Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-01
Destructive Fire at
Augusta Springs.

la Night of Excitement-flames Lea
Mountain High, Urged by Fierce
l Wind Storm Showers Of Fire.
brands Carry CONSERVATION II
i Many Homes -0ther News of th'
/ Neiqhborhood- Social Functions
| Personal Mention. Etc.
(Reported for the Spectator.)
Augusta Springs, Va, Dec. 80.
The most destructive fire known te
this section occurred here Saturday
morning last at an early hour, during
which S25 600 worth of property went
up 10 fame and smoke. This was the
burning Of five large shed buildings be
longing to the Augusta Springs Tan
ming Co., containing about $500 cords
of seasoned tan bark. Shortly after 2
O'Clock night Waterman George Marks
discovered fire at the west end OF one
OF the sheds, where 1t had already got
ton good Roadway and had reached the
roof. He quickly sounded the alarm
whistle from.the engine room and then
ran from house TO house though the
village arousing the sleeping popula-
ton. In few minutes several bun
dred people had reached tho scene. but
were able to do. little else thansave ad :
joining and near by property. The
group Of shed buildings we're already
doomed, for driven by a fierce wind
storm the hungry flames leaped from
building to building till the whole i've
were enveIoped in one mighty blast of
roaring fame. Never have the people
of this community seen such an appall-
ing sight as this tremendous fire at the
dead of night. Roaring like Mount
Pelee In eruption. 1t Sc nta mass Of ton
gued fame hundreds of feet high and
born by tho raging gale emitted 3
streaming shower of sparks and fire
brands that raj ned upon every house
roof and barn in its fiery course of two
miles up the little valley. 1t was q
serious night to these along the path OF
that fire swept section and but for the
recent rains and ice covered roofs. pro-
perties there could not have been
saved. The heat from such volume
of fire was intense, burning timbers and
railroad ties at considerable distance.
A remarkable instance of property
saved was that of the Robert Kunkel
homo. Mr.. z unkel's residence Was dt
rectly in the path of the wind blown
flames and within few yards of the
burning sheds. So eminent was this
peril, that everything movable was
taken from the house and carried 10 9
safe distance. While this was going on
another force was applying a stream
of water to the roof and sides Of the
house. Owing to the intense cold of
the night the water froze as 1t fell,
covering the building with a coat of
ice, the only protection, that could
have awaited, for beyond tho house
brush wood was scorched and a large
tree burned to the ground.
On the night of the fire Superintend.
ent George w. Moran was the only of.
fcer of the company present and upon
him rested much responsibility. Mr.
j. R. Cover, the President and General
Manager, was at Asheville. N. G. Mr..
Thos. Janney. the Vice-President and
Secretary, was in Philadelphia, while
Cashier J. 4. L. Hughes with his fami-
ly were spending the holidays with Mr..
Hughes step father, near Elkron, Va.
Superintendent Moran. however, did
all that could have been done, to pro-
tect property and to confine the flames.
He secured assistance from Portland
which place responded with reel of
hose and also obtained a detachment
of the Staunton Fire Department
which latter were rushed to the scene
by special train. The absent officers
OF the company were telegraphed and
telephoned to and were soon as possi-
BILE on the ground. After a careful in.
vestigation of the damage President
Cover places his loss at about $25, 900,
of which amount $4,000. is loss on the
shed buildings and the remainder on
{. 800 tons of bark, all which is covered
by insurance placed with Philadel-
phia Companies, though agencies at
Staunton represented by Messrs.
Sproul & Crowle and Hoge q McChes-
nsy. The company are unable to &C
count from the FIRE. but assert that its
losses will in no wise effect the opera.
ton of the tannery, which will be con
tinued without the loss of a single day.
They have yet 1900 cords Of bark on
hand and should this prove insufficient
to tide them oyer to the next barking
season. other near by tanneries have
promised to let them have of their sur
plus stock, all that may be needed. As
soon as their insurance can be adjust
ed, the company will proceed to re-
build the burned sheds and will COM
plete this work az fast as weather con-
ditions permit.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The night Of the fire was the coolest
of the season, the thermometer being
barely above the zero point, and to
add to the general discomfort the wind
was blowing almost hurricane, con-
dition which made it impossible to
control the fire.
Though the fire occurred
Christmas night there was so
much material to be consumed that at
this writing the fire is still burning
| with sufficient brightness to illuminate