The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-11-21
FIRE
Wipes Out Clothing Store
and Undertaking Place
atVery Heavy Loss.

Fire breaking out in the Baker
undertaking store on Main street
shortly before O'Clock Wednesday
evening entailed losses as follows:
Mrs. Clara Baker. owner Of baker
store, between $4,000 and sec, 900:
insurance $4,000.
Beeson H. Brown and silas Hon
heirs between $4,000 and 100000,
with $4,000 Insurance carried by
them and $4,000 additional by B.
/, H. Brown.
ciiftord-osborn Undertaking COM
pany, between $4,000 and 5000
with insurance OF $4,000.
Willoughby Harrison. $1,000 Gov
cred with insurance.
The blaze originated in the MILL
merry department OF the Baker store
on the second floor and the store
was mass OF flames by the time
the FIRE department arrived shortly
after discovery was made. The
origin of the fre is unknown but it
is probable that gas Jet turned on
too strong ignited woodwork.
Within few minutes after the
discovery of the blaze thousands OF
people crowded the streets there.
TaBd there was much confusion. A
ire line. was finally thrown and this
aided the fire lighters materially.
But little Roadway was made in
coping with the flames until after
the Are engine arrived and was put
into action. The pressure was strong
and there was favorable comment
thereon. There was some trouble
with nozzles but that was not due
to the pressure.
Under the guidance OF an expert
here from New York instructing the
local fire department, the flames
were fought and he and the mem
bers of the department together
with volunteer firemen did desper-
ate work for fully two hours before
the blaze was gotten under control.
ut appeared at one time that the
fire would be confined to the Baker
store. but it finally broke out with
fury under the roof Of the eastern
adjoining building owned by w.
Harrison and occupied by the Cliff
5ord-osborn Undertaking Com
pany. 1t was with great difficulty
that the men got at the blaze there
and they did not succeed in exiting
uishing 1t until after 1t had eaten its
way down into the second moor.
where a stock of costly caskets and
| general funeral equipment was
stored. Fire and water together
practically destroyed the stock of
! goods.
! The Baker store was gluten on
the second floor and in the rear of
the first floor and the immense stock
OF goods is virtually an entire loss.
While the building occupied by
the Baker store was not damaged to
the amount stated in the list Of
losses, yet its owners estimate that
it will take that amount to rebuild,
the location and the times demand
ing a more substantial structure.
Mr. Harrison carried $4,000 on
his building, and his loss is fully,
covered.
The department worked long after
the fire was gotten under control and
it was nearing midnight, when it
finally quit the job with the knowl-
edge that there was no danger of
its breaking out new.
/ The flames leaped high into the
air and a storing wind at the lime
alarmed the thousands of spectators
as that entire section of the city
seemed doomed.
Good work on the part of the FIRE
lighters kept the flames from spread
ing to the east and Are wall kept
them away from the Oak Hall build
ing.
lack of systematic organization.
confusion of orders and hindrance
on the part of spectators featured
the fire. .'S''t /
The cliffOrd-osborn Undertaking
Company announces that IT will CON
tinue business as usdai at It's usual
place, as three ware rooms are in
shape and the office will be placed in
order at once.
RYAN ACCUSED.