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

I ildRldtlOU dlHouSH every otlC
seemed to realize the serious
ness Of the occasion.
Those folks who went to the
fire with the intention eff t'rn-
ing their steps later towards
their several places of worship
forgot all about church services
and remained in the vicinity of
the fire until the reflection had
been so diminished that they
were hardly able to pick their
way through the tall grass.
1t was a strange sight too at
times to see the top of a fence
post blazing as a torch or here
and there a cross tie along the
were unable to get close 10 the
surrounding property. Forum
ate too just at that time the
wind shifted and this helped to
save the property.
The flying embers were CIV
ing the assembled crowd some
trouble. Some hoped to ward
off the sparks by putting up
their umbrellas. only to find a
few minutes later that a hole
had been burned in it. Those
/ young women who wore feather
ed hats were some agitated when
the sparks fell among their
! plumes. One red headed girl was
seen digging savagely at a spark
/ that had dropped onto her hair
and was making frantic effort to
put out the fire that threatened
her raven locks when a young
railroad sending up its little
| blaze.
1t was one night when the ar
rival of the excursion from
Washington and Baltimore over
the Baltimore and Ohio had a
rival as a Sunday night attrac-
ton and when the worn and
weary excursionists returned
they had not the usual greeting.
1t was night in the history
of Martinsburg that will long be
\ remembered by the 5000 or more
people who witnessed the de-
struction of the Stewart Vehicle
( Company's plant.
Details Of the Fire
/ For the second time within five
I years, has the Stewart Vehicle Co.
been burned out, and In both instanc-
es there was a total loss. While the
fire of January 1908 wiped out only
old buildings comprising the plant on
Winchester avenue, the second con-
1agration Sunday evening destroyed
a splendid new three story brick build
ing along the Cumberland Valley rail-
road and all of its valuable contents
The fire started shortly after o.
clock Sunday evening on the third
floor and south end of the main build
ing and in a very few minutes the
whole floor seemed to be ablaze. In
fact some people living in the neigh
borhood, say that the fire seemed to
start in several places almost stimuli
taneously, which would seem to con
firm the theory that a live electric
wire in the building caused the fire.
while others think that the fire was
caused by spontaneous combustion in
the paint room on the third floor.
The fire alarm was sent IN from
the ]. w. Lloyd bakery, just south of
the buggy factory. The fire bell com
menced TO clang about 6:45 and con-
tinued TO ring for nearly half an hour,
calling out the entire fire department
II was soon reported around town
that the Stewart Vehicle works was
on fire and it was not long before
nearly the whole populace was on the
road to the fire.
Several persons seem to have dis
covered the fire about the same time.
among them being Mr. Daniel Arnica
and sister, Miss Theresa. who occupy
one of the Anthony Glessner houses
west of the C. V. railroad and directly
other was Charles Sencindiver the
night Waterman. Mr.. Claude Stewart,
vice president and general manager
of the Stewart Vehicle Co. was in
/ his Office about s O'Clock and a few
minutes afterwards Sencindiver rush
/ ed in and told Mr.. Stewart the build
I ing was on fire. The first the later
/ did was to remove the books. papers,
etc. from the safe. together with ev-
erything else of value in the office,
to a place of safety
The fire companies. Ryneal Hose
Co, with the chemical wagon, and
Hose Co.'s 3, and all responded
to the alarm and were soon ON the
scene. Three lines Of hose were at
tached to the water plug at Mr.
Boltz's store, corner of Winchester
avenue and Second street, and anoth
er from the plug further south on the
avenue at the Stewart WestenhaveI
gate The fire brigade of the Kilbourn