Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-09-20

have been the case had 1t been OF
metal.
The flremen and the Kilbourn boys
bravely fought the flames. keeping
five streams constantly on the burn
ing structure. Again and again were
they driven back by the Intense heat
from the burning building. only to re-
new the attack on the deyouring Gle.
ment with more determined effort
But IL was soon realized that there
was no hope of saving the building,
doomed to destruction as Il was. 80
The firemen turned their efforts 20 al
iacent property.
Fortunately the evening was calm
and a gentle rain had fallen for an
hour before. dampenIug the roofs of
/ the surrounding dwellings, factories
end outbuildings. Many Of these are
covered with slate roofs which made
them all less liable 10 catch fire from
the flying sparks and embers. some OF
which were carried a great distance.
which, under other circumstances,
would have endangered property az n
considerable distance from the confla,
grafton.
The three frame house Of Mr. Gless-
ner west OF the 9. " tracks and al.
most directly opposite the Stewart
plant. we're in imminent danger of be.
/ ing destroyed. Indeed the one occu-
pied by Mr. Arnica would surely have
been consumed had not the flremen
kept a stream of water playing on IL.
Had this happened the two other
houses closely occupied by Harry My
ers and Mr. Williams would have
| shared a like fate AS Il was the Ar
MICA house was pretty badly scorched.
| Mr. Jacob Sites brick residence fur
Their south was outside the danger
zone, but his apple orchard along the
railroad and only a couple hundred
feet from the fire was pretty badly
| damaged. many ot the trees being
scorehed and their foliage turned
! brown.
A frame storehouse OF he Stewart
plant close to the main building at
The southeast corner was scarcely
seorched by the fire. ard how ii was
saved is a wonder. except for the fact
that ii has a metal roof and tho air
carried the flames away from 1t. The
same reason would In part account
for the escape from the fiery demon,
Of the Lloyd bakery. closely, but
which is built OF concrete with a fire
proof roof.
| ....st... < y 10 gfft.., ~. ltyt., "a. -
ter avenue, east OF tine Stewart plant,
were in danger while the FIRE WIS
/ at It's height Among these were the
/ residences of Messrs. X. N. Stewart,
Claude w. Stewart, Charles Weller,
Ernest Lutrell. Joseph Haas. o. q.
Bentzel and L. d. Brooks. Nearly all
of them were more or less seorched
en- the rear enc. that Of Mr.. Haas be-
ing especially so, his mouse being new
! ly painted. But all are insured against
| fire loss.
/ North of the fire are the Norwalk
/ Motor Car works, the Shenandoah
1 Pants Factory C.. ID. Burns lumber
yard and numerous sheds and out
/ buildings. II looked for a while as II
some CT these structures might take
/ fire but they did not The nearest
large building in the above named is
/ that OF the Norwalk automobile works
/ the employees of which had stream
! playing on the fire till the third wall
1 fell in and then they played their
stream on the building to guard
against the numerous sparks. They
also had a small hose on the roof and
/ two chemical extlnguishers.
As stated before embers and sparks
were carried great distance, some
t as far as Martin street, but owing to
damp roofs and premises, fortunately
no other fires were thus started.
Call For Help
I While the fire was at It's height City
Recorder p w Letter telephoned to
the Winchester fire department for
help. A steam fire engine was al
ready loaded on c. V. car ready to
start for Martinsburg when Mr.. Letter
telephoned the willing helpers that
I the fire was under control
The Vehicle Plant
/ The Stewart Vehicle Co, is joint
stock company, with the following Of
i ficers: President X. N. Stewart; vice
president and general manager, C. w
! Stewart: secretary and treasurer, c,
H. Harris, recently succeeding w. w
Downey. The directors are the three
j officers named and Lee NJ. Bender
] and w. w. Downey, this city, and J.
! C. Byron, Hagerstown, and Mr.. Geo
Goetz, OF Charles Town.
The summer following the disas-
trous fire that burned down theli
plant in January 1908, the company
built a new brick building along the
Cumberland Valley railroad in the
southern section of town. This was
. 14O fact long 40 feet wide and three