Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-07-28

joins the rear building of the Lip
sic group, from destruction. Lines
Of hose We're taken TO the rear,
over the front. from Martin street
and through the American Restau-
rant. and the buildings adjoining
the Lipsic rear building, which was
quickly seen to be practically lost,
were guarded carefully.
The Lipsic loss is practically COM
plete. A stock so ruined has seldom
been seen here. A big cash register
in the rear store was ruined. an
other one on 'front.' counter was
badly damaged. Fixtures were burn
ed to the floor The files of the pro-
pretor were burned, although it
was said this morning by some OF
his staff that his accounts and
most of the valuable papers were
in the safe which was not damag-
ed Mrs. Dorothy Lipsic had taken
the cash from yesterdays business
as was her custom, with her to
their home over the store last
night In their home practically
nothing remains. Furniture In the
rear rooms, ae we'll as the clothing
of all the members OF the two fam
lilies, was lost except Just what
they managed to grab In fIasty
flight from the flames. The front
rooms of the building were not de-
stroyed and the furniture In them
was comparatively saved. The la
dies went to the homes OF friends
for the time being, and all were
awaiting anxiously the return this
evening of Mr.. Lpsic before they
could determine what to do for
new home. All of them were seri-
ously upset by the experience.
There was no fire In the Thomp-
son and Thompson store but the
firemen found 1t necessary to use
water literally In and on the build
ing to avert the danger, and In the
preventative measures the stock,
from front to back, was soaked
and smoked. The tailoring estab-
lishment operated in connection
with the store was burned out COM
pletely.
The chairs and much OF the
equipment in the barber shop was
moved by the proprietor and his
assistants when the fire threatened
to take the building and aside
from the smoke and water on the
equipment the shop was not MAJ
terially damaged. The equipment
was returned as soon as the fire
was put under control and the
shop was open for business as us
uol this morning.
In the Worthing store the water
did the chief damage, flooding the
cellar, and dripping on the tables
and fixtures. especially in the rear
OF the store. The building is own
ed by ". A. Wyatt.
Brick walls of the building ad-
joining the Lipsic and Essex build
ings helped in saving them from
the flames, together with the vigil
ant work OF the fremen.
Considerable concern was shown
early in the confagration regard
ing the whereabouts of the family,
but It was soon established that
they had escaped Miss Sarah Lip.
sic, it was said by some who were
on the scene early, showed special
anxiety about the furniture and
other effects and made several eff
forts to return to the building to
rescue what she could; but friends
kept her from exposing herself to
the danger. Mrs. 3. Lipsic, some
what slower in dressing. had to BE-
assisted IN getting out by Mrs.
Louis Lipsic.
Draws Big Crowd
The sound of the siren drew q
big crowd of spectators this morn
ing, despite the early hour. The
police found it necessary to set up
a fire zone after the crowd became
so large but the ropes did not have
much effect in keeping the people
back. Tho volunteer fremen re-
sponded promptly to the general
alarm and assisted materially the
fire department in getting the blaze
under control.
Hose Company No. SIS big truck,
answering the alarm, ran into an
accident this morning before II
could reach the scene. The driver,
William Anderson, as he approach
ed the corner OF Race and Queen,
misinterpreted a signal from fire.
man outpost and tried to turn the
corner at Race while travelling at
considerable speed up the hill;
and in his effort the truck drove up
on the concrete pavement at the
southwest corner and one Of the
wheels rolled on it for some twenty
five or more feet, the wheel, the
left front one. crumbling as the,
truck jumped down from the pave.
ment. The truck had to be aband-
oned there, the equipment being
taken off and carried to the fire in
the next block. The signal had been
for the truck to make a connection
at the water plug in front of the
Washington Hotel.
Homer Keesecker. a workman
with the Potomac Light and Pow
err Company, while working with a
temporary service connection at
the fire this morning, was shock
ed and for time was put out Of
commission.
Eight years ago tonight. July %,
the Owens livery stable and con-
tents were burned in the heart of
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