The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-01-05


lsmieay's Blue Front restaurant, on
lFourta street, opposite the new Empire
building, between two and four o'clock
Thursday morning, Mr. and Mrs.
lSmitny and the latter's two sisters,
Misses Kate and Maud Kimberling were
asleep in the second story of the build
ling and narrowly escaped being caugat
in the fire and burned to deatn. They
escaped by dashing down the stairs
through sheets of flames in their night
clothing.
About half past two o'clock in the
morning Mrs. smitny was awakened
from her slumbers by smothering and
strangling sensation. When she finally
gained her senses she discovered the
room to be full of smoke and sne also
saw the blaza OF the fire which was con
Stunning the building She hastily arous
ed aer husband and they awakened ths
two sisters VINO were sleeping in aijoin.
ing rooms.
All four then made efforts at once TO
get ont of the burning building. They
Iran down the stairs and we're compelled
to dash through saeet of fame before
Ircaslriag tbs strssts Tiey succeeded in.
PREACHING safety without injury to them
selyes except receiving slight scorcaes
and singing tneir hair.
| Not one of the occupants of the
burning building mad time TO save
thing They were compelled to fee in
their night clothes and bare fest. At
ter they reached the street bney ran up
to the st. Charles hotel where they Sc
cured shelter. The city fire department
was notified and in moment the fire.
men were working on tine fire.
The fire originated from the kictnen
laue
| When the fisemen got their apparatus
ont they connected section of hose
with the Greplug in Traders alley, bur
wnen the plug was turned on it was
found that it was frozen solid. The
hose was then taken down Fourth
,trest to the freplug on the Pat CLANCY
Icornas aud connected up but That plug
wa. also frozen up and the water re-
lfused to flow from it. Hose was tnen
| run to tine plug on Main street and =
lsmall stream of water came from II
when it was turned on. The pressure
Of the water gradually cleared the plug
land .oon a full pressure stream was Sc
cured.
Ths firemen worked nard and valiant
| " trying to get the water connections
and mucn praise is due them on tnas
account.
For time the fire looked very threat
pning and the whole block was in danger
but the quick and capable work of tine
fire laddies brought it under control in
a short time.
The fire had gained considerable mead
way by the time the iiremen appeared
and before ii could be extinguished tae
interior of the brick building in waicn
the restaurant proper was situated on
the ground floor and the sleeping and
living apartments OF the Smithy fam
ily on the second floor, were entirely
gutted. The kitchen adjoining on the
north side. a frame structure, was about
entirely destroyed together with all il
contents. The fire was gotten under
control by tae fire department saort
time after the hose streams were play
ed on the burning structure.
The whole of the interior furnishing
Of the restaurant, living apartments AM
t kitcnen were completely DESTROYED
Every possession Of Mr.. and Mrs. Smiths
and the latter's two sisters, was de
+ stroyed. Mr.. Smifay was unable 4
E save even his gold watch lying on al
i dresser.
D The loss to Mr.. Smithy. according I
his own estimate win b. in tihe neigh
; bornood Of 5000. The building is tni
i property Of Mrs. saran Clifford and to,
damage to tiis bnilding Is about $1,000
E Mr.. Smithy carried Insurance amount
! ing to $3.50 on his property, and tn
s building was insured partially
D As soon as the insurance Is adjuste,
+ the building win b. repaired and Nj
n Smithy viii open up nis rsstauran
lwjih i full nsg equipment and win ais