Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-12-06
DISASTROUS Fire At Bakerton.

Disastrous Fire At Bakerton.
The thriving town OF Bakerton was the
scene of another disastrous fire last FIJI
day night, when the big store OF Preston
S. MiIlard was utterly consumed by the
flames. Mr.. Millard, who carried very
large stock of goods with which to sup
ply the continuously heavy business oil
the workmen employed at the plant OF the
Washington Building Lime Company
occupied large frame building belong
ing to the company. He was paymaster
for the concern and was also postmaster
for Bakerton. Last Friday night the
store was closed about 8 o'clock, and
when Mr.. Willard and the clerks left,
everything seemed 10 be all right. Mar
tin Welsh, who clerks in the store, had
his home in the second story OF the
building. Between one and two O'Clock
Mrs. Welsh was awakened by smoke
and the cracking OF flames, and when
she sprang out OF bed the floor was so
hot il burned her feet. She and Mr.
Welsh found themselves in such imminent
danger that they barely had time to grab
up few articles of clothing and make
their way down stairs-in fact, the floor
fell in within ten minutes OF the time they
first discovered the fire. When Mr..
Welsh opened one OF the doors OF the
store with the intention OF trying TO save
some OF the stock he found the whole
interior ablaze, and it was impossible to
enter. He gave the alarm, and soon men
from the lime works and other persons
assembled, but nothing could be done TO
save either the building or the goods.
The night was so foggy that men work
ing at the lime plant few yards away
had not noticed the fire, and il had gain
ed too much Roadway TO be extinguiShed.
There was nothing TO do but watch il
burn, and protect other property in the
neighborhood. Superintendent d. R.
Houser had men placed on the roofs OF
the buildings OF the lime works that were
near the burning store, and the bucket
brigade saved these structures, though
the heat was intense.
There perhaps was never more total
loss than that of the store building and
its contents. The building, being an old
and dry affair, burned fiercely, and was
utterly consumed. The contents OF the
store, general merchandise OF every
description, ali went up in smoke together
dry goods and notions, boots and
shoes, groceries and provisions, Christ
mas toys and candies, etc. Mr.. Millard
had an unusually large stock on hand, as
he had gotten in a full supply OF mer-
chandise for the fall and winter trade and
goods for the holiday business. He
probably had $4,000 worth OF mer-
chandise in the place, and not single
article was saved. The only thing that
was not burned, by some curious chance,
was tank OF coaloil in the cellar. The
iron safe i'll the store proved to be really
fireproof. Fortunately he had placed in
it his cash and his account books, as well
as the stamps and the postotfice funds,
and when the safe was opened every
thing was found intact, though BIT
scorched from the intense heat.
Mr.. Millard had an insurance OF I$lO,-
500 on his stock OF merchandise ard
Martin Welsh had $500 on his household
goods. all placed with Washington,
Alexander 6 Cooke, of Charles Town.
The building was also insured, being
covered by policies held by the Wash
ington Building Lime Company.
Mr.. Willard will probably get into
business again without delay, in tenn
porary quarters. He had some goods in
ware-roons apart from the store, and he
will stock up afresh and resume opera
tons as soon as possible. He has been
in business in Bakerton for % years, and
possesses the full confidence of the peo-
pie OF the community with whom he has
been associated. His friends in the
county regret to hear OF his loss, but
hope that he will soon be re-establiShed
more comfortably than ever. 1t is said
that the Washington Building Lime Com
pauy will erect large and substantial
building as new home for the store.