Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-11-15
BIG FIRE AT
HEATHSVILLE.
Whole Block of Buildings DESTROYED


The people of this quiet little VILLAGE
was astounded Monday night at about
8 p. m. to see flames bursting througb
the windows and doors of the old Tiqnor
store property, at the time occnn;ed
oy ii. c. Rowe. When discovered the
iire had made such Roadway that il was
impossible to save anything and the
entire stock of goods was DESTROYED
IL was seen at a glance that NOTHING
could save the two buildings standing
next-the law office of the late l.. r,
Smith and l.. r. Belts store. By this
time every inhabitant of the VILLAGE was
on the scene with number of outsiders
and the whole crowd went to work re-
moving the library, office furniture, ETC.,
together with the stock of goods from
MrBetts' store. This they succeeded in
doing. The Rice hotel property was
greatly Endangered while the fire from
1lgnor's store was at its height and bpt
Tor the heroic efforts put forth would
certainly have been burnt. Hundreds
OF buckets of water from the nearbv
pump were thrown on the side of the
building and it was thus saved. thourh
despite this, the flames broke out sew
eral times. Over the village grounds
were strewn a heterogeneous mass. of
valuables, law books, desks, good of
every description piled here and there
just where excited Hurried hands had
thrown them. At this writing thew
have all been removed. Some in the
basement of L. J. Bramble's house and
others to the Masonic hall. Insurance
In both home and old line companies.
1t seems Mr.. Belts is the heaviest
looser, carrying smallest insurance. r.
5. Brent, A. S. Rice and E. w. Ejchel-
berger were designated by the home
company to take an inventory of his
remaining goods. The origin of the
fire, as is so after the case, is unknown.
VIII Rowe had charge of the store and
had closed it as usual about D. m. He
left no fire in the stove nor were anv
lamps burning. No blame attached to
any one. Had the courthouse been con-
structed of different material it would
have had the fate of the others. AS
1t was, several times it was thought II
had taken fire from the caves. Too
much praise cannot be given the large
crowd who worked so faithfully and
weli-boys, girls old, and young, white
and colored. The following deserve
specialization for their splendid efforts
In saving the whole property. LLOYD
and Carroll Rowe, Mason Brent. Clauson
Slaughter, G. d. and Otis Shirley (the
latter having his face blistered) and
Mr.. Harrison, the Episcopal minister.
All OF these were Thoroughly drenched. but
despite this they worked on. The latter
got so heated several times that he
laid IN the pump trough to cool off. all
OF the others would frequently ask that
a bucket of water be thrown over
them. The people of the village are
very grateful for the outside assistance
rendered--Garner Bros. from Lewisetta.
Hamblin from Village, w. A. Jones
from ACKNOWLEDGMENT of these bringing
Clinton Pearson from otis |
burg. This terrible misfortune should
impress the people of this place and
elsewhere with the necessity of provid-
ing some kind of fire department. 1t
may not be needed for long time, but
~hen 1t is needed it is we'll to have it.