The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-05-17
SERIOUS FIRES IN AND NEAR wEsTAM-
STER.
Fires Occurred In Westminster ON Friday.
Saturday and Monday, and Near
Westminster on Tuesday.

days is a record for this city. For the veal
ended last January not even an alarm OF fire
was sounded in Westminster. Shortly aItel
the report at the annual meeting of the Fire
Department The 6remen were called out, but
burning chimney only was the cause of the
alarm. Beginning with last Friday the fre-
men have been out three times in Westmln
ster. and have been worked hard and the hose
has received severe strain and rough usage
While the fires did comparatively small dam
age they were serious and Threatening, re
curing prompt and hard work to prevent
widespread destruction.
The fire in the basement OF the store OF the
Westminster Hardware Company, on Friday
morning of last week, was reported in the
ADVOCATE last Saturday.
On Saturday evening, about 40 fire was
discovered in the loft of the stable OF Mrs
Mary j. Bowers, in the rear of the store o.
John D. Bowers, and occupied by him. The
stable and one adjoining, occupied by A. d..
Wentz, were soon mass OF flames, and both
were almost entirely destroyed. together with
some hay and feed and other property belong
ing to Messrs. Weptz and Bowers. The
horses and carriages were gotten out safely.
The loss does not exceed $500, but the prox
imity of other stables and outbuildings, al
frame, made the situation dangerous. The
prompt work of the Fire Department confined
the fire to the stables. The electric wires
were above the stables and were somewhat
damaged.
MORE SERIOUS FIRE.
About 2.2O o'clock Monday afternoon
another general fire alarm was sounded, and
great volumes of smoke arose over the centre
of theNcity. Fire broke out in the stable in
the rear of the residence of Mrs. M. j. Wood
ward, on Main street, just west of Liberty
street. 1t was occupied by her son. DR.. Louis
Woodward, and destroyed with it were about
Is barrels of corn, quantity OF hay and some
harness. The horse and carriage were rescued
BIZ Theo. F. Englar, who was one OF the flrsl
on the scene. From this stable the flames ex
tended to the large barn and stable of Charles
G. Gorsuch on the west, and then the hre
became serious and threatening. But for the
fact that il had slate roof the damage TO sur
rounding property must have been great.
FLYING sparks and large pieces of shingles
from the Woodward building were carried long
distances, setting fire to the roof of the house
of E. o. Grimes, occupied by Jesse e. Shar-
rer, and to the Montour House, owned by
Grove A. Shipley aud occupied by John ID.
Six. The fire at the Sharrer house was soon
put out but the fire got under the roof OF the
Montour House, and it looked at one time
like the building was doomed. Flenty OF
water and energetic work by the bremen,
who worked manfully With water, axes ano
picks, saved the hotel, though IT was dam
AGED probably to the extent of $4,000
After two hours work all the fires were ex
t;nouisbed. Good work was done with garden
hose, with which roofs and buildings were
kept wet, and several of them were used to
protect small buildings near the Woodward
and Garsuch stables
THE LOSSES.
The loss ON the Woodward property was
about $500, upon which there was an insur'
ance of $500 in the Charles +. Goodwin
Agency. Mr.. Gorsuch's loss will aggregate
$500. He had an insurance in the Mutual
Fire Insurance Company of Carroll County
for S7On, and settlement was made on Tues
day morning for $475 The damage to the
Montour House amounted to about Sz,OoO.
The building was insured for $1,000 In the
Mutual Fire Insurance Company OF Carroll
County, and for $1,000 in the Mutual Fire
Insurance Company in Baltimore County.
Mr.. Six, the proprietor OF the hotel, had his
furniture badly damaged by smoke and water,
and even that which was carried out suffered
from breakage, mud and water. His loss is
about $780, with no insurance.
WORK OF THE FIREMEN.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon
the fremen, Some of them are not accus.
toned to manual labor, but all fought the
flames bravely, with water, pick and axe,
mounting high ladders and climbing upon
burning roofs. And the Junior Firemen were
out, too Some ofthe boys did good service
with garden hose in guarding the stable fires
while the men were fighting the larger and
more dangerous fire at the Montour House.
MORE FIRE PLUGS.
The alleys of Westminster, on each side OIL
Main street, are lined with stables, barns and
other buildings, and few fire plugs IN each
alley are needed, as there are delays 10 car
rying hose through gardens and yards and
over fences The most danger from fires Il
in these wooden structures, and several hire
plugs east and west in each alley would ado
greatly TO the safety of the dwellings, The
CITY has an abundance OF water and active
6remeu. With plugs in the alleys and peni,
! of hose no very serious fire here is likely tt
occur. The city's recent experience, how
ever, indicates what might happen, and thu
| Mayor and Council should take up the matte
| of more plugs and more hose. No none.
| could be spent for better purpose.
TSince the above was written it has beef
learned that the city has app orriated none.
to purchase 1000 feet hose.
BIG FIRE NEAR WESTMINSTER.
Between and O. clock on Tuesday morn
ing the large and we'll arranged barn of WIN
G. Rinehart, on the Uniontown pike, tw'
miles from this city, was destroyed by fire
4 the fire being supposed to be from lightning
AS heavy thunder at that time awakened ih
family of Alvin Myers, who live on the place
and they saw the barn in flames. The barr
was built about eight years ago. and was q
by 1O8 feet. 1t was an up-to-date structure
with all modern conveniences. With the BAR
a wagon shed, 80 by 80 feet, was destroys
also. two com cribs and granary. Min
horses and colts, 18 head of cattle, includin
cows and bull, hogs, IA sheep aud lam bs
a number of chickens, about 45O barrels o
corn, some rye, oats, hay, fodder and straw,
new separator, costing $3.50, fodder cut
ter, costing $55, hay cutter, costing $25,
chopper. costing $75, a fodder shredder, 10
of betting, IA sets of harness, and lot c
other property used on farms and kept abou
barns, were burned. The destruction wa
complete, involving loss of about " ,OOC
upon which there was no insurance. Only on
| of the fine team of six horses was burned. MI
Rinehart has lot of corn and hay in anothe
barn on the farm, and five horses left, aud will
be able to continue farm operations wlthou
much inconvenience.
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