Smyrna times., 1902-11-19
STUBBORN FLAMES MAKE
TWO NECESSARY ALARMS
RESIDENCE OF MRS. MARY R. ROFFECKER
ON COMMERCE STREET BADLY BURNED.

Fire Originated in Defective FIue Sunday
Evening and Despite Heroic Work Of Fire
men, Building Was Nearly Destroyed.
One of the most stubborn fires in
recent years occurred Sunday evening
at the residence of Mrs. Mary r.
Hofecker on east Commerce street, |
and it was with the utmost difficulty |
that our brave and heroic fremen |
succeeded in getting the flames under
control. The property which was in
sured for $4,000 in one of the companies
represented by Cosgriff & Beck was
damaged to the extent of a thousand
dollars or more. This does not in
clude the furniture and carpets on
which there was no insurance. The
total loss sustained by Mrs. Hoffecker
will amount to over $4,000.
It was about 8.15 o'clock when the
alarm was given. The town was then
resting in its usual Sabbath evening
quietude, and the churches were going
through their customary services.
Mrs. Mary r. Hoffecker had just left
an hour before to visit her sister,
Mrs. Hannah Spruance. She lives
alone at her residence and had always
been very careful and in fact had been
taking every precaution against fire.
When she left her home Sunday even
ing she thought everything right.
The fire was discovered later by some
colored people aud shortly after the
general alarm was given, the house
was in flames. Our volunteer fremen
were soon on the scene of action and
two streams of water were played with
telling effect. The fire originated
around the kitchen chimney in the
attic and spread with much rapidity
under the roof and between thu
weather-boards and the plaster. TIL,
flames being so difficult to reach
made the task all the more annoyin:
to our fremen, but with hook ant
and ladder they succeeded in cutting
their way into dangerous places AM
after a struggle of about two hour
succeeded in getting the fire unde
control. At one time it looked a
if the building must go, and ha
there been a wind nothing could hav
saved it. With the Hoffecker proper
ty beyond control there Is but littl
doubt that the residence of Mrs. S
A. Lloyd and the residence of Isaa
B. Vlckers could have been saved.
Harvey W. FAIRIES Meets with Accident
During the heroic work of our fir
men, Harvey W. FAIRIES, one of Il
bravest, slipped on the porch roof al
fell through window. He was ju
in the act of smashing through
window pane when his right har
in the fall broke the glass and Il
main artery was severed. He W
taken at once to Clifton & Raymond
drug store, where DR.. Clifton and d
Dwight succeeded in arresting {
flow of blood. Had he not been tax
in hand quickly, he would have biz
to death. The loss of blood, to s
nothing of the painful wound, rendt
ed him in a very much weakened co
dition. Wilmer l.. Porter, another FL
man, was nearly overcome with sui
cation.
Between half past one and t
o'clock, fire broke out again and
general alarm was given to which
Fire Company readily responded.
appeared that sorie sparks lurking
the charred portions of the build
had been famed to a flame and
residence was threatened further
struction The fire, however, was 81
extinguished. There has been nj
speculation as to how the fire occur
but it is the natural supposition
il was due to a defective fue in
kitchen chimney. During the scare
of coal, Mrs. Hoffecker has been bu
ing coke mixed little with coal,
some are Of the opinion that the
of the former might have bror
about the accident. Mrs. HoffeC
had been thinking Of closing
residence and going to Florida for
winter.
ALFRED TILGHMAN BUYS A PROPHRI