The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-25
JACKSON STREET
ROOM|NG HOUSE
BADLY DAMAGED
Fire Had Good Start Before
1t Was Discovered This
Morning.
WHOLE DEPARTMENT out
Work of Firemen at Times
Partook of the Spec
| tacular.
WHOLE Department OUT

The property Of Ulysses Union D.
213 Jackson street was seriously
threatened with destruction thislmorn-
ing when fire, the origin ofswhich is
unknown, was discovered in an unused
room In the third story to the rear.
Duke Johnson, Jr., colored, was In
the house at the time and seeing smoke
curling from under the door of the ttlrl-
used room, Immediately notified other
occupants Of the house who In turn
called the fire department. The auto
truck, the hook and ladder wagon and
the East Side department responded
and within haIs an hour had the fire
out. The department was called ut
1928 o'clock this morning.
In the room were two mattresses
which were burning when Duke John
son looked inside and the walls Of the
room were Just starting to burn. The
fire spread rapidly, eating its way into
eight rooms and taking the sides and
the roof from the building. The build
ing was formerly two. buildings, one
stone and one frame, both places re-
Gently made into one rooming house.
The contents Of all rooms were ruined
by the fire. AS soon as the firemen
got on the job It was seen to be mecca.
sary that all hose, ladders, Chemicals
and axes be used. The firemen start.
ed into the burning building when q
window at the top OF the stairs fell
out and down on them. Though their
clothing was torn by glass 10 injuries
resulted. They managed in!some man
ner TO get past the flames and to drag
hose with them. The fire, and smoke
resulting from 1t were more than an
human could stand. But working dill.
gently with the hose In front OF them
they r naged to get to the second
floor. They then discovered that the
third floor was afire and in order TO
get to that point had to climbIoyer the
roofs OF adjoining houses. This con.
sumed little time but the speed with
which obstacles were met brought
cheers from the crowd as the firemen,
smoke begrimed, entered thelwindows
OF the second and third floors from the
adjacent roofs. From these windows
flames licked the outerwalls but the
firemen went in, seeming to under
stand that inside somewhere there
was better working footing, the roofs
on which they stood being inclined
sharply. n
Duke Johnson, the young man who
discovered the fire, was caught on the
third floor, his exit being cut of at
the top OF the stairs by the flames and
smoke. He rushed to the front win.
dows and screamed for help. Ladders
were rushed to him and he was brought
to the ground. Other occupants OF ths
house escaped by going through back
windows, over roofs OF ground kitch.
ems, through trees and by jumping to
the ground.
The work Of fighting the flames
was In charge Of assistant chief Ralph
Doolittle, chief Watkins being on his
vacation. He went first into the fam
es and guided all other work in the
burning building. Assisting the chief
on the ground were Odellf Mckinney.
Ned Smith and Commissioner Ira /.
smith. There were six water Hines
played on the flames at once. besides
numerous chemical cans and chemical
hoses. Before being able 10 extfn.
guish the last small flames, the fire.
men had to chop up the tin roof and
turn a hose through the opening.
Efforts were made at first to. enter
the burning building at the front win.
dows with the use of a ladder, while
some OF the firemen went up the stairs.