Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-20
STEAM LAUNDRY BURNED.
Firemen HeroicaIly Save the Adj
joining Property.
LOSS WILL BE ABOUT s45OO
Origin Of Fire ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
philips Badly Burned in Building
Partly Insured.
Erom The World Of Frlday::

Erom The World Of Friday:
Ere broke out in the Martinsburg
Steam laundry at II o'clock today,
which totally destroyed the building
and contents entailing loss estimated
at $4,000 On which there Is an insur-
ance of $500. Just how or where the
fire origiated is not known for a GER
tainty. The proprietor OF the laundry
Mr.. William T.. Philips, and Miss
Annie Dawson, an employe, were the
only persons in the building when the
fire was discovered. Miss Dawson was
eating her dinner at the time and all
at once she saw fire break out over
fsis~ boiler. Almost in an instant the
whole inside of the building seemed
TO be enve1oped In flames. The alarm
was sent in and the fire department
9 quickly responded
The fremen attached six lines OF
hose TO three plugs and played on the
fire. but the flames had got under srch
a1eadway in the short space of few
n-n1nutes that the firemen were power
sess to save the building and in less
than half an hour it was practically
burned to the ground.
The laundry was locats-d just off OF
West John street and in the rear Of
f&he skating rink fronting on South
Queen street, and in dangerously close
proximity to it, Several times the
west end of the rink caught fire but
was quickly put out. The residence
of Mr.. Harry s. Thompson on West
John street, just north of the laundry
Was also in much danger as well as
l a@ther nearby property. Mr.. Thomp-
ssDnh house caught fire a couple
times from the heat and sparks but
was promptly extinguished.
The building was of frame, 46x46
high and covered with a slate roof
II was built four years ago by Mr.. M.
A. Little Shortly afterwards 1t was
! leased to Mr.. Philips and Mr. S. A.
Stotler, who conducted the laundry
Ehere together until this spring when
Mr.. Stotler sold out his interest to
his parner.
Recently the building was sold to
Contractor G. d. Burns who. 1t so
happened, was out of town today
when his building was burned down.
Nj. Philips carried $4,000 insurance
ON the machinery and equipment in
the agency of Porterfield & Boyer,
while Mr. Burns had $500 insurance
a@ the building in the agency of H.
: s. Thom pson.
lit is learned that the odor of smoke
was noticed all morning md some
think that the fire started by SCOT
sgniting in the smokest ack,
In trying to save some OF his prop
erty Mr. Philips was severely burned
about the back, neck, hands and arms
and slightly in the face. He was hur-
riedly removed to his residence, 31S
West John street and Drs. Eagle and
Barnes summoned. They pronounced
his case as critical, but still entertain
good hopes for his recovery.
Much sympathy is felt for Mr.. Phil
FPS not only on account of the loss
incurred by the fire but the serious
anjuries he sustained. The hope will
be general here that he may survive
them.
Mr.. Thomas X. Talhelm. of Hose
Co. No had his left hand pretty Sc
verely burned in shutting off the en-
CINE in the laundry. Except the case
of Mr.. Philips this was the only acci-
dent at the fire.
Much credit is due to the firemen
for their heroic work in fighting the
flames and in saving adjoining prop
.eTty.