Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-08-23

taurant and Before Arrival Of Fire
men Flames Spread to 5urzie 5ak-
er's and Frank Minors Stores, Ruin.
ing Stocks Of Goods and Cutting
Apartments Above.
One of the most disastrous fires in
years in Martinsburg occurred early
this morning, entailing loss aggre-
eating between 100000 and S25,OOOi
running three business places and
rendering two families almost home
less. Considering the fire traps where
the fire first spread the wonder is that
the confiagration was not still more
destructive.
People were awakened out of their
sleep about a quarter of this morn
ing by the ringing Of the fire bell. 1t
was soon learned that the Belmont
restaurant in the B. C. Baker and
George D. Lambert building, 1872 TO
1873 North Queen street, was on fire,
and before the firemen arrived on the
scene the flames were leaping sky
ward The fire bell kept changing and
the whole fire department was called
out, while hundreds of people ran to
the scene and the excitement became
genral.
The fire started in the kitchen of
the Belmont restaurant F. Lazzari,
proprietor, caused by the explosion of
hot grease. it is said. Employees of the
restaurant tried to put out the blaze
with a small hose, but the effort failed
and the flames were gaining Roadway
every minute. Then instead Of etle-
phoning to the Ryneal fire house the
firemen there knew nothing of the
blaze until they were awakened out of
their sleep by the ringing of the fire
bell. which must have been nearly a
quarter OF an hour after the fire was
first discovered.
The flames soon spread from the res
taurant kitchen in frame back build
ing to the dining room, and in short
time the place was Quilted. Then the
flames spread to the back building oc-
cupied by Confectioner B. c. Baker
on the south, and the rear of the Mrs.
Sallie Gerling building adjoining OH
the north and occupied by Frank A.
Minor as store and residence. These
places were all on fire when the fire
men arrived.
Ryneal Hose Co attached two lines
of hose to the plug in front of the
Baker-Lambert building, Nos. 3 and
5 to the plug at the Blondel corner and
No. 4 to the plug at the corner of Mar
tin and College streets. Thus five
streams of water were soon playing
on the fire in the effort to eXtinguish
it and prevent it's further spread The
firemen worked like Turks and to
them belongs the credit for saving the
fronts of two prominent business
blocks, handicapped as they were by
the difficulty of fighting the fire in the
rear.
Mr.. Minor and his family, who oc-
cupy the apartments on the second
and third floors above his grocery and
drygoods store. 142 North Queen
street, had barely time to escape with
their lives, so quickly did the flames
spread to their apartments by way of
the rear. With only time to partly
dress they hurried out of the burning
building, Mrs Minor and the children
going to the home OF Mrs. Homrich
al l,ru "a CT Min.
or was Frustrated by fright and shock
and was placed in the care OF ply
stefan.
Mr. Minors apartments on the sec
ond floor were Quilted, while his stock
of goods was ruined. He places his
loss at $4,000 on stock and household
goods with an insurance of between
$1,000 and 5000. As stated, the build
ing is owned by Mrs. Gerling and her
loss will aggregate about $4,000, Gov
cred by insurance. The fire didn't
reach Mr.. Minors outside wareroom.
Mr.. Baker is another heavy loser
by the fire. Like Mr. Minor his liy-
ing apartments We're above his store
and everything there was ruined by
fire, water and smoke and he and his
family had just time to make their ex-
it from the burning building. Thk
flames swept through his confection-
airy store and his stock is practically
in ruins, Mr. Baker estimates his
loss at $4,000 on building and goods.
On the former there is an insurance
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