Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-08-19
Destructive FIRE At REDWOOD.

floor Of the Busy Bee Restaurant
in Redwood, the prosperous and
growing metropolis of Nicholas
county. at 4:4O O'Clock Tuesday
morning, the 18th.
BY the time the volunteer fire
department had started its fight, the
flames were roaring from build
ings on either side, and the resta-
urant building was a mass of red
fire, pouring off a heat like that of
molten lead.
At six o'clock with the business
section Of the town in ruins, the
fire was under control. Only
twisted metal supports, smoking
skeletons Of what had a few hours
before been wealthy business
houses and great piles of debris
were all that was left of the thriv-
ing trade mart of small metropolis
The speeding flames were check
ings destroyed were blown up by
the desperate fire fighters. The
flames famed by Il wind and manu-
featuring air currents Of their own
merely leaped the chasm the blasts
had made, and then the fear took
root that the entire city would 60
up in flames. But out Of that cha
otic state, there were those of forti-
tudc that took stock calmly and
went to work systematically. Soon
they saw that although the blasted
spaces had not localized the fire, it
had checked it, and that there was
chance to win. There was rally
courage gradually returned, the
fight against the menace was re-
sumed with two-fold strength. Own
ers of rich lumber land, factory
proprietors and business men align
ed themselves shoulder to shoulder
with the brawny woodsmen who
came in from the nearby forests.
Feats of strength and courage were
performed that seemed almost
fought the fire through the long
hours of morning also fought fa-
tiguc. They fought and won--won
after many of them had been made
homeless and pennilcSs.
The heroic conduct of IL burly
Stonemason, Paul Peak, who by a
daring feat saved four men trapped
in an upper story Of the building
where the fire started deserves
special, honorable mention.
The losses are estimated at $780,
600 among which we mention Inc
following:
James Fisher, building and resi-
dcncc, $4,000; Busy Bee Restau-
rant, $1,000; Edward Coleman,
drug store, 81 1000, building $4,000
The upstairs was occupied by G.. Is.
Bartron, Loss ST 900; q. G.. Murphy,
Store, $4,000; G.. A. Dain, building
occupied by Lee Cad, $4,000; a. NJ.
Cole, 1920; DR.. Z. G. Bennett,
Hover Barbershop, $1,000, Alex
Murray, drug store, $4,000; Babers
Store, $4,000; ). X. Wards, upstairs
81 900, building $4,000; &. w. Nc
Daniel Meat Market, 81 900; Joe Crib
Harness shop, $4,000; Kribbcl
building, $4,000; Charlie Penn,
formerly of Lcwisburg) tailor shop
$4,000; property of Purts and Hicks
$4,000; E. +. Buck, tailor shop and
building, $1,000; Star Theatre, S25,-
900. Brown rooming house up
stairs; Fisher building, $1,000, oc-
cupied by Hevener store, $4,000 and
Frank Wilkinson store, $4,000;
Schatz Department store, $4,000, as
well as new building being con-
structed $4,000. Juergens ReStau-
rant, $4,000. Building owned by
Greeks, $4,000; Joe Cerre, confec-
tionery and building, $4,000; D. A.
Godfrey, clothing, $4,000, building,
$4,000; Joseph Palonc, building and
stock, $4,000; NJ. L. Church, corn
er Of Oakford and Walnut, $4,000,
and eight houses east on Walnut,
$4,000, occupied by Luther Shaver
A. a. Waggoncr, John Hardy, Bert
Hosey. Claude Cnbcrgcr, two houses
Henry Brown, George Matheny, L.
ID. Dorsey; all losing furnishings.
All the above was completely burn
ed The fleetwood Banking and
Trust Company, brick building,
Quilted 10 the extent of $4,000. 1t
was occupied in second and third
floors by the Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company, DR..
VcOn and Dr.. Jarrett and others.
Losses small with the exception of
the Chesapeak and Potomac whose
loss is almost their entire telephone
system. The fleetwood Co-opcra-
tive store, damaged to $4,000; r.
w. Mccoy building, $4,000; Mason
ic building, $4,000; the Cherry
Boom and Lumber Company, cleo
trical department, heavy losers.
III is the worst fire Redwood
ever suffered and when the sun
DeCpcd over the SIlrroundinn hiIIs