Smyrna times., 1917-03-21
FIRE THREAT BUSINESS BLOCK

0roke Out Friday Afternoon in Store
OF Norris Truax and Spreads to
otore OF Miss Margaret Conawav
Fire which for a time threatened
10 wipe out the Reynolds block of
stores IN the business section of
commerce street, Smyrna, was averted
Dy the Smyrna Firemen FRIDAY
AFTERNOON with their new combination
chemical fire engine. Tho fire broke
out IN the second story back in the
meat store of Norris Truax. From
there it travelled to the second story
of Mrs. Margaret R. Conaway's mil
lnery establishment, (the building
owned by Mrs. Alice P. Stevenson.
where 1T did most of the damage
Mr.. and Mrs. S. ]. Reynolds put the
loss on their buildings of $3.50. 90.
and Mrs. Alice P. Stevenson. the
loss on her building of SlOO. 90
Miss Conaway places her loss at ST.
5OO and Norris Truax places his loss
at $3.50. 90. Considerable of Miss
Conaway's newly trimmed spring hats
were saved, but those she had stored
on the stairway and in the upper room
were so damaged by water and fire.
they were rendered unstable. How
the fire happened is a mystery.
Shortly after two O'Clock a volume of
smoke was seen pouring out the second
story or sausage mandatory of
Iruax's Meat Store. Mr.. Truax was
out at the time and Mr.. B. f. Mid
dleton who was in charge knew moth
ing until apprised of the commotion.
New Chemical Fire Engine Efficient
A general alarm was sounded and the
Flremen with their new truck re-
sponded. By this time the flames
were shooting high in the air and not
only were consuming the second stories
of Truax and Couaway establishments
but had eaten its way to the kitchen
of John G. Still. The firemen soon
had stream of water playing on the
flames and the chemical hose was also
turned on the building. In a short
space of time the fire was out. Be-
fore this, the goods of Miss Conaway
were almost completely moved ont,
the stock of goods being taken to the
yard of the Fruit Growers National
Bank and in the residence of W. w.
Hynson. Much sympathy was felt for
Miss Conaway for the next day Sat
urday was her "spring opening day.
for displaying her millinery ana the
loss and inconvenience meant much to
her. B. Frank VanWinkle very kindly
came to her rescue and let her have
his newly completed store corner of
Commerce and Market street where
she is now temporarily located. Miss
Conaway, Mr.. Truax and John C. Still
are grateful for the kindness of their
friends and the promptness and splen-
did work of the Firemen. The fire
attracted large crowd. The stores
of John E. Wilson and Lessin & Son
while in danger, were never on fire.
Cause of the Fire Remains a Mystery
The cause of the fire is a mystery.
" hen interviewed Mr.. Norris Trusx
says he had been making scrapple in
the morning but there had been no fire
in the stove since eleven o'clock. The
stove he says is tight and we'll pro-
tected and no sparks could have come
from it. Only few days before. the
floor and the stairway had received a
thorough cleaning. The only possible
way fire could have started was from
a match or cigar stump thrown in the
wood box and even this is remote for
the reason that care is always taken.
However, situated as the buildings
are the fire might have been much
worse. The wind at the time was not
blowing hard and all around were tin
and metal roofs. Under these condi-
tions the Firemen had no trouble in
getting the blaze quickly under con-
troll.