Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-01-28
planning MILL BURNED.
Fierce Fire in South Morgan
town Monday Night
4 pht Of the First Ward Planning Mill
Company Destroyed Together with
Large Part Of Stock-Insurance Gov.
ers about one Third of the Loss.

Monday evening the plant of
ksSt Ward Planning Mill com
ght IRE and in a short time
ed to the ground. The loss
$1,000. 1t was but partial
ed by insurance. This was
mill property and not cent
Arried on the stock.
e origin of the fire is somewhat
mystery. The Waterman states
ne was in the engine room
ere he always is at the time that
nre broke out when all at once
le flames burst into the place. He
t once gave the alarm. Mestrezat
was at work up stairs but he had
pot noticed anything until the fire
|es under good Roadway.
t is supposed by some that oil
kght fire somewhere but how this
caused is not known. An en-
lying at the depot first gave the
sam by whistling long and vigor
lousy. The fire bell soon rang and
ter the fire whistle cut loose for a
snorts.
La surprisingly short time hose
was laid from two distant water
plugs and two streams were playing
On the flames. It took the hose from
two reels to reach from either plug.
ms hampered the fremen as the
pressure was weaker than it other
wise would have been. However
about the best pressure ever afford
ed at fire was to be had on this &C.
kcasion.
IL was soon seen that there was
no chance of saving the main build
ing which was consumed completely
with all of its contents including a
arge stock of lumber and much val
1ole machinery. The dry house
rs also burned down but much
Ioflts contents was saved.
The crowd worked like Troians in
carrying lumber to places of safety
ana saved probably half of the stuff
e firm had on hand The firemen
prevented several stacks of lumber
from being burned by hard work.
The firm which had been operating
the place was Hinkle, Kiddy Il Jol-
life. They had no insurance on their
stock and lost from $1,000 to SO, 900.
ne loss on the mill property which
vas owned by Mr.. Sturgiss was
bout $4,000 with $4,000 insurance.
A strong wind blew during the fire
nd caused thousands of sparks to fly
= yer town but luckily none of them
i tafted Jew fires although the pieces
many cases were large ones and
lazed uerceiy after they fell The
ina helped save the buildings on the
outh Morgantown side.
Two other fires started during the
nTe. They were in the residences
Pleny Blue and Ann Webley.
were caused by break In the
regulator which allowed gas to
e on strong and set the houses on
Inc first one came near burning
go but quick work put it out with
causing the flremen to leave their
lsts
Inc scene OF the fire was a brilliant
g. Thousands of people stood and
stched the flames which being re-
cted In the river and creek made
psf beautiful scene. At one time
many people crowded on the bridge
pit chief Price acting under orders
m the Mayor cleared them away
Mr.. Sturgiss stated this morning
1t be did not expect to rebuild the
Int. he said that he had purchas-
it with the expectation of using it
another purpose and as the risk OF
Grating such an establishment is SO
great he feels that he will not be
justified in rebuilding.
The firm operating the conrerr has
&ot yet decided what they want done.
Ne mas told them TO hold a meeting
and decide what they desire and then
will inform them what he can do.
A great deal of work was being
lone by them. About fifteen men
eere employed in the plant and ar
engagements were being made 20 in
stall dynamo and TO WORK night
shift. The dynamo had not yet ar
rived. Three hundred dollars worth
Df new machinery had recently been
Installed Ind this was destroyed along
with the rest.
The fire will cause some delay aud
en- barrassment in the buildings which
the firm had on hand but they will
push ahead as fast as possible under
the circumstances.
Elmer Jacobs had narrow escape
from death in the fire. He was
standing on platform at the west
End and stepped inside the door to al
ow the hose To be shifted He Slip
ped and started 30 plunge into the
IRE. His hand was torn loose by the
stream OF water and for some time he
held he knows not how above the
eething furnace and rescued himself
n a manner nnt yet fully understood
PS either himself or any one else.