Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-01-13
TOWN Is SWEPT
BY FURIOUS FIRE
Entire Business Section of BTamWsII, West
Virginia, Wiped Out by Flames on Last
Friday, entaiIing Loss of Two Hun
dred Thousand Dollars.

The beautiful little town of Bram-
well, just over the State line in Mercer
county, West Virginia, was swept by
fire on last Friday that completely blot
ted out the business portion of the town
and for time threatened to extermi-
nate the residential section az well.
The fire, which originated in pool
room belonging to James O'Conner and
+. B. Smith, was first discovered about
9:3O in the morning, and an alarm
promptly turned in. Although the citi-
zens of the town and points nearby re-
sponded to the alarm, the fire continued
to gain headway and it was soon appa-
rent tha: the entire section of the town
in which the fire originated was DOOM
ed, and the efforts of the firemen were
then directed towards saving the resi-
dental section of the progressive little
village. At the beautiful home of
Mr.. Edward Cooper, on the south side
of Main street and directly in tbs path
of the devouring flames, the fire.
men made determined stand. and bv
heroic efforts saved the building and
prevented further spread of the confia-
grafton. On this side of the street be-
tween the Bank of Bramwell and the
N. & W. station, a distance Of more
than two hundred yards, there are only
two buildings left, the Cooper home and
the Bluestone Inn, both of which were
badly damaged by the flames.
Tho fire xxybirh st,rtol
side of Main street, soon ignited the
four story brick building belonging to
Mrs. Jennie Pence on the opposite side
of the street. From this, other build
ings quickly caught, and in a short
space of time the fire had burned its
way to the corner opposite the Blue
stone Inn, where it was checked after
having done considerable damage to the
Masonic uihlipg nearby.
Twenty-one buildings ~ ell were de-
stroyed. and the to'al loss will aggre-
gate something like $500, 600, on which
there is sal 10 have been about SO, 600
insurance. Not a single store in the
town escaped the flames, snd the citi-
zens of the stricken town will be forced
for the time being to purchase their
supplies at Simmons, Cooper and Poca-
hoDtas.
The town Of Bramwell was one of the
most beautiful and picturesque little
villages in Southern West Virginia, and
numbers among its inhabitants many
prominent and wealthy coal operators.
who have spent their money lavishly in
an effort tqfmake the town one of the
most progressive and beautiful in the
State; and while the catastrophe of Fri
day must necessarily for the time being
hinder the progress of the town, it is
but an assurance that the buildings
which were swept away by the flames
will be replaced by others more modern
and substantial
I While the individual losses of a mum.
ber of the people mounted we'll into the
thousands of dollars and falls with
withering force upon them, there ism
an instance in which any of those af
: fected by the fire are left destitute. II
almost every case those losing by tn,
: : fire have an abundance left on which t,
i re-engage in business or have substan
a tial backing which will enable them t.
e do so, hence, there is not the danger O.
destitution and suffering that usually
. follows catastrophas of this kind.
As soon as the fire was discovered
call for help was wired to Pocahontas
and the fire company from that plac,
responded promptly, going 60 Bramwel
: by special train. To the heroic worl
of this company. it is said, is due prin
cipally the credit of saving the resi-
Dental section of the towa.