The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-09-26
Two FIRES in MT. AIRY
WAREHOUSE OF 7. E. WATKINS CON.
SUHED ON THURSDAY and OFFICE
Of DR.. c. P. GOWMAN DAM.
AGED ON FRIDAY.
Il. Airy Elll Now Probably Secure
Fire Apparatus.

ut. Airy had two destructive fires
last week, the first OF which occurred
On Thursday evening when the large
warehouse OF Thomas r. Watkins was
DESTROYED entailing loss of about
The warehouse was a frame build
Ing. located along the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, and contained a large
quantity of baled hay and straw. 4
hay packer was also In the building
and vas destroyed.
The fire was discovered soon after
n baltimore and Ohio passenger train
had passed. and some are inclined TO
think sparks from the engine set fire
70 the building. Others think the
place vas set on fire. A woman who
IifeE nearby. states that she saw two
mGn in the warehouse a short time
before the fire was discovered and
that they had a light. Whether this
vas a lantern, match, or something
- she could not say.
Several small boys playing I'm the
neighborhood discovered the fire and
ran through the town calling Fire,
IRE Residents of the town at first
regarded The matter as a Joke, and
come few minutes elapsed before the
real situation became known. A buck
ct brigade Was formed, but all ef-
forts to save the building were use
less. 4 warehouse Of the Peoples
Lumber and Supply Company. nearby.
HaH saved with difficulty.
Another Fire Friday.
On Friday morning about s o'clock
The Office Of Dr. {. p. Gowman, on
Main street. was found afire. DR..
GoEman had left his home and gone for
his automobile and the house was
locked. Mrs Gowman being out of
town. The door to the residence was
broken open and the men who dis
covered the IRE made their way 10 the
once. which was found 10 be a mass
Of flames.
II first the fire seemed TO be very
stubborn and all the household effects
we're carried into the street. After
considerable fighting the fire was got
ten under control. The Office was
The only room In the house in which
The IRE did any damage. although 9TH
aT rooms IN the house were damaged
u HaIer.
Shortly after the fire DR.. Gowman
stated TINT everything In his office
saa total loss. and he estimated
that Il vii require at least $500 to
replace The effects destroyed and rem
deTed useless.
DT. GoEman states he Is at a loss
n account for the fire. Thursday night
he occupied a room adjoining the
Office. He stated he passed the
afIIee door Friday morning and II was
closed The fact that the doors and
windows Of the Office were closed.
probably saved the house. as Il kept
The FIRE from spreading and was con-
fined 10 the roof without any draft.
II. AIry Wants Fire Apparatus.
Following the two fires at Mt. Airy
there sas meeting in the town
hall lat Friday night when the adyis-
ability Of securing fire apparatus was
discussed. All held that such apparatus
should be secured The following COM
mittee was named to investigate the
various makes Of apparatus: William
staekhonHe. chairman; r. G.. Moiea-
worth. BENJAMIN Dunn, Henry Hood.
John kiees. A W Hall. Bradley Leath-
erKood and ]. l.. Burdette. At the
opening Of the meeting the following
officers were elected: A. w. Hall,
president. Bradley Leatherwood, sec
rotary: J. L. Burdette, treasurer. The
women of. the town will be asked to
aaaIst IN the work OF securing the ap-
paTatuH.