The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1911-04-19
BAD FIRE LAST NIGHT.
Brown Building Damaged by Fire.
Stocks of Tenants Prac-
tically Ruined.

! Two fires occurring within a lew
hours of each other did a great deal
of damage in Cambridge yesterday.
The first one was in the rear of
the Harrington & Bayly building,
and occurred in the afternoon. 1t
resulted from the burning of trash
in their yard, the flames getting be-
yond the control of those burning
the trash. The damage by this fire
was slight, although for time it
was feared that the magnificent
buildings along that side of the
street might be endangered. None
of the merchants occupying these
! buildings suffered any loss, the
damage being confined to the back
buildings.
| The second fire was more disas-
trous, and it is likely that the loss
by it will exceed $4,000. 1t
| started, as far as can be learned,
in the toilet room attached to the
store of L. B. Robinson, and before
| it was extinguished the stocks of
goods of three tenants of the build
ing, L. B. Robinson, Donald Stewart
and Hurley & Williams were almost
totally destroyed by the smoke aud
water. The fire was first noticed
by Mr.. Donald Stewart, who was sit
ting in his store writing when he
heard a sound like something crack
ing, but at first he paid no atten-
ton to it, thinking that someone
was in the back yard; as the noise
continued to increase he thought
that the wind was rising, as when
the wind blows he had frequently
noticed that the roof of the build
ing seems to shake and cause such
a noise. The noise,- however, con-
tinued to increase, and he finally
got up and went out of the front
door of his store to ascertain ii a
storm was coming up,and happening
to glance up at the front of the !
building he noticed the smoke pour
ing out of a broken window near
the top of the building. He imme-
diately sounded the alarm and in an
incredibly short period of time the
firemen were on hand and had their
hose out and a stream plying on
the fire, which was located just I'M |
der the caves of the building, at
that portion of the store where the
partition between the Robinson and
Stewart stores runs up. The flames
had gotten considerable start be-
fore the alarm was given and also
as they were under a tin roof they
were hard to subdue, and a large
amount of water had to be thrown
before the fire was finally put out.
Shortly after the firemen started
streams of water it was seen that
the stocks of goods would be badly
damaged by fire, and Mr.. Robinson, :
with the help of number of per-
sons, succeeded in removing por-
ton of his stock across the street
to the Cambridge Bakery. The
greatest damage done was caused
by the water and smoke, but, OF
course, without the water the whole
building and stock would have been
totally destroyed, and quite hkelyI
he fire would have extended to the
Their nearby buildings. The goods
n all three buildings were badly
amaged by the water, which poured
through the floor in torrents. Holes J
we're cut in the store floors to let
t out, but despite this fact it &C,
umulated to a depth of several in
hes.
The new fire engine was used, =
nd worked splendidly, in fact, it is
doubtful if the fire could have been
ubdued as easily as it was without
t. At times it was necessary to
hut the engine down, as on account
# it's high pressure Chief Bramble
vas afraid to risk letting the men
N the ladders handle the hose, fear
ng that some of them might be
,ulled off the ladders and danger
,usly injured.
The loss by the fire, 1t is be-
ieved, will amouL. to between $780,
100 and $50 COO.
The losses are believed to be
about as follows: II
To the building, which is owned
~ Mrs. VIM. A. Clash, $4,000, COW
cred by insurance.
Hurley & Williams, dry goods,no-
ions, carpets, mattings, etc. Stock
valued at $4,000; loss from $1O,-
900 to $4,000; caused by smoke
and water, the fire not reaching
their portion of the building; loss
partially covered by insurance.
Donald Stewart, shoes and gents
stock valued at about
$4,000; loss large; insured for
about $4,000. Il
L. B. Robinson, clothing, shoes
and furnishings; stock valued at
5000; loss large; insured for about
$500. L
Thursday, Friday and Saturday-see