Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-11-23
WARRENTON SWEPT BY FIRE.

livery stable about 1880 O'Clock last
night destroyed the entire vest end Ofths
town Of WanentoD. Lsck Of water ard
6re.6ghting facilities greatly handicap.
ped the local 6remen.
About twenty-five houses were burned
causing a loss, 1t ia said, of $500, 600.
The FIRE was the most d!sasIrrus
which ever visited the town. For tStes
hours the flames, devonring building
after buIldIpg, leaped down Winchester
street, with citizens snd the fire company
helpless. The progress of the flames Wss
only checked on one aide by dynRmiling
three buildings, one OF which was the WiOg
of the Warren Green Hotel, and on The
other side by the distance OF one rosi.
dence from the other and by the valiant
work of the Bethel Military Academy
cadets.
With the town swarmed With visitors,
many Of whom are negroes, Wauentop,
last night, was practically under maItiSl
Law, the local military con plny
having hesn called out by tho sheriff
to preserve order and prevent looIing.
The Bethel cadets we're mustered into
service TO patrol the town.
A lighted cigarette In the hands Of
a careless boy, 1t is believed, Is respou-
sible for the start of the fire, Seve:al
boys, it 10 said, we're smoking 10 the
livery stable, and 10 some manner a
bundle of hay caught FIRE. Ia sn
instant flames lespsd through the build
Ing.
The alarm was sounded, bat the water
supply was practically nothing. I, Was
not many minutes before the livery
stable was a mass Of sesthlng flames.
Sparks we're carried high and far, ard
| for q while 1t looked like the entire bus-
mess section OF the town would be swept.
Bucket brlgades we're formed, and
every building wss drepched. After the
buildings, which caught FIRE several times,
had been dynamited, the danger VAS re-
moved.
Several times the hsmes leapad sc:css
the old Alexandria pike and threatened
to spread to the eastward, bat they we're
conquered by the hardest hind Of work
though not until The jail had been de-
stroyed.
In the meantime the FIRE began to hew
q path down The ridge, or Winchester
street. Here handsome residence after
handsome residence, some OF the most
beautiful In Wsrrenton, were destroyed.
The flames burned down The street On.
til they reached the house of Mrs. Brit
tan. where they we're checked on &C.
couut of the distance between this reel.
deuce aud that adjoining and the work
Of the Bethel cadets, who had gone be-
fore and thoroughly soaked the roof of
the building with water.
Included 10 The buildings destroyed
sre the residence of DR.. Shelby Garter,
said 10 be one OF the handsomest 10 this
section Of the stste, aud that of OsIt.
Edwin Garter, 40 old colonial home.
When the fire started In the livery
stable and OF once gained such head
way the greatest confusion Teigned. The
horses, more than sixty, we're cut loose,
and they rushed from the frery furna see
like mad. 10 the path OF the horses
stood one man, William Otoit, who sss
Knocked down aud seriously Injured,
bis face being feariully cut.
1t Is declared that had there been
| plenty OF water in The reservoirs The FIRE
could have been easily checked at tails
point. There Is q Leak 10 both reser-
yoirs, and for this reason no reserve
supply could be maintained. The lev
condition OF the water also is Idne to The
drought, which hiss this section OF the
country In lie grasp.
Mach OF the personal effects 10 The
residences burned were saved. While
the loss ia estimated a. 5000, 900 1t was
said last night the insurance will only
cover one.half OF 1t.
The buildings which wsre 10 The track
OF the flames and which are q mass of
smOlderiDg rdins, are the Bradbury
stables, Farmers Hotel, which was an.
occupied; Jennings furniture house,
L. f PstIle's store aud residence, and
residences Of w. A. Garner, Fl. A. Gar
rett, Mrs. Ida Wall, Frank O. Booze,
d. NJ. Houchens, Fl. B. Luce, Mrs. +.
V. 7. Moore, Or. Shirley Garter, j. ID.
Kirby, Mrs. J. B. BrittoD, MIS- Il. V.
Wilson, Capt. Edward Garter, Mrs.
William Rilteuonr, the Yaes bulldog
and W. NJ. Moore's meat shop, a building
nearby, skating rick, the county jail,
W. A, Gamers store, r. NJ. Books
studio, WsireDton Fire Oompary's tn.
CINE house, William MOrgsn's grocery
store, FIeteher's tenant house. Frank
Blsckwelps dwelling, Jennings & Com.
pany's furniture store, boarding. house OF
Mrs. Eden Garter and w. o. MsrshalPs
tenant house.
Soon after Il became evident that the
Gre was beyond cout'ol Of The local ds-
parlment Chief Pettey, OF the Alexsn.
dhs FIRE department, was requested by
telephone to send chemical eDgine.
Chief Pettey, after communicating With
| Marshal Wagner, of the Washington de.
psr!ment, decided that 10 face of the
large cor6sgraIion the chemical engines
Eould be Of no avail. 1t waa useless
to ask for pumping apparatus, as owing
to the drought the cIslerLs and wells
held little water.