Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-04-28
Discovered About $50.

Discovered About $50.
The fire was discovered about
$3.50 o'clock, although numerous
minutes earlier by the heavy pail
of smoke that gradually crept over
that part of the town. Mr.. l.. M.
Light, of the Gardner apartments
whose wife had been aroused by
the smoke, phoned in to Mrs. Dora
Cody, at the G. & p. Telephone of
fee, who in turn notified the fire
department. Mr.. Frank d. Staley
ZIG North Queen street, the rear oil
whose home looks out upon the back
of the opera house, also called up
by phone. Incidentally, 1t can be
said that had Mr.. Staley's property
been other than brick 1t would have
caught fire, as all of the rear win
dows were burned out. Mr.. Staley
says he could see the fire on the
stage OF the opera house, but an in
tense smoke had prevailed for some
minutes before the blaze appeared
FIremen On the Job.
Chief Martin Quinn and all bran
ches of the fire department were
promptly on the scene and the vet
eran young fire chief easily con
trolled the situation, maneuvering
against the fiery element with rare
generalship. He went about the
work scientifically and with a per
feet system, soon had throwing sew
en- distinct streams upon the burn
ing structure from the front, rear
and both sides. In less than an
hour it was manifest that the fire.
men were in control of the blaze.
and that adjacent property. even the
small frame structure occupied by
Contractor II. S. Shade, built up aga
inst the opera house on the Blon-
del lot, was practically safe. Later
in the morning Mr.. Shade began
moving back his belongings, con
sisting of electrical equipment,
which had hurriedly been removed
within a short time after the fire
was discovered.
Business Men Move.
On the western side of the opera
house is the two story building own
ed by Contractor Harry A. Ham
mann. This is of brick and four
teen-inch wall separated it from the
opera house. Like Mr.. Shade he
had moved a great quantity OF
plumbing and other material ont
for safety, but later restored the
same when it was seen that danger
TO his place had been averted. He
also had some heavier materials in
the lower rooms and cellar Above
Mr.. Hammann is the establishment
of Funeral Directors Kogelschatz.
They moved all of the lighter mater
ials but not the casketS in the rear
storeroom. Water came in this rear
room and it is not yet known whe-
Their the caskets were damaged TO
any extent. Thompson Brothers, the
printers, occupy the next building.
They also got out their books and
records, fearing the sweep of the
flames would envelop their building.
Turn Horses Loose.
Timmons Brothers, whose homes
and place Of business front on West
Race street, were confident at one
time that their stable and storage
house would certainly go up in
smoke. as the back part of the
buildings were scorching. The horses
were turned loose and the automo
bile driven to safety. However, the
fremen had got in control and the
Danger was averted. Other bust
ness places and residents in that
particular block were getting rea-
dy to move out what they could but
fortunately. were not compelled to
do so.
Big Crowd Gathers.
Already large number of spec
tators and volunteer firemen had
gathered, and this number was dou-
bled soon after the siren at the city
hall had been blown. Once the
people were aroused it was an easy
matter for them to see the blaze
for it rose high in the air and was
reflected for quite distance around.
Clouds of sparks rained upon sur
rounding property and a general
confagration would have ensued but
for the providential rain. Another
great factor was the absence Of