Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-24

the best parts Of their stocks and
fixtures.
Meantime the flames were sweeping
onward and the tiremeu seemed
powerless to check them. The water
pressure went down SO that from most
of the lines of hose there were
trickling little streams that would
not reach 90 feet into the air aud
we're hardly s:roAg enough TO wash
off q sidewalk. Nothing could be
done to save the one building occu-
pied.by Elmer Hanger As blacks nltn
shop and carriage factory, and owned /
by Mrs. Denris Browu 80 tnat went
in little while Tnen the Dnild-
ing nearing conplstion, which MI
r. L. Strattou is to oocupy as whole
sale grocery warehouse, seemed DOOM
ed but this stopped the ire ON the
west, and probably prevented all the
buildings on Lewis street between
johnson street and Middlebrook
avenua from going. There is small
space bet Neen the carriage factory
and the Stratton warehouse and this
with the fact that big for % of meE
was kept swarmiug over the roof OF
the Stratton bnilding beating out FIRE
W h.rever it started prevented it's
destruction.
By this time several buildings on
the north side of johnson street were
ablsze. The heat was so intense that
a big plate windows were broken to
bits, bnt fortunately the wind was in
the opposite direction and the flames
lwere prevented from spreading to-
ward Main streat, and the fires in the
buildings on che north side of john
son street we're extinguished without
grt at deal of difficulty.
Sweeping across the block towar5
Middlebrook avenue the flames at
tackled the buil1ings on the alley IN
ths rear of the avenue chief Of Whicn
vas the old building of the Stanton
Milling Company, occupied by Mr..
In. Kivlighsn ami COMPANY as
l.. storage house for hay. This was in
. flames from the basement to the ROOF
: in a few minutes and it burne' like
# roaring furnace. Sparks anc blaz
J. ing wisps of hay were sent hundreds
"a of fact into the air and were carried
10 fer long distances. Dry grass OF
# Sears Hill was set On fire and fo-
v time many persons thought that
n mn nbar of dwellings over there wert
on fire. The flames from the old mil
a sat fire to the rear of the baildiAR o
az Mr.. Kivlighan on Middlsbrook avsn
as ne and for q time 1t was though
10 that the entire block and possibl.
le the Chesapeake and Ohio freight shed
III aud passenger depot were doomed
As many lines Of hose as posslbl
,s were concentrated at this point an
ID the fi1emsl fought desperately.
In spite of their efforts the Xvi
70 CHAN building went, filled as it ws
IN with hay and straw and other inflsu
ho msble material. Ths building al
ad joining, occupied by B. W. Cru
,rs also caught and then the next orc'
in pied by r. P. Lankford. brok'
ar. caught. The firemen, assisted by tf
he citizens generally got the flames
va check at this Joint and drove the
hs back from the ::Lankford buildii
,as and held them in the Crum al
he Kivlighan building. Here che fg
lv. was kept up all night and at half pa
tins three O'Clock this morning the Cru
lad building was still burning fiercel
md The back walls of the Crum tui idi
asz fell outward at about two o'cloc
rts All night long the interior ri
the block was mass of blazing ruiz
the There was little danger from tn
20 however, and the tireman were wol
the ing like Trojans or the buildings
lid. Middiebrook avenue and manaa
,er. to keep the advantage they b
red gained.
ght SO far as is known no one was
,ck jured although many had narrow
ire. capes in tine early ptrt Of the MI
,ck. from falling electric wires. and Ia
ich from toppling walls. Several walls
,nse over on johnson street about oneo'cl
and there. was great dndging OF
IN, ing bricks. The flames melted the ell
of trio wires along johnson street s.
rora after the fire got good head Wav
90, these were a decided menace to
.ho tiremen ana spectators. The Staun
n Electric company shut of its curr
-e-o in the district affected by the firf
yoro promptly as possibls and the curl
,,as was also turned of the wires OF
.ho,. city's street lighting service.
.,a electric company will be heavy 10
! .u a number of :heir Dig cables hav
: 90 bsan broken or cut but Superinte
rho ent Eager promises 20 have the ser
~ ;. in the fire district in good shape
,orr. the earliest possible moment
,vad will have every available man
oat today repairing damages. The caDl'
,.;on the Western Unicn Telegraph CONF
..n+s were burnsd and communication
- ~. the outside by the Western v
men were cat off.
J and When Mayor Wayt saw shas