Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-03-03
COUNTRY FIRES
Barn, Cattle and Contents Burned
ffuuse Burned at Bunker Hill

ffOuSe burneu al DunkeF Tin.
A bright light in the skies at the north
end OF town Wednesday caused consid-
cradle excitement for time. AS IS the
case with all fires. there was difficulty in
locating it and at first il was the general
opinion that it was in North Martinsburg.
The fire alarm was sounded and the fire.
men started in the direction of the fire
with the hose and hook and ladder wag-
on. When they reached the edge OF
town, however, they found that the hire
was in the country and retraced their
steps. After investigation it was learned
that the fire was on the farm of ]. HI.
Whetzel, tenanted by David A. Beard,
four miles north of town on the William
sport pike The barn, the wagon shed,
and corn crib, together with all the con-
tents, were totally consumed. A lot OF
fine stock was also cremated, including
forty head of sheep and lambs and nine
head of cattle. Besides these lot OF
farming implements. harness and feed
were consumed.
Nothing was saved. The flames ate
their way so rapidly over the sides and
through the building that AL attempts
to save any of the contents were futile.
MIR. Beard had been it town and was on
his way home when the fire started. He
was about two miles from home when he
noticed the blaze and he FASTENED home
to find his barn enveloped in flames.
He was too late to save anything. Some
neighbors were at the fire when he reach
ed il, but the blaze had made too much
Roadway before it was noticed.
The fire started in the east end OF the
building and is supposed to have been the
work of incendiaries or accidentally set on
fire by tramps. who frequently put up for
the night in the barn. 1t is more likely
that it was the work of incendiaries, how
ever. as the horses had cotton out of the
building in some mysterious manner and
were not burned The theory is advanced
that incendiaries fired the building and
had feeling enough to drive out the horses.
Besides the property belonging TO
Messrs. Whetzel and Beard, quantity Of
hay, fodder and farming implements be-
longing to bud" Welshans, which was
stored in the barn, was consumed. Mr..
Welshans was going to move on the
place in the spring and had already stored
some OF his grain and implements in the
barn.
The total loss will amount to about
$4,000. The barn was valued at $1,000
and was insured for $500 in companies
represented by Alexander < Trammell.
There was no insurance on the contents.
Farmers in town from all sections of
the county Thursday, report that the
blaze could be seen all over the county.
HOUSE BURNED.
Bunker Hill, Feb 2S.-One of the big
gest fires that Bunker Hill has expert
enced in years occurred here this morning
at three o'clock. The fire was in the
heart of the town and the whole popu-
ulation was awake and helping to hold
the flames in check and keep them from
reaching the buildings nearby.
The fire was in the house of Benjamin
Cage. colored, which is located near the
centre of the place. 1t was first noticed
about three O'Clock by Mr.. Samuel S.
Kline who saw it from his bed room win
dow. He hastily dressed and notified
Cages family that their home was on fire.
The whole Village was soon awake and
at the scene of the fire.
The Bunker Hill Bucket Brigade did
effective work and kept the adjoining
buildings from catching. During the
fire the house of Edward Simpson caught
from the sparks, but this was extin-
guished before any damage was done.
The high wind carried the sparks in
every direction and tanned the flames on
the burning building The building and
almost all the contents were entirely con-
sumed. Only few articles of furniture
were saved The fire originated in the
smoke-house, it is supposed from ashes
that had been placed in the house dur
ing the day. The loss is about $500. No
insurance.