Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-07-14
WAS AN INCENDIARY FIRE
Stubborn Blaze Brings Out bepart.
ment tuesday Night.
OLD PLANNING MILL WRECKED
Building Belonging to J. William
Stewart and Used as Storehouse
Destroyed-Loss So 900.

Unknown persons Tuesday night
at midnight fired the building known
as the old Tebo planning mill. former
ly occupied by the American Hertz
cultural Distributing Co., and lately
used by Mr.. George johnson and See
Bros. as a storage building, and one
of the most stubborn fires here in re
cent years resulted. The building.
located along the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, opposite the Harris distili-
cry, was totally destroyed, together
with practically all its contents, en-
failing a loss of about 50, 600 with IN
surance of only 5000 in the Alexander
agency.
The alarm was turned in at mid
night, and the Ryneal chemical was
early on the scene. A general alarm
was sounded, and all the companies
| in the city responded. The building
was of frame, and from the fact that
there had formerly been a great deal
! of oil about the place, it burned
fercely. Captain Matthews was on
! the scene in short order. and acted as
. chief marshal during the fire, Chief
Kline returning home on account OF
sickness.
the fire was stubborniy fought by
! the firemen, and five streams of water
were kent in play for an hour before
the flames were extinguished. Sc
! fierce was the blaze that a corner OF
the big warehouse of the distiIlery
! opposite was ignited. ard the distill-
cry hose company was kept busy pre-.
venting tile spread of the flames &
that plant. Little damage was done
there, however, the building being
only slightly scorehed.
In the building was a quantity oil
furniture belonging to Mr.. johnson,
a new buggy and delivery wagon be
longing to See Bros, the fruitmen,
aud some other goods. With the eK-
ception of a NUMBER of stoves belong
ing to Mr.. johnson, the contents oil
the bal ding went up in smoke, there
being no chance TO save anything.
owing to the rapidity with which the
flames spread to all parts of the
bnilding.
A great crowd was attracted b. the
Fire, but the order was better than
usual. the people generally keeping at
q safe distance and not interfering
with the work of the firemen to any
great extern. All the firemen worked
with a will, and after the blaze was
gotten under control, Hose Co. No.
WAS detailed for duty to prevent any
further damage. the men remaining
pn the scene until daylight.
The blaze was undoubtedly of in
endiary origin. When the firemen
arrived on the scene the rear doors
bf the building were found open,
howing thar someone kad heen there
turing the night. There is no clue,
however. to the incendiaries.
Nj. Johnson's less will reach about
k600. The loss TO Mr.. See will be
bout the same amount, while the less
b j. william Stewart. The owner OF
The building, will be heavy. The
(nly insurance vas carried by Mr.
Crimson. that being $500.
Some difficulty was experienced in
citing in the alarm to headquarters rs.
nd when the firemen were apDrised
the blaze ii had already gotten
[nder full headway. The boys did
pod work, but were handicapped by
e start secured by the blaze.
Daring the fire Mr.. @. NJ. Ingram,
e North Queen street merchant,
as struck BY a ladder on the COM
nation wagon and Knocked senseles.
3 was removed to his home, and
able to be abort today.