The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-05-13
DISTRESSING FIRE
Personal Property of Emerson
Carney Nearly a Total Loss.
Narrow Escape Of Mr.. and Mrs. Carney
House Quilted by Fire-It Belongs
to Miss Cordray Delay In Getting
Water, While Flames Ragged Fiercely
-Geo G. Hayes Residence in
Peril.

The home OF Emerson Carney 10 the
house owned by Miss Elizabeth Cor.
dray was Quilted by fire about O'Clock
Wednesday and nearly..all the personal
property belonging to Mr.. and Mrs.
Carney was destroyed. The family
had narrow escape from sutfocation.
Miss Cordray was away from home.
She had gone to prayer meeting and
remained for Bible Study class after
its close. Most OF her personal prop
erty was rescued from the trst floor,
before the flames got TO that side of the
house, but the loss on the building
falls heavily upon her. She had $500
Insurance on the house and 5000 on
personal property Mr.. Carney had
5000 insurance on personal property.
The Ere was FIRST discovered in the
kitchen. Mr.. aud Mrs. Carney ecu
pied the side OF the house next to
Bumbo Lane, and Miss Cordrsy the
rooms next TO the residence OF Geo c.
Hayes. Mrs Carney had retired about
eight O'Clock suffering from a head
ache. Mr.. Carney retired later, hav-
u N
aid bad not been out of 1t long, when
his wife first remarked that she smell.
ed fire
So rapidly and tiercely did the flames
spread from the kitchen. that they had
barely time 10 escape. and get their
little son Wayne over TO the home Of
Geo. c. Hayes adjoining. Mrs. Car
ney had the hair scorched on one side
Of her head aud Mr.. Carney was near
ly suffocated. Both were compelled
TO escape in their night clothes, AL.
most none OF their clothes were SAVED,
and very little of the furniture.
La an incredibly short space OF time
the flames had rushed through the bed
room next to the kitchen, and on
the front room and were c;,-
veloping the front porch, when the
water was finally gotten on the fire.
There was no delay 10 the fire com
pany getting to the scene Of the re.
but when they arrived it was discov-
cred that the hose connections were
all Off, and the wrench for opening
The ire plug was gone. A wrench
was gotten from The Gas Company's
Office near hy, hut at the rate the fire
was progressing it seemed long time,
TO the great crowd assembled, before
any water was gotten 10 the fire 1t
lid not require many minutes TO get
he fire under control when the hose
were finally made.
The proximity Of the Cordray. house
10 Geo. G. Hayes residence made II
appear that it was doomed. for few
minutes, white the iames were spread.
ny so fast Fortunately water was
gotten in time To save 1t, and no dam
lge was done.
The Carneys and Miss Cordray were
sheltered at the home of the Hayes's
next door last night. They had recov-
cred somewhat from the shock this
Mr. Carney recovered ten dollars 10
ash from a trunk which was locked
I'D and renamed in tn. bed room
the 1re. Although the trunk
was badly charfed on the outside the
money and some Of Mrs. Carney's
,lothes were safe Within. When IL
was opened they were almost too lot
10 handle.
A small quantity of money 10 Mrs. |
1arney's purse was also gotten out OF |
ler room after tie Ire.
Everything In the kitchen was a |
total loss. The fire is supposed to
have started here in wasibasket |
rom some cause unknown. The cell |
ing is burned through above where
The basket stood.
Mrs Carney had just finished her
spring sewing, and had every thing In |
readiness for the summer. Besides |
5he clothes and furniture, there were
/ great many little things, not of so
much value, but which can never be
replaced, making thr loss very dis
tressing one TO the losers.
A tremendous crowd Of people gath
cred at the alarm of fire, and those
first on The scene did all they could |
10 rescue property 10 the suffocating |
,noke bnt it soon became too dense |
% be endured.
The loss can hardly be estimated in |
lulars, for when one Is burned out of |
house and home the loss cannot be |
The two families were so
nicely fixed, that it would cost many |
hundred dollars to replace the house
Is they were at O'Clock last evening.
On the return OF the fire company
o the shed, it was learned that the
rose connections and wrench had
been taken of by the street cleaning
'orce, and were left in wheelbarrow
instead Of being returned 10 their
places. No such carlessness should be
lllowed again.