The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-11-29
When Underground, Brush
and Trees On Slope Of Pin
nickinnick Were Burning
Fire Assumed Big Proper
tions and Volunteer Brigade
Formed To Beat It Out.
Fire Chief Steel and Mayor
Shields Head the Brigade
City Has Practically No
Water Supply and Danger
Of Big conaagration Was
Awful.

The city Of clarEsburg narrowly es-
capped a serious conuagration or pos.
sibIy total destruction Monday even.
ing. The underground, bushes, trees
and brush on the south slope Of PIN.
nicldnick hill just above the Baltimore
& Ohio railroad yards we're all ablaze
The FIRE spread rapidly from snan
blaze and IN a short space Of time 1t
had spread into radius OF several
hundred yards. endangering the prop.
erty situated nearby and thus leopard
izing the entire city On account OF
there being no water supply.
After the fire had assumed consider
able proportions the people residG 3
in that vicinity became thoroughly;
alarmed. Fire Chief Ernest Steel was
notified. That officer apprehending a;
once the utter folly OF taking his L.
partment into Glen Elk as there was
no city water supply. hastily Organized
a volunteer brigade with his men and
went TO the scene Of the fire. Mayor
Shields had also been notified and he
gathered up some volunteers and went
to the assistance Of Chief Steel and
his men.
These men fought with the spread
ing fire for about three hours AM
finally their combined and enegetic
efforts were successful in checking the
fire. There was no water aor use in
fighting the fire and the men were
compelled TO resort to the slow meth
cd Of stamping The fire out with
boards. smothering 1t with carpets
cloths and clearing spots beyond p-e
radius Of the fire.
At midnight the fire was practically
under control. Tuesday moruing
some OF the brush was burning bat
several men were on hand 70 see thai
the fire did not spread. They win
keep watch until all danger is past.
The origin OF the FIRE is unknown. II
might have been Of incendiary nature
but it is not believed that such
dastardly act would have been com.
mitted by any sane person esperiauy
at a time when .-e CRY is at the mercy
Of fire without protection. The mos
probable theory is that sparks from
a passing locomotive set the brush
aire.
This occurrence but emphasizes The
great peru whlcu is hanging over the
city Of Clarksburg-the peril Of t0e
fire demon. With the city water sup.
ply almost entirely exhausted ard
wood and other combustible material
thoroughly dry because OF ~
drought the city Of Clar5sburs is in
deed in the greatest Of danger. Never
in many years have the comfortable
homes. the humble and modest cottage
as wen as .-e handsome residences.
the business houses, the SCHOOLS, the
hospitals. in fact al the buildings LAT
compose the beautiful and prosper
Gus little city of Clarksburg in such
utter insecurity. such awful danger,
such terrible risk as they are today.
The occurrence more than empha.
sizse the fact that something ought to
be done and that Immediately to Sc
cure at water supply for the city OF
Clarksburg.
Remember the awful conGagradons
in recent history, and also remember
how many sad times the barn door has
been secured with a fine large new
lock after tne horses and mules hal
been stolen.
1t is time for immediate action.
Prof. Guss Goes To the Farm.