Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-05-18
EIRSONS' MEMS STORE SUFFERSS45,OOO
As RESULT OF BLAZE IN REAR or ROOM;
WILSON'S GROCERY ALSO HAS SMALL LOSS
Fire OF Unknown Origin Discovered Soon After Closing BY
Mr. Q. T. WSon-Soon Under Control BY Firemer-VaIu
bic Business Properties Were In Jeopardy.

les Were In Jeopardy.
The heaviest loss by fire, water
and smoke in this city within the
past few years was that Detailing
kirson's Mems Store. 2l5 North
Queen street. last evening, when a
stubborn blaze burned and damaged
The immense stock entailiug loss
or from $4,000 Ia $4,000. The loss
is fully insured with j L. Naden-
bousch. c. Granville Smith and
CLYDE T. Smith, and a loss of several
thousand on tho building. also own
ID by the kirson family, is practical
" carried with the same three
agencies.
Tho Wilson Grocery at III North
Queen, in the samo building. the
stores being separated by parti-
ton. was not affected by the flames.
nor by the water, but some little
damagcwas done by tho smoke Mr..
o T. Wilson conservatively places
the loss at about $500. although
others who viewed the result think IL
will be- greater. Tho grocery store
loss is covered. Insurance. being car
RED with J. Roy Nadenbouseh and
an agency ut Tonawanda. Pa. The
adjustors are expected today TO view
the loss on groceries and Mr.. O. T.
Wilson this morning announced tina:
fhe store would open for business at
30 O'Clock
Origin Is Unknown.
'Fhe origin of the FIRE is unknown.
Il could have been due to defective
wires. as a number OF these existed
in tho rear of the large storeroom.
in which part Of the building the
fire was discovered: or IL might
have resulted from a careless cigar
cite or pipe smoker a8 "A number OF
mon customers were in tho stors
lust before closing last afternoon.
It Is thought a customer may have
laid down the stub of u cigarette or
his pipe while trying on Il suit ~
clothing
Mr.. Wilson Discovers.
Mr. O. r. Wilson discovered the
ire klrSona dad closed about 6
- clock and Mr.. Harry Il. Wilson had
closed the grocery about $40 and
left for home. Mr.. o. ~. Wilson came
back shortly before Z. made up his
eash looked over the books, attend
ed TO a few other details, and was
: in tho act of leaving the store, start.
inc 10 lock the front door. when his
attention wds attracted by several
thin snirals of smoke He quickly
traced them to the rear Of the room
and s1W they came from the Kirson
.de lie lost no time in aummoning
Tie fire department and then ran mp
stairs to warn occupants OF tho
building The family of Mr. Noah
Kirson reside above the Kirson
storo room and Mr. Wolf Krson and
family occupy tho apartments over
HE Wilson Grocery. Mrs Kirson
had gone TO her room to put the
btby to sleep and both were soundly
slumbcring when MIR. Wilson arriv.
I'D. All occupants Of the building
got out without difficulty and any
bad results
Firemen Soon Arrive.
This was about 7.15 o'clock The
nrpucn from Ryncal. No and No.
3 we're soon on the scene and in
hort time had -four hose playing
Wdter on the fire from the front
Whilo several other streams were
rotten to the rear with difficulty be-
rutsc of the character of the build
Ha The blaze was confined to the
uai in The rear where it was dis.
rnNered and the lircmen did magni-
tteeHt work in preventing a more ser
pus spread. but they were compel
led to throw great quantity OF
Nlfrr This in addition tO the