Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-03-24

Fig FIRE SWEEPS STANTON.

Staunton, Va, March 21.-Damage
amounting to at least Sl50,0OO was
lone late last night and early this
by the fiercest fire in the
history of Staunton, and today score
Of houses, some large and others
small, are great mass of shoulder
ing ruins.
Raging unconquerable while the de-
aided by many volunteers,
fought madly to check it, the fire wip-
ed out whole block in thesdowntown
business section.
Originating about 1890 o'clock in a
small structure owned by Thomas }.
Hounihan, and located in the rear o.
the eating house on Johnson street.
the flames spread with lightning like
rapidity.
FIREMEN POWERLESS.
Before IL O'Clock it became evident
that the block on Middlebrook avenue,
known as the wharf, was in imminent
danger of destruction, and force OF
fire-ighters was rushed to the vicinity
OF the threatened properties. Despite
their efforts the flames soon attacked
the building of the Stanton Milling
Company, and in few minutes it was
seen that this structure was doomed
The flames next spread to the feed and
grain houses of Michael Kivlighan
B. W. Crum, and these, too, were
soon doomed. The firemen had an
abundance of water, but little pres
sure, there being no steamer in Staun-
tou.
PEOPLE MUCH EXCITED.
Famed by stiff breeze the flames
grew to a fury of furnace, and great
showers of sparks we're sent flying in
to the air to the carried by the wind
to all parts of the town. For two
hours or more it seemed that the en-
tire section of the city south of Main
street was doomed, and there was 9
demonstration on the part of the peo-
pie the like of which had meyer been
witnessed here before.
Merchants whose places were three
and four blocks from where the fire
! was raging removed their books to
safety, and even in the parts of town
farthest away from the confagration
people made preparations to make
hasty exits from their dwellings.
The scenes in the streets at this time
were beyond description. Men had
removed horses from stables in the
doomed section, and these with yehi-
Giles we're brought uptown and left
standing in the streets. AL the while
the flames in the burning section light
ed up all parts of town, being reflect
ed on buildings, on trees, and in the
heavens, creating a spectacle which
struck horror to hearts OF those who
viewed it.
ASSISTANCE CALLED.
When it was seen that the fire was
likely to spread over the entire down
town business section, assistance was
asked from Harrisonburg, Charlottes-
Vile and Clifton Forge.
The firemen from those places ar
rived on special trains and went to
work at once. Probably the most eff
fective work was done by the fremen
from Charlottesville, as they brought a
large steamer, The only one in use.
and with it they threw large volume
of water on ajoining property. which
prevented the fire from spreading fur
Their.
THE FIRE VICTIMS.
Fifteen buildings were burned as
follows:
Ashby livery stables.
The Hounihan building. where a
saloon was located during the wet re-
gime.
Mrs. Dennis Browns property.
Edward DCre's wagon yards.
W. J. Netf's carriage and buggy
salesrooms.
B G. Crum's immense three-story
grain and fertilizer establishment.
Michael Kivlighan's hay and grain
stores, also big three-story building.
The Stanton Milling Company's
establishment, one of the largest build
ings in the burned area.
Dudley Fosters lunch room.
W. E. Tribbett's establishment,
dealer in spraying implements.
The Mccoy metal and single es-
tablishment.
j. Elmer Hangers wheelwright es-
Establishment.
Rissbarger's barber shop.
Trimble's stable and wagon sheds.
For time it was believed that it
would be impossible to save either the
C. & o, depot or the large warehouse
of the ]. M. Spots Company. By
hard work, and the tiGely arrival of
the visiting frcmen, the flames were
under control by 2:30 O'Clock this
morning.
Had it been a windy night it would
have been impossible to have checked
the flames at all.
Early in the night the fire burned
the cables of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company and the only way to
summon help was by using long dis
lance telephone.
No one was Injured. There were
occasional falling walls, caused by
dynamite being ned.
The burned district is bounded by
johnson, South Lewis, South Augusta
streets and Middlebrook avenue. a
block and half west of the &. & o.
depot and south of Augusta street.
BEVERLEY HOTEL AFIRE.
The Beverley Hotel, block and
half away, caught fire at 4:30 O'Clock
II