The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-09-28
THREE FIRES AT One
Time
FOUR STABLES, THREE AUTOMOBILES,
HORSE, &C., C0NSUMED-ALL WERE
SET ON FIRE-GUARDS SHOOT AT
SUPPOSED GUILTY PARTY WHO
MAKES HIS ESCAPE-ATTEMPT TO
BURN ALBAUGH-BABiLON'S WARE
HOUSE-GUILTY PARTIES NOT
ARRESTED.

UUUOL- lhUllL0 NUI
ARRESTED.
The citizens of Westminster were
kent in a very nervous condition ON
Saturday night about Il o'clock when
AN alarm of fire was sounded for the
stable and garage of DR.. Lewis K.
Woodward, West Main street, which
was burned to the ground with a
Ford Roadster and a WillyS knight
automobile, a chicken house with
number of prize chickens were also
consumed in the blaze. The
garage of Mr.. F. Thomas Babylon
which adjoins DR.. Woodward's was al
50 consumed with his Cadillac touring
car and chicken house. The stable and
garage of Mr.. Harry F. Cover was bad
~ damaged but the two automobiles
in the garage were saved before the
fire reached them. About 15 years ago
tire destroyed the stables on the same
spot where these stood. The loss to
the above people will amount to &C.,
U00, which is partly covered by in
Surance.
When this fire was about under
control the stable of John t. Anders,
at the junction of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Main street, and the stable
Of Dr. Charles Billingslea, on East
Main street, were set on fire and de-
stroyed The Anders stable was oc
vupied by Mr.. Frank T. Shaeffer, who
lost horse and all his hay, straw,
etc Mr. Shaeffer places his loss at
$40O with small insurance. The horses
and vehicles were taken from the Bill
lngSlea barn and the loss sustained
by Mr.. Billingslea was his barn, hay
and straw, and several small buildings
damaged. The loss is partly covered
hy insurance.
An attempt was made to fire the
storage house of the Albaugh- Babylon
Grocery Company, wholesale grocers,
but the fire went out before any dam
age was done.
The barrack of Mr.. Reverdy Snader
was on fire but the blaze was eXtin
guished.
After it was seen that someone was
uying TO burn the buildings of the
own guard was placed all over the
city to protect the property.
The guards saw man standing in
the yard OF Mr.. Upton Reaver, East
Main street, who started to run when
they went to interview him, and i'm
uediately they opened fire on him.
The man jumped the fence into Miss
Mary Reese's yard and made his get
away.
During the fire a man was seen to
ran out Of the alley on West Main
street into a corn field, who was shot
at Int was not hit A posse SOON gath
cred and surrounded the field to cap
ruro the man. A search was made but
rnr man had made his escape. Our Of
hcers got busy and made a search
through the city ana in some way they
were tipped-Off that a man by the
name OF Taylor was under suspicion
and was followed to ReisterstOWn,
where he was found and arrested and
urUuEht to this city and lodged in jail
i"r Il hearing.
Our fire company is to be congratu
,arnl for the good service they render
Cd in coping with all the fires at the
~aue time. The water pressure was
'ery good which was one cause of the
good work.
The {. & p. Telephone Company
"rTe also heavy losers as their big
cables were melted in two at three
different places, paralyZing the tele-
phone lines in this city and the out
side world. A gang of men from Bal
Cmore and Frederick were sent here
'hc same night and worked all day
Sunday and Monday to repair and run
new cables.
The fire had considerable headWay
before the alarm was sounded and II
was then with difficulty that the reels
ana truck were gotten to the scene
oI the fire. as tie people were
Aard to arouse on account of
the lateness of the night. Auto
mobiles were pressed into service
which helped to transfer the hose
from one fire to the other.
prowler was chased from the yard
Of Andrew Hood, East Main street,
while the first fire was about under
control He made his escape by jump
ing the fence to the adjoining yard.
All evening before the fire the citi-
zenS were annoyed by whistling and
olher noises in the alleys.
A detective has been here all week
working on the case but SO far has
not been able to place the deed on
any one, and is as far off as ever from
conVicting anyone of the deed. Mr..
Taylor has been questioned and gave
a good account of his whereabouts
during the fire
AT the fire a man asked Rev. Walck
10 take him to the fire building, on
Liberty street, for the reel, when he
arrived at Earhart's motorcycle shop
he asked Rev. Walck to stop and
let him get the reel When he jumped
from the car he ran down back of the
mill and disappeared, which was the
last seen of him.
DpIiUuunutc IN Gn Dry