Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-11-13
The OLD MANSION HOUSE BURNED.
The Occupants Lose Heavily. The Firemen
Did Splendid Work. Little Insurance.

About 3 o'clock Friday morn
ing Policemen S. J. Shuplng an
W. M. Julian in passing along o.
West lines street in front Of tn
old Monsion House, discovere'
that the building was on fire
They could only see the blaze il
the rear of Hoffman's meat mark
ct and above it. They turned il
an alarm and Salisbury's excel
lent volunteer fire department
was soon on the scene and engage,
in heroic work. Policeman Shu
ping hurriedly notified those VIII
occupied rooms in the secont
story, but the urgency of condi
tions did not give them more thai
time to make their escape, leaving
all their possessions to the rapidly
consuming flames. D. W. Snider
who has been confined to his room
for weeks with rheumatism, was
carried down by P. j., Saba anc
W. r. Snider, Mrs. Snider was
assisted down a ladder by J. V,
Wallace, ex-chief of the fire de.
partment, and Miss Maria Rufin
another occupant was also taken
down by means Of a ladder, and
Mr.. Bivins, who has been assist.
ing Mr.. Snider in the machine
business, made his escape, but did
not have time to save his clothes.
All known occupants having been
removed little time was left to
get out anything e,se. TIE mat
ter of saving the merchandise,
fixtures, books, etc., of the bust
ness houses in the lower story was
lett entirely to the citizens, who
did splendid work but saved very
little. The fremen realizing the
use!essness of attempting to save
the building directed their efforts
to the brick buildings adjoining.
Some SIX or eight streams of water
were kept playing on the flames
nearest the other buildings. The
pumping station had been notified
and the pr2sure at the nozzle is
said to have realized $50 pounds
per square inch. This was more
than sufficient and shows con-
ciusively Salisbury does not
need a fire engine. The fremen
showed they were men of the right
kind and in the right places.
They did most creditably and de-
serve much praise for the service
rendered.
The origin Of the fire is not
known. The flames we're first no.
ticed in the rear of Hoffman's
meat market, but he only uses
q stove in the front room, easily
seen from the Street. An extra
hot stove was left in the Kesler
barber shop.and the pipe from it
projected from the rear of the
building. Many think this is
where the fire originated, but there
is nothing more than circumstan-
tial evidence for such a hypothe-
sus.
The building was one of the
oldest in the city and the oldest
in use as a business block. AS a
building it was almost worthless,
but in the way of a dividend pro-
ducer it had watered stocks beat
all hollow. The house and
lot wax recently purchased by
Messrs. W, B. Strachan and E. c..
Gregory for for the sum of $50, 900
and the rentals made the invest
bring about 8 per cent. There
was $4,000 insurance carried on it
and while the loss to these gentle
men cannot be accurately stated
they will probably receive 8
fair portion of it's value IN the
insurance carried. Their greatest
loss IS in the rents.
The Salisbury Jewelry Co. oc-
cupying the room next to the Gil
max Barber Shop, Oh Main Street,
carried q $1,000 stock, much of
which was ruined. They had in
sarance to the amount of 81, 900.
W. II. Huff occupied the corner
store and .rried a stock of gro
ceries and had just received some
of his Christmas goods. His stock
was valued at $4,000 and be
carried only $500 insurance. He
got out his safe containing his
books and papers and those
of the Woodmen of the World of
which he was secretary.