The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-07-21
BARTON HEIGHTS
HAS Big BLAZE
Emergency Hospital Quickly I'M
provised and Frustrated Men
Given Attention-Mayor of
Barton Heights Phones to
Richmond for Aid.

Heights this morning caused -
property loss that will reach S.
900 or more and resulted I'm the
| prOStrattOn OF two firemen, be-
sides being attended by several
other thrilling incidents. One
| residence was burned TO the
ground, nothing remaining within
l an hour after the blaze was dis
covered but charred and smoking
embers, an adjoining dwelling
| was partially destroyed and may
have to be razed, and two other
| residences slightly damaged, In
| the aggregate, by water.
The residences that fell prey 20.
4 the flames were SOS, $40, 611 and
| 512 Virginia Avenue, in the heart OF
the prettiest residential section OF the
pretty suburb. The residence $40, oc-
cupied Jointly by the families OF E
| w. Parkinson and ]. A. Schroeder.
was the one completely devastated.
The residence sos, occupied by F. D.
Richards, was partially destroyed by
fire. Much damage was caused by
| thousands OF gallons of water which
was pumped into the building. The
residences 511 and 512. occupied, re-
spectively, by NJ. +. Lumpkin and W..
d. Cosby, were blistered considerably
while the roofs frequently caught
from sparks from $40 and the terrific
heat.
Lieutenant A. c. Rieger, of Rich
mond Chemical Company No. 9, was
overcome by the intense heat and
keeled over. Almost simultaneously
F. p. Cowardin, attached to the Bar
ton Heights volunteer fire-hghtersS
corps, was Frustrated by the heat.
An improvised hospital was quickly
rugged up and Drs. Cullen S. Pitt and
Kosher w. Miller, who were on ther
scene, quickly went to their assistance.
Several trained nurses, among them.
Miss Helen Harlan and a Miss Davi-
son. who make their homes in Barton
Heights, were sent for and ministered
to the needs of the men.
The blaze gained considerable head
way before the arrival of the fire de-
partment and the building in which.
II originated was practically doomed
| before a stream was thrown upon it,
The fre-hghters, realizing the hope
lessness Of all efforts to stay the fiery
element. turned their energies to ad-
joining property, with telling results.
The fre-fighters, however, were
sadly handicapped by inadequate fire
facilities. The nearest fire-plug was
some distance from the scene of the
blaze and required a considerable
length Of hose, the result being a fee
bic stream that would not carry a
distance of fifteen feet.
The blaze originated on the second
floor rear of SIP and was discovered
shortly after o'clock by members
of the families OF Messrs. Schroeder
and Parkinson. The sound Of the
cracking Of the flames was plainly
heard. An investigation revealed that
the second floor was a mass Of flames
The blaze gained considerable head
way before IL was discovered.
simultaneously passersby noticed
the red glare caused by the flames
through a second-story window and
hastily communicated this fact to
members Of the two households, who.
however, had already discovered the
fire.
Mayor r. W. Miller was quickly APP
Il VaEfG Of ~
fire, and, realizing the inadequacy of
the towns fire-fighting apparatus.
telephoned to Richmond for assist
ance. Chemical Companies Nos. and
were got in readiness and were
quickly on their way to the suburb
The majority OF the members OF the
local hrehShting force being in Rich
mond, the Richmond department ar
rived on the scene by the time the
local equipment was manned. 1t was
said by several bystanders who were
discovered that from half an hour to
forty-hve minutes elapsed before the
apparatus put In its appearance,
In the meantime the residence that
was destroyed was one mass OF flame.
and all hope OF saving it was ADAM
doned ere the arrival of the fremen.
The efforts OF the frehghters were then
turned TO saving adjoining property
Plckaxes and other implements were
freely resorted to in an effort TO get
at the flames. which every moment
removed from the threatened houses
hold effects had previously been hastily
removed fro mthe threatened houses
almost a block. 0'
, The greater portion Of the furniture,
ana other household effects in No $40
was gotten to the street before mem
bers of the households Were driven
, from their home by thenames but urac-
o oiCSIiy nothlng was saved on the sec
The firemen battled in the face of
| terrific odds.
Intense Heat.
The intense heat thrown into their
races 10y the blazing houses augment
ed by temperature of 80 degrees or
over made the work of the fre-hght-
ers extremely difficult To get within
forty feet of the flames was to subject
their faces to blistering heat
Inc brave laddies did not shirlk
their duty, however. and it was while.
) tne hetle party of firefghters were.
battling against these terrible odds
that Messrs. Rieger and Cowardin
were overcome.
Several of the fremen subjected
themselves to complete drenching-
at the nozzle of the hose. honino i1
this manner to allay the intense heat
Within the space of few seconds.
their clothing threw off a mass of
Steaming Vapor.
The firefghters were commanded,
by Chief .. f. Wise. Lonnie Jones
secretary of the fire department. was
= also on the scene and lent valuable
assistance.
= 1t is thought that the damage
caused to the several residences bv-
this mornings fire will be amply COW
cred by insurance. The dwelling, $40.
which was completely destroyed, was.
owned by Henry Hutzler. of Rich
mond, and is said to be fully covered
by insurance. Dwelling, sos, occupied
by f. ID. Richards, is owned by Jo-
! seph Holman, of Richmond, and is
said to be fully covered by insurance.
w. d. Cosby. the occupant, owns 512.
which was only slightly damaged.
= 1t is understood that what damage
this building, as we'll as 511, directly
opposite the totally destroyed build
= ing, will be more than offset by in
, Surance.
J In several instances residents in the
4 immediate neighborhood took the pre-
e caution to cover the fronts of their
e exposed homes with dampened blank
cts and other covering.
= Miss Helen Briggs was removed
q from the home of w. d. Cosby on
account of illness. She had been con-
hned to her bed and upon learning