The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-23

Warrenton. Va, Nov. 22.-Aided
by empty reservoirs and famed by
a stiff gale, flames tonight swept
the beautiful residential section Of
Warrenton, destroying twenty-five
houses and causing loss conServa-
tivelv estimated at 100000.
The fire was the most disastrous,
which ever visited this town. For
three hours the flames, devouring
building after building in It's path,
like so much paper, lcaped down
Winchester street. with citizens and
the fire company helpless.
The progress Of the flames was
only checked on one side by dyna-
hitting three buildings, one Of
which was the wing of the beauh-
ful Warren Green Hotel, and on
the other side by the distance OF one
residence from the other and by
the valiant work of the Bethel Mil
italv Academy cadets.
Under Martial Law.
with the town swarmed with visitor
from the entire countryside. many OF
whom are negroes, Warrenton tonight is
practically under martial law. the ma
ticnal guard being called out by the
sheriff to preserve order and prevent
looting. The Bethel cadets were also
mustered into service 20 patrol the town.
A lighted cigarette in the hands Of a
careless boy, it is believed. is responsi-
ble for the start Of the fire. Several
boys, il Is said. were smoking i'm a livery
stable and IN some manner a bundle of
hay caught fire. In an instant flames
Ieaped through the building.
The alarm was sounded. but the water
supply was practically nothing. II was
not many minutes before the livery sta
bles Of Bladdurne and Clatterducks were
q mass of seething flames.
Business Section Threatened.
Sparks were carried high and far. and
FOR a while il looked like the entire busi-
ness section of the town would be swept.
The flames began encroaching upon the
courthouse square. where Is located the
seat of Justice the post-ofice. and other
important buildings. Finally. to save this
important block and prevent the fire
gaining headway in this section. lyna-
mite was used TO blow up the wing Of
the Warren Green Hotel and two resi-
denccs.
This checked the fire in that direction
Concentrated Around Courthouse.
For an hour around this square men.
women and boys fought the flames
Bucket brgades We're formed. and every
building was drenched After the build
inss. which caught several times, had
been dynamted, the danger was removed.
Several times the flames leaped across
the old Alexandra pike and threatened
20 spread 20 the eastward, but they were
conquered by the hardest kind Of work.
though not until the jail had been de-
EtrOyed.
IN the meantime the fire, by leaps and
bounds, began 20 hew a path down the
ridge, or Winchester street. Here hand
some residence after handsome residence
some of the most beautiful IN Warrenton
were destroyed. The flames burned down
the street until they reached the house
OF Mrs Britain. where they were checked
on account of the distance between this
residence and that adjoining and the
work OF the Bethel Cadets. who had gone
before and thoroughly soaked the roof
OF the building with water
Handsome Houses burned.
Included in the buildings destroyed are
the residence OF DR.. Selby. said 10 be
the handsomest in this section OF the
state. and that Of Capt Edwin Carter.
an old colonial home. with walls three
feet thick.
When the fire started in the livery
stables Of Bladdurne q ClatterduclS and
ct once gained such headway the great
est confusion reigned. The horses. more
than sixty head, were cut loose and
they rushed from the fiery furnace like
mad. In the path Of the horses stood one
man, William Croft, who was Knocked
down ana seriously injured, MS face be-
ing fearfully cut
Gould Have Been Checked.
1t is declared that had there been plenty
Of water in the reservoirs the fire could
have been easily checked az this point.
There Is a leak I'm both reservoirs. and for
this reason no reserve supply could be
maintained. The low condition Of the
water also is due TO the drought, which
has this section Of the country in its
grasp.
The work of the Bethel cadets excited /
the highest admiration.
These young soldiers. led by Mai Rich I
ardson. did the ~ OF trained firemen. |
They fought In front, and IL /
Tas their work luch TO check