Smyrna times., 1934-10-25
DOINGS
OF so YEARS AGO
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them almost an exhaustive load
At this time the key to the situa-
tion was the Episcopal Chapel. AT
ter some difficulty the Friendship
was got to its rear just when ii
was ready to burst out in flames
from top to bottom. The terpen-
tine was boiling from the pine
knots, the solder of the stained
window glass was melted by the
fervent heat, and five minutes
more it would doubtless have been
wrapt in flames and if so, beyond
control, for the wells of the neigh
borhood were by this time nearly
dry. st. Peters however was saw
ed and the dreadful half hour of
suspense and visions of homes in
ashes was relieved by general
| feeling that the fire fined had been
conquered. 1t was an hour that
called for heroes, and they were
there; not all men either, but
women who not only wept but
worked, carrying and pumping
water until they were exhausted
and some knocking down and re
moving impeding fences while
muscular men were standing and
lowing at them as if the whole
were a spectacular ascent. Dur
ing the din of battle when the
cracking fire and rolling smoke
seemed to be increasing in intens-
ity and there was apparently no
hope in arresting its force, a dis
patch was sent to Wilmington for
help and two companies were
speedily at the depot. Supt Mills
who knew our situation, that
supply of water in large quantities
must come from the mill pond,
sent them back for more hose
$500 feet-but before they had re-
turned to the cars with it the dis
patch stating the fire was under
control had been received. The
stable where the fire originated
belonged to the Reese brothers
near Harrington. 1t with the
wagon shed was old, worth perhaps
S400, no insurance The contents
belonging to the Transportation
Company were worth about $3.50.
The other in the use of B. B. Allen
was built about two years ago at
a cost of $500; no insurance. Mr..
Aliens loss in provender, sleighs,
harness, etc, will be $3.50. The
building belonged to Mrs. Mary
HAZEL of Kenton Hundred. The
flakes of fire were carried a dis
tance of three hundred yards and
falling on the roof of the residence
of Charles Glenn on Cummins
Street set it on fire as it did the
roof of Miles Barrett on Union
Street near by. A spark also set
fire to the grape arbor of Willard
F. Weldon and shavings at his
shop and the litter in a
stable yard adjoining were also
fired but careful atch kept them |
from getting under headway. The |
fire as it turned out, was compar- !
atively a small one that probably ,
at any other time would have been
passed by in a brief news item, but |
the circumstances made it an occa-
sion of peril such as we rarely /
pass through. Incidents: Frank |
Pratt, who was among the prompt /
and ready ones to fight the on
flames, came near meet
ing with serious accident. There
were no ladders in the neighbor-
hood but he knew of one at Car
ter's paper store which he asked
severa who were doing nothing to
go and help him bring up; no one
followed, but he finally got there
with it himself almost exhausted.
The roof of Aliens house was ig-
hitting in two places on the lee
ward side and the ladder was not
ong enough to reach the roof. IT
vas suggested that he mount it to
,he top of the porch, pull it up and
rest the foot of the ladder on it
which was done, a bucket of water
thrown on each place when the :
adder slipped letting him fall to
he porch and then to the pave ,
nent. 1t was thought he was SER !
ously hurt and he was given I
speedy attention by Drs. Clifton {
ind Ashcraft, but fortunately no !
zones were broken and he was able
% be out the next day. Walter o. |
Ioffecker called from the top of
he house where he was standing