The daily times., 1921-12-24
FIRE DESTROYS
HACKNEY BROTHERS
AUTO DEPARTMENT
ALARM FIVE O'CLOCK
Hackney Brothers Estimate
Their Loss at $4OO, 900. We'll
fare Auto Company Lose
Around $2,5OO.OO. Covered
by Insurance. Firemen from
Rocky Mt. Render Aid.

Wilson was awakened at five o.
clock this morning by the fire alarm,
and the entire town turned out, for at
one time it seemed that the fire was
going to- be of gigantic proportions
and would sweep the entire Hackney
Brothers factory, the buggy depart
ment as well as the Automobile de-
partment.
BY virtue of the effective work of
the firemen, who did valiant service
the flames were confined to the front
buildings facing on Green street, that
have been used for the automobile
department, since the depression has
seriously affected the demand for
Ibuggies.
The front of two buildings were
totally destroyed, and the firm esti-
mates it's loss at 100000 which is
practically covered by insurance. But
the loss in money and time is great,
since the front of the buildings where
the Offices and automobile parts were
carried on the first floor and the 9TH
er two floors were used for work,
loss. and a large force of hands are
thrown out of employment, and the
firm has it's automobile business,
which has been very successful, en-
tirely stopped until the buildings can
be erected and the business gotten
into shape again. The rear of the
buildings which were not consumed
were used as storage departments.
| Hackney Brothers estimate their
loss on buildings at 100000 and the
loss on automobiles and parts at
100000. There were a hundred cars
in the buildings together with the
new and the ones belonging to custo-
mers for repairs.
/ How the fire started is mystery.
The men were cleaning up the second
floor yesterday afternoon and when
they stopped last evening everything
was seemingly all right. 1t began in
the front of the second story of the
!, building on the south side running
parallel with Spring Street, and burn
) ed this down to the heavy fire wall
between this and the rear of the
same building, where the wall stopped
, Its further progress.
The flames jumped across the alley
separating the two buildings ane
also burned the front of the one OF
the north side. The fire wall stopped
the progress of the flames in thi
: building. But for this wall and th'
/ fact that the wind was blowing t
the east and north, the rear of thes
, buildings would probably have burn
= ed, and the flames undoubtedly woul
have spread to Nash street, and int
: the buildings also owned by Hackne
i Brothers and occupied by a. numbe
: of the largest merchants in the city
n The fire also damaged other build
t ings to some extent. The Dew hous
e which is owned by Mr.. Tom Hackne
0 and the MCGOWAN estate on the COZ
g .ner of Spring street was damage
Isome $4,000, as is the WelfaI
n frame building on the corner
= Goldsboro and Green streets. Th
+ building is damaged on the sout
e side adjacent to the Hackney built
If ings, and warped out of shape. TT
y rear of the brick building owned
l. the Walfare Auto Company which
II close to the walls of the Hackne
h building was also damaged to SON
al extent. Mr. Welfare. places his 10
ie on the two buildings at 100000.
,e BY heroic work the fremen Ike
the flames confined to the Hackn'
e. buildings and saved adjoining pro
n erty.
1e At one time the Episcopal churc
" Mr.. Hugh Shepherds residence al
ct the Wilson Storage Battery Compa
ed located just across the street fro
st the Hackney buildings were threate
"a ed. but the damage to these is s}fgl
The fire was so threatening at O