Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-02-08
VEHICLE PLANT IN ASHES
Most Destructive Fire In History
Of Martinsburg.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $40 600
Stewart Venice Co, Were just
Ready 10 Move into New


Factory
The most destructive conhagration
In the history Of harrisburg, in point
of loss, occurred Thursday night at
the stewart Vehicle Co. The fire
completely destroyed the building,
machinery. stock. finished and unfn-
ished product, together with large
frame building and contents owned
by Senator GRAY Silver, entailing a
total loss estimated al fully sss.0oe
The fire was discovered about $50
O'Clock by G. e. STAFF, night watch
man at the Crawford Wooden mills.
who smelled smoke and followed it up
until he finally located the source of
it In the works Of the Stewart We
hicle Co, on Winchester avenue. The
fire farm was turned in and about
2 o'clock Ryneal Co. was on the
scene. soon followed BY the four hose
companies.
The Ryneal boys tried to attach
two lines Of hose to the plug opposite
the buggy works but found 1t frozen
and out of service. Loading D the
hose they hurried to the plug at the
corner of John street, all of which
took up considerable time, while the
fire was fast gaining Roadway.
At John street and Winchester av-
enue Ryneal Co. attached one line Of
house and Hose Cos. 2 and spliced
and ran out a line of hose from the
same plug. No. 3 connected with the
Kilboufn plug The plug at Scruggs'
store south Of the fire. was also froz,
en- UP and could not be used.
Meanwhile two lines of hose were
run out from the Kilbourn Knitting
Co. and the men did especially good
work, the streams beng much strong
er than for the water plugs in the
vicinity of the fire.
But despite the united and heroic
efforts of the fremen and the Kill
bourn people the buildings cou'd not
be saved and in two hours they were
burned to the ground.
The flames soon swept across a
narrow vacant lot and communicated
with the one-story frame building
2ox1oo feet in dimensions, owned by
Senator Gray Silver and used by the
Jefferson Cooperage Co This build
ing and contents were absolutely de-
stroyed entailing a loss estimated at
$4,000.
The flames leaped, across Winches-
ter avenue and burned the paling
fence in front of Sheriff e. D. Gard
ner's residence, east of the Stewart
plant. and for while threatened his
house. Part of the front yard fence
of Mrs. Susan Hannis, adjoining
Sheriff Gardeners, was also burned
The origin of the fire is not known
but smoke was first seen to issue
from the west end of the building.
Stewart Loss $4,000.
With the exception of the contents
of the Office, which We're removed in
time. the Stewart Vehicle Co. loses
everything. The building was two
story frame structure, built in double
l. shape and 70 feet front and 100
feet deep. 1t, was owned by Building
Contractor S. A. Westenhaver, whose
large frame shop south of the Stew
art plant was much endangered ow-
ing to the direction OF the wind
The Stewart Vehicle Co. lost $50
buggies and seats and $50 buggy
gears finished and unfinished, togeth-
err with number OF vehicles eady
for shipment The machinery and
stock ON hand were also destroyed.
Painter Harry Yingling and Trim
mer L. r. Steck lost all their brushes
and tools valued at s25 or more
The Stewart loss is estimated at
100000 nearly covered by insurance.
The loss of Mr.. Westenhayer, own
er of the building, is about $4,000,
fully Ensured.
Soon Ready For Business.
The Stewart Vehicle Co. intended
to move into their new factory next
week-in fact. it was the intention to
move some of the machinery over to-
day The new building is a large
four-story brick structure 40xt40 feet
and is lacated along the c. V. tracks
southwest of the old plant.
Mr. R. n. Stewart ana his SON
Mr.. Claude w. Stewart. both told a
reported OF The Evening World this
morning that it was the company's
intention to go right ahead and order
stock, machinery, etc. and com
mence operations within the next
thirty days, so that they will be turn
f,,<x ant ,oxxr 11,,<rexi 80 InfDro &ha