Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-04-04
GRO, ". STOCkSDALES
WAREHOUSE BURNED.

SATURDAY morning idbt ~ AA'Ao SloSn'
the unusual blowing Of the Excelsior Mill
whistle and at the same time the ringing
of the fire bell, gave notice of fire in
this place. Hearing the whistle, many
persons ran toward the mill only to re-
trace their steps on learning that George
w. Stocksdale's large warehouse and
store building along the W. M. Railroad
was burning.
The Fire Department responded quickly
and hurried with hose reels and hook and
ladder truck to the scene, but found the
fire had made such Roadway that it was
impossible to save the building. The
firemen fought bravely until driven back
by the intense heat.
Attention was at once turned to Pat
rick Miskell's house standing directly
across Boundary avenue from the ware
house. Sparks were falling thick on this
building, the rear end of which is not
more than thirty feet from the fire.
The roof and side of this building was
ablaze number of times but by hard
work the fremen saved it; damaged very
much however by water, several holes
burned in the roof and the weatherboard-
ing next the street ruined. AS soon as
it was seen that the warehouse was
doomed the furniture was carried out Of
the house to places of safety without be-
ing damaged.
A sudden change in the wind put the
house occupied by Mr.. Jos. Gall, on the
east side of Carroll street in danger, the
flames being famed almost against the
building, but by keeping stream OF wa
ter on the front and several bucket lines
on the roof, it was practically uninjured.
The lumber sheds were protected by
watchmen stationed on the roof supplied
with water in buckets and line of hose
from the w. M. depot.
The stable on the property occupied by
Vernon Hetterly, fully two blocks away,
was set on fire by flying sparks, but
prompt attention and several buckets OF
water, the fire was extinguished. Other
buildings set fire by sparks were Jesse
Heigh's stable, J. T. Waesche's storage
house, Geo. Freezes residence and Jos.
Calls stable.
The fire is supposed to have originated
from spark from an engine drawing
the 1916 express train, and when discov-
cred by Miss Eleanor 10y, large por-
ton of the top story was on fire. A mod
crate breeze coming from the north aided
the fire in it's progress considerably, and
the building and entire stock of goods
were consumed in about fifty minutes
from the sounding of the alarm.
The warehouse was erected in lS69-70
by Messrs Chew & Stocksdale, who did
a partnership business for number OF
years, Mr.. Chew eventually selling his
share in the business to Mr.. Stocksdale,
who from that time to the present has
conducted a general warehouse business
therein.
In this building, on the arrival of the
first train over the W. M. Railroad from
Baltimore, a dinner was served the offici-
ais and others interested in the road.
Mr.. Stocksdale states that his losses
on stock and building amount to about
$40, 900 and is fully covered by insurance
in the Home Fire ms. Co. of N. T., the
German American and Carroll County
Mutual fire insurance companies.
Work on removing the debris will be-
gin as soon as the insurance is adjusted
and steps taken toward rebuilding. Mr..
Stocksdale has his Office on Carroll street
in the front room of the house occupied
by Mr.. Jos. Gall, and in few days hopes
to be able to supply farmers and builders
with fertilizers, farm implements and
hardware rs usual.
Mr. II SeahrOok Dead