The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-02
Damage Estimated al
$4,000; Cold Weather
FINDERS Firemen
RESIDENCE IS Saved 4
knights of Pythias Build
ing Swept by Flames;
One Injured


In zero weather last evening the
citizens of Rivesville fought IN.
effectively against a fire that de-
stroyed a four room cottage aud
throo etorS business block belong,
ing of the Knights Of Pythlas. THE
switchboard belonging TO tho Amos
telephone company located ia the
dwelling wOa carly mt out OF com.
mission but due to some unexpects
cd delay the Tairmont fire depart.
mont was not called for an hour
after the firo started. Tho dlrec-
ton Of the wind aud the heroic efs
forts of the bucket brigade were all
that saved tho residence Of jeff
Tarsous. almost adjoining the.
larger structure. One man. pomiu-
eek Cavaleria, was injured, al,
Thought 1t lslbelloyed not serious
ly. Tho total iosa was estimated az
better than 100000 with only $4,000.
insurance. '9i3 +,
The fire started in the dwelling
occupied by j. v Williams which
stood to the west and directly IN
the rear OF the larGoT structure,
about $3.50 last night aud local fac
ilitics wero called upon 10 figbt
the flames until It was seen that!
tho fro must be communicated to
the larger buildings. Or. Ballard
was then sent to Fairmont hi Her
bert Smiths automobile to ask aid
trom'tha Fairmontsd department. The
FaIrmont firemep arrived upon tire.
scene st-s:4S abut, coujd do no lssofa,
thbn keep tho flames Ghder contsotS
The larger building was occupied
by r. NJ. Morrill's store and an
apartment on tho first floor,
swisheT & HUNS motion picture
theatre, an apartment and a lodge
dining room on the second floor.
while tho upper floor was used By
seven different lodges. Merrill was
perhaps the heaviest single loser,
estimating his loss last night at
$4,000. He held no insurance havz
Ing recently allowed It to expire on
the account Of tho picture theatre
causing such high ratio to be ask.
ed for the rest OF The building. I
". Williams estimates HIS loss at
$500, all household Foods, Hersciiel,
Arnetes loss consisted almost en-.
tiTely OF broken furniture ana
burned clothing and could not bs
ascertaIred. Tho lodge lost a S45a5
piano as did Swlsher and Haun.
One disngreenble feature Of tho
fire was the proscnce OF n, great
many petty thieves, who stuffed
their pockets with anything that
could be picked up. Two foreigners
wore knocked down while N TIE
act of stealing goods, ono Of them
losing his front teeth when Chas
Knight struck him as he tried tii
escape with some things he Ind
stolen. ]. J. Porterfield struck AMI
other foreigner when he attempt u
70, loot the case containing watches
and jewelry belonging to r. NJ. /.
Merrill. After all their care tf4S
case could not be found last night
and 1t was supposed that II had
been stolen. The contents were
valued at $500. Other foreigners
CAME in boats and attempted to re-
move goods from their bank but
were driven off. A Gordon Of guards
was thrown around tae salyagedf
goods and watched throughout the
niGht to keep off thieves,
In statement made at nine
O'clock last night, Mn. Williams
said that the fire started Ia a bod
room adjoining tho lsitchen. IA
chicken was on the kitchen stove
cooking, she said. and the entirc
family wsra in a front room when.
tho fire started. Mrs. williams
went into tho kitchen to see u the
chicken was done and saw smoke
coming from the bedroom door,
which was open She seized Is
bucket OF water and dashed the
contents into the room, but
flames poured ont into her face aiti
she was compelled TO retreat ist6
the sitting room. Mrs. Williams
emphat!cally denied that there wa
fro in this room. Nothing but tho
clothes worn by the family VA
saved.
Domineck cayalera, one sof tlia
volunteer ftremen. got too Iear tte
firc and Inhaled some Of the iSlilss 3
Besides burning his face. iE Is no
known Just how seriously he VA
injured. He wns resting in hir
home late last night
C. c. Arnett carried ont Tho deal.
with which the knights IL Ps ,hias
were Instituted neaflq e6 years
ago The desk cont lfed papcrs OF
value to the lodge Il e though
that al the iodses aved their h
nanciai irecosfs
\, Glyde Sulir pfe Of the Faltnon
ftrenien, rece iyed rough reatlncul
at tie hand tono Of tho volunteoc
!ftreperf CLYDE stuck his held dut
iiof window n the burnlrt huifdlns
to look The situation over. rhcn
gone darhod d bucket of |It-|
Auef a uerc .f1I.I