Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-09-21
MARTINSBURG. w. VA. SATURDAY. SEP. FL 1912

bling walls and smouldering ruins the
building and contents being entirely
destroyed.
Loss over 100000
The destruction of the plant of the
Stewart Vehicle Co constitutes the
heaviest fire loss In the history OF
Martinsburg aggregating, as II does,
in excess of 100000 Inasmueh as
the Insurance carried on building and
contents is sl07500, il is said, 1t may
be stated that the loss Is fully COW
cred. enormous as IL is. This is graf
flying news to the public because the
company's loss. great as il is, cannot
cripple ii,
But there Is more involved In the
loss than at first appears Il throws
twenty-five or more hands out of em-
ployment and breaks contracts for ve.l
hicles far and wide. In the building
were hundreds OF sleighs, buggies aud
carriages finished and unfinished. be-
sides raw materials, etc. worth tnou.
sands of dollars more Under o.din.
airy circumstances the fire would
have been a calamity. and is such, in-I
deed, AS a large and important indus
try is wiped out OF existence
Whilst the company has made no
plans as yet, for the future, still ri
viii be generally hoped that larger
factory will ere long take the place OF
the one destroyed.
VIII Rebuild Soon
Mr. Claude Stewart said this after
noon that the company viii com
mence to rebuild the plant at once,
and tnat the prospects for future buai.l
ness in their line was never brighter
than now.
Fire Notes
Mr.. Martin Quinn of Ryneal Hose
Co had the misfortune TO fall down
the elevator shaft from the second to
the first floor while fighting the FIRE. |
sustaining sever injuries to his hip
and disabling him for the time.
Mr. Ernest Weller. OF Second street,
was running TO the fire and slipped on
a rail near the Kilbourn Mills, frac-
turing his leg at the ankle. lie was
conveyed to his home and DR., Oates
reduced the fracture.
Miss Theresa Arnica whose home
is directly opposite the scene OF the
fire. was overcome with fright and
tainted in her house, remaining UNI
conscious for some time. She was af-
forwards taken to the City Hospital.
Mr.. John IT, Bateman, of Ryneal T
Hose Co. had his hand burned while
fighting the fire and the same member
badly punchTcd with a nail "A. lady
and he went 10 work again
MIR. Harry Thomas, also OF the Ry-l
meals, was overcome for a while byi
the heat. but stuck to the work.
Mrs, Joseph Haas. Winchester ave
nut, whose home is directly back OF
tho fire, thoughtfully served refresh
ments to the firemen.
Mr. ]. William Stewart used his au-
tomobile to haul the hose reel OF
No. to the fire. and the Ryneal team
hauled it home afterwards. In the
quick run nearly all the fools were
spilled out of the tool box.
The glow from the fire was seen
by people at Pen Mar, while at Ha-
gerstown It was still more visible
When the fire bell began ringing
about GAS O'Clock many people were
on their way TO early church services
Many of them went to the fire instead
and some left church during the sery-
ice when they heard the general
alarm.
The regular evening services in the
yarious church were pretty SHINY Mt
tended. most OF the men and large
portion of the wcmen and girls pre-
fering to go to the fire.
Never in the history of Martinsburg
have so many people ran-to fire. the
crowd being estimated at 5000, and
the excitement ran high.
The stable of Attorney e. l.. Lutrell
in close proximity TO the fire was pref
ty badly scorched as was that OF Mr..
Joseph Haas, nearby.
Had there been strong west wind
and dry roofs thee is no telling
where the fre would have stopped, /
but some of the haudsomest reslden'
res on Winchester avenue would UNI
doubtedly have been destroyed.
A low water pressure in the neigh
borhood Of the fire greatly hampered
the effectual work of the fire ladies.
A large measure OF credit Is due the
fremen for their splendid work. sup
plemented, as ii was, by the direction
Of chief Langford. Everybody Is
proud OF the brave fremen and the
way they handled the fire.