The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-11
INVESTIGATION
OF FIRES TODAY
N PROGRESS
State Marshal Kindleberger
and Assistant Koran
Now At Work

State Fire Marshal Nose Kindle
berger and assistant, John s. Koran
arrived in Fairmont this afternoon and
picking up Fire Chief Okey Watkins
at the fire department went to Locust
avenue to investigate the Ridgely fire
and to Edgemont to investigate the
fire which partially destroyed the w
S. Hussey store.
The fire officials who came here
from Wheeling, intended to make this
week an inspection week In the city
and appointed September II as the
first day of inspection. Their work
however, will have to be on different
basis as last night fire fiends got busy
in the southern section of the city and
started fires In two stores.
The first fire was the Hussey store
at Edgemont where the fire depart
mept went with all haste and manag
ed after difficult fight to get the
flames under control. Among the
usual crowd which followed the direc'
ton taken by the truck were Cal Con.
away, sheriff, and Tom Buckley, Jail
er, also the regular number Of night
policemen.
Upon their arrival at the scene OF
the blaze they we're told that two men,
one wearing a mask, was seen to leave
the home Of s. R.Nestor when the
crowd began to grow and the noise to
awake residents In the section. It was
later found that the house had been
entered. Bloodhounds were brought
and the scent followed but nothing
had been run down at late hour this
afternoon. The store Of w. 8. Husey
had also been entered, the back door
being jimmied, the store probably
robbed Of some small articles and set
afire. The damages will run to $4,000.
The firemen managed to get the
spread Of flames stopped and after
carefully going over the premises to
sea that no further danger -lurketf in
corners went back to their headquar.
ters.
At five o'clock they were again
called, this time to the Ridgely store
on Locust avenue where a fire had
been discovered by Miss Nancy Arnett
who lived in the rooms over the store.
Miss Arnett was awakened by the heat
and smoke and Immediately tried to
leave the building but the flames had
gained such Roadway that escape by
this route was impossible. She than
found her way back to thefront Of the
building and began calling for help.
In the meantime the Ridgely family
ha dbeen awakened by the heat and
light from the flames and William
Ridgely, Jr.. who lives at Bell Run,
but was at his fathers home for the
night, rushed into the street and saw
Miss Arnett's plight. He procured a
ladder and placed 1t at the front win.
dow and brought Miss Arnett from the
building into his fathers house. It was
just at this time that the firemen from
the central station arrived on the
scene and in very few minutes they
had the fire extfnguished. The build.
ing was owned by the Ridgely broth.
ers adm was very badly damaged. John
Oldroyd was the proprietor of the store
and carried sufficient insurance to GOV.
er his loss. There was no insurance
carried on the building. Another house
owned by the Ridgely brothers was
slightly damaged by the fire. The orr.
gin Of the fire is unknown but seems
to have started on the back porch of
the building where large oil can is
kept.