short time the other buildings men
TONED above were in flames, a, line of
hose was rum from the cotton factory
hydrant and stream of water turned
upon the flames. I'm a very short time
the hose company of this city reached
the scene and two more streams We're
put on. A persistent effort was made
to check and confine the fiery element,
but the new two-story brick building OF
/. Il. Smith and Company, just complet-
ed by Contractor Herbert l.. Smith,
camght in the second story and was dam
aged to the extent of about 500. About
the same time the two-story residence
of j. s. I'll. Proctor, occupied by Ed.
Ellis, caught ON fire, and was damaged
some 5000 or $500. All of Mr. Ellis
household goods We're sawed, but in NOV
ing were considerably damaged.
While the firemeI were trying to put
out the new Smith building. s. J..
Gooch, driver for Hose Company No. j
was knocked from a ladder by piece
of falling timber and badly hurt. He
had gone up to a second-story window
with nozzle when beam that sup
ports the elevator fell, striking him and
knocking him to the ground. He was
rendered unconscious by the blow, and
at first lit was Thought perhaps he might
be fatally injured. He was placed on
a cot and brought to his home in this
city, where DIR. n. NJ johnson is at
tending him. Consciousness returned
about 8 o'clock this morning, and at pres
emf he is not thought to be fatally hurt.
just how the fire originated is not
known. The opinion i'm East Durham is
tnat Mr.. Browns store was robbed and
then fired to cover up the crime The
fact that Mr. Brown was known to have
money, and did lose 1912 in cash, lends
cclor to this supposition. The loss falls
PIhoemix-like they will arise from the
Plheonix-like they viii arise from the
ashes and soon rebuild upon what is NOW
smoking, smouldeaing ruins. The
knights Of Pythias lodge was a new one,
and the loss goes directly into each mem
ber's pocket. A new hall is to be erect
ed, however, at am early day.