Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-09-09
FIRE BUGS ARE At WORK
kershner Grocery Store Again the
Point OF Attack.
is SECOND BLAZE THIS WEEK
Last Attempt Successful, as the
Grocery Stock Is Practically
Ruined No Clue.

What is believed to have been the
second fire of incendiary origin this
week in the grocery store of Mr. G..
A Kershner, at the corner of Martin
and Raleigh streets, broke out Thurs.
day morning a few minutes after mid
night and as esult the stock of
goods was practically consumed bv
the blaze and water, and the building
badly damaged.
The store is located in the two.
story brick building owned bv Mr.. O.
Il. Wolfes, in a neighborhood thicklv
built with frame buildings. aud bad
the blaze not been discovered before
1t had gained Roadway, a dangerous
confiagation might have ensued.
4 The fire was noticed about mid
night and An alarm promptly turned
IN, The department was on the scene
in a few minutes. Inside the store
room was, dense clouds of smoke,
which prevented the tiremen from
ascertaining the extent of the blaze,
and as thew were anxious to smother
tie fire without the use of water il
possible the place was broken open
and an investigation made. In the
meantime the hose had been attached
to the plug withhin a few feet of tho
door, and everything was in readi-
ness to turn the water on the blaze.
When the door was broken open a
current of air Immediately famed the
smouldering fire into big blaze,
and word was passed to turn on the
water.
One Of the tiremen made a jump
for the wrench. which had lbeen
placed on the water plug. but it was
found that it had disappearedJ in the
excitement. bat whether it had been
mislaid or carried away purposely no
one could explain. 1t was necessary
to await the arrival of the second
reel before the water could be turn
ed on, and this caused delay of two
or three minutes, long enough to
permit the blaze to make some head
way.
The firenIen made Short Lwork of
the fire when they got in action.
however. and in u few minutes the
blaze was entirely extinguished. Tie
less to the stock of groceries will be
total, the flood of water. and the fire
and smoke practically ruining every
thing in the room. The inside walls
aud wood work were also BADLY dam.
aged. The less, however, is fully
covered by insurance on the building
and stock. Mr.. Kershuer carried $500
insurance with the p. r. Harrison
agency aud $500 with Alexander q
Trammel. The f.e brought ont a
big crowd of people. who stood
about and speculated as to the motive
and origin of the blaze. There was
an almost unanimous opinion that the
place had been fired purposely bv
some Que, but just who it is. OF
course, is mystery. 1t was stated
by Mr. Kershner that the fire in his
store last SUNDAY morning had been
started to hide robbery. and that
he believed the guilty persons oould
be found among several colored men
whom he had refused to credit for
groceries. This theory was advanced
to explained the origin of the second
fire earlv Thus Law morning. Mr..
Kershner had been occupying apart
ments over the store, but short tine
ago removed his family to his former
home at Bedington, driving to his
place of business in the morning and
returning at night The place las
been closed since the fire on Sunday,
and an insurance adjuster arrived
here last NIGHT to examine the place
and adjust the losses from tie first
fire.