Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-04-14
Dangerous and Stubborn Fire Cuts
Portion of One Department.
SUBDUED AFTER HARD FIGHT
Firemen Battle Under Difficulties for One
Hour and Half-=LOss Will Reach Into
j Thousands, With Full Insurance.


-dsD of the worst and most stubborn
en- les of recent years in this city broke
Wednesday night about O'Clock
4. the Crawford Wooden Mill. on West
t;ephen street, and kept the entire
dae department. lighting hard for one
hear and 80 minutes before it c0ald
be gotten under control.
The fire started in what is known as
the carding department, located am.
mediately in the rear of the older por-
ion of the plant, and owing TO its
/ Leculisr locstion and the construction
Vi ssthe interior of the building, II was
1eached by the fyemen with the great
i st difficulty, breaking out again and
nssyain, after those who were fighting
IS believed that it had been eextin-
suished.
The blaze was aocated in the first
Eibrick annex to the old bnilding, about
200 feet from the Raleigh street end,
and was first discovered by employees
ut work nearby. The mill department.
Equipped with small hose made de-
termined effort 'tosexintguish the fire,
md for Is minutes fought it aercely !;
MT at the end of that time it was
cen to be getting away from them
nd an alarm was sent in to the fire
nation. The Ryneal chemical was
out in short order, but before the
scene of the blaze was reached an
kalarm for the third ward COMPANY was
sounded on the fire bell
In very short time the Ryneal fire.
men had gotten their chemicaasin &C.
tion, and succeeded in holding the
blaze down until the third wardIboys
arrived and got the water hose into
action. By this time it was realized
that the fight was to be stubborn
one, and general alarm was sonnded.
This brought the entire department to
the scene, and IN few minutes avery
available section of hose in the CITY
was brought into serpice.
The portion of the plant in which
he fire was located is one storv high,
with u basement and q low loft above.
The interior at this point is wainseor-
3D. with the ceiling closed and reach
ng nearly to the roof. The fire h6d
Faten through thu ceiling and was
making rapid progress nader the roof
n such manner that the water had
little effect
The uppe" portion of the building
was filled with dense smoke, and oil
forts to get INTO the loft were rem
iered fntile by tie extreme danger
rom suffoeation. 1t was practically
Impossible to cut through tie roof at
his point, ani the water was sent
Trough the holes in the roof made by
he fire. Extra q to the building WAS
ffec<ed at several points. but the fire.
len were finally compelled TO Eeturn'
their first station on the outside.
rom which point they finally suSaned
be flames.
Several times 10 was believed that
be fire had heen extineuished, hut it
roke out afresh again and again, and
here was danger at one time that tie
ptire west eud of the plant would go.
latters became critical indeed at one
me, when the water pressure seemed
fail. and the report that thu mains
broken on John street caused con-
nation. 1t was decided to get the
engine on the scene. bat owing 70
fact that volunteers were compell-
to drag II by hand, il did not ar
I've until the fire was under control.
After the fremen were enabled to
ling stream of water TO play direct
ul,on the blaze. it was quickly ex-
Dguished, and feeling of relief ran
trough the crowd of several Thousand
Prsons who had assembled. Ii was a
Png and stubborn fight for the fire.
ben, : at the boys displayed the n