The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-09-11
IRWIN
Bull 9
Was A

.
Fire did considerable damage IN
the three-story Irwin building, cor
ner of West Pike and South Third
streets Sunday and caused much
fright.
The blaze was discovered ut noon
sharp and the alarm given by the
Baltimore s Ohio engines in the
yards, and number Of persons on
the street, who ran along excited
ly crying '.frel"
The department responded With
in n minute and within fifteen mink
utes had the fire under control al.
though fully and hour and il9t
was spent by the men in seeing that
not spark was left in the building
to rekindle the blaze.
Owing to the height of the build
ing and lack of ladders, the blaze
had to be fought inside OF the
building until way was made to get
ON the roof, after which there Ess
no difficulty.
The blaze originated IN the attle
west of the sky light IN tnezceslt Y
of the building and the flames lept
mn ten feet before the fire was d.
covred, but luckily was not nnessf
great headway, although that sce
ton of the roof and upper part al
the building was dangerously char
red and was approaching the Iso1Ilt
of collapse before the flames were
extinguished.
Rafters, upper joists and studdlll9
were damaged to the extent that
they VIII have to be supplaptt;d,
Plaster was badly knocked OF jIl
various parts of the building by tn
force of the water and other pate sss
were soaked off.
A number of the rooms were well
drenehed with the water runniA..ss
down fro mthe top of the buildiR
and rooms in adjoining buildings
were also damaged some, and espea-
tally the grocery stock in Wallis
store.
? The origin of the fire is net
definitely known The attic was
filed with Junk of all sorts and Soma
combustible material. Electric
wires ran through that part of the
building but the current was not on,
the plant having been closed In earFl
morning for the Sabbath. SpeI'-
famous combustion may have beca
the cause of the fire.
The excitement was intense for
number of minutes and hundreds nf
people thronged the streets .ls'
was feared the entire building atisi
those adjoining might be destroyed.
but this fear was soon overcome lsy
the knowledge of the good work
done by the fire department and Tire
several volunteers, all of whoei
worked nobly.
1t is asserted by occupants ofsthe
building that a female dope. fiepfl
was in the halls of the bnildiug 81
9 O'Clock the night before inbad cov-
dition and that she was seen going
ont of the building a short while boz
fore the fire was discovered. Thcy
think she may have ,sIapt IN t. attic
and set the building afire Nth
cigarette. But the superintendent
Of the building claims the attic door
was locked and no one could have
slept in the attic. Another theory
is that the blaze was caused hy elec-
trio wires becoming crossen with
trolley wires.
Losses were slight, the damage
being. mostly by water
The building was damaged to tl.a
extent Of probably $4,000. DR.. J. W..
Johnston's Office carpets were dam
aged by water and falling plaster.
Attorney f r. Goodwin, Attorney
J. v. Hoefler, DR.. J. B. Payne and
DIR. J. S. Stone escaped losses by
moving Attorney Haze Morgan
was inconYenienced some. By water.
and falling plaster. DR.. 8T. j. Bart
lett sustained slight damage TO OF
] fee carpets. There was two inches
of water in the tailoring establish
ment of J. w. Parker but me recciv-
/ ed no damage. There was no dam
age in a number Of other Offices IA
the building. Wallis grocery stors
was damaged to the amount Of $3.50.
There was slight damage to fuFnir
ture in the Farmers and Union Ma
tional banks. d. =. Groves dnis
store was damaged considered q.
The stock escaped but fine furn
was injured 70 tho extent of 8t5C