The citizen., 1914-10-30
BIG FIRE IN HAGERSTOWN

The rescue of w. p. G. Cockey, rs
years old, of Frederick, from the Bald
win Hotel, Hagerstown, early yester-
day morning, was the most thrilling
incident of the fire which threatened
the heart of that city. Mr.. Cockey
came to Frederick yesterday and was
last evening suffering from shock. He
had severe bruise over the left eye,
caused when he fell in making his
headlong dash from the burning
building, and he was still in an eX-
tremely nervous condition.
Mr.. Cockey had narrow escape
from suffocation. Maurice Domenici
Jr., of Baltimore, rescued the aged
man from the fourth floor by climbing
up pipe and the fire-escape. While
dragging Mr.. Cockey downstairs Do
menici became exhausted. Both men
were assisted from the building.
Firemen Worked Hard.
For eight hours the fire ragged, de-
spite the creditable work of the fire
men. Time and again embers which
were blown over the city threatened
to start new fires. The loss is thought
to be near 100000.
The burned buildings and estimated
loss:
Baldwin Hotel, $150,000.
Academy of Mpsic, $2,500.
Sherley building, 100000.
Eighty-one automobiles, $150,00O.
Box factory, $4,000.
Company B equipment, $4,000.
Skating Rink, $4,000.
Started In Garage.
The fire broke out about l o'clock
in Antietam Garage, located on the
first floor of Owen D. Sherley's new
four-story brick building, on Summit
avenue. Antietam Hall, three-story
stone structure adjoining, was burn
ed and for several hours the Federal
Building, a brick structure adjoining,
containing the postoffice, was threat
ened. Several times the outside wood
work of the postoffice was on fire. At
o'clock the fire was about out.
About an hour after the first fire
started flames were discovered by R.
Bruce Carson, jeweler, in a small
room in the rear of the Hotel Bald
win building. This fire spread and
burned six hours The hotel is ruin
ed Many of the 100 guests had got
up when the first alarm was sound
ed and were on the street. Others
left their rooms scantily clothed and
finished dressing in the lobby, in the
streets and in nearby homes. There
was no panic. Some left by the fire
escapes.
Eighty-One Automobiles Destroyed.
In the Sherley Building the Cum
berland Valley Paper Box Factory
was located on the second floor. The
third floor was used by Sherley as a
skating rink. The Antietam Garage
Company's office and storage rooms
were on the first floor Stored with
in it were 81 automobiles of its GUS
toners. All were burned Some of
these were new cars, and probably
half a dozen were not insured.
Antietam Hall was owned and oc
cupied by the Antietam Tire Com
pany, being located on the ground
floor. The top floor was used as an
armory by Company B, First Mary
land Regiment, which lost nearly all
its equipment.
The Pioneer Hook and Ladder Com
pany, which occupied the room on the
ground floor in the north end of the
building, lost about $500 worth of fur
niture and equipment, which was not
insured
Capt John Kyd Beckenbaugh, of
Company B, Hagerstown, was ordered
last night to- assign two sergeants and
sixteen men for police duty around
the burned district. Captain Becken
baugh got into communication with
Major d. John Markey, of Frederick,
and explained that all equipment had
been destroyed
Quartermaster Sergeant r. F. Bar
, rick and Corporal l.. A. Kennedy were
sent to Hagerstown with 10 overcoats,
10 campaign hats, 10 rifles and bay
onets and 100 rounds of guard duty
ammunition. The local men stopped
at Hagerstown over night.