The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-08-12
Minor Fires This Year
.Contrasted With Other
Previous "BIazes"
Summers Toll Minor;
Mostly Vehicle Calls,
Easily ~Extinguished

Faulty wiring is the cause of the
large number of vehicle fires re-
ported this summer, according to
w. A. Rathell, fire chief. Approx
mately eight out of 10 fire calls
have been truck or automobile con
flagrations, frequently extinguished
before arrival of the engine. Such
was not the case in the fires Of
the older Lexington, when such
things as fire engines did not exist.
The largest fire in the city within
the past year was that of the Elite
cafe last winter, when the entire
brick building was Quilted. This
years accidental burnings have
been average in number, in compa-
rison to those of other recent years,
with the exception of the vehicle
fires. According to Fire Chief Ra-
thell, the nearest thing to a 'ehouse
fire. within the city was on April
2 when a Negro cabin behind the
home of Mrs. w. H. Sharp, was de-
stroyed by flames.
More recent was the burning Of
two houses by a Negro on the Pah-
len Estate; the residence of the
Walter Trigleths in the Coxburs
community, both of which occurred
in July; the demolishing by fire of
a barn belonging to E. w. Waldrup
in April.
Fires Of Long Ago
Fires in the years past include
the Great fire" of 1898 when the
old Courthouse and all its records
were destroyed; the demolishing by
fire of the entire southside of the
Courthouse Square in the early
l9O0s during which the flames
spread to Shaddock : Kimbrough's
and Watt McCain's general store,
destroying all. According to re-
membranes of old residents, the
burning of the old Masonic hall, of
"Terrystone," lovely mansion which
long ago served as a Girls school,
OF S~ergeant's hall, exclusive dance
place, were major fires of the older
Other burnings included the up-
per story of the H. w. Watson resi-.
dence, and later-in 1942-the de-
stroying of the home occupied by
MRS. Fannie Lumpkin and Mrs.
Money, by fire. None of the
carrier ones were accompanied by
organized e-fighting methods.
Many of them were of unknown
sources. This has not been the case
IN the more recent fires when the
Lexington Fire department has
served a major figure in extinguish-
ing the blazes. as well as in their
prevention.
"Terrystone" Fire Related
In the days of kerosene
lamps and water brigades, flames
could easily take hold and destroy
a place. In relating the incident Of
the "Terrystone" fire, in Septem.
Der, 1914, Miss Minnie Jordan, who
was l of several persons living in the
one-tlme girls school, then a con-.
verted-dwelling, said that the resi-
dents were awakened about 2 a. m.
n that she distinctly remembers
the late Jeff Weeks, former circuit
clerk getting lost in the upstairs
part OF the building that was a.
lame. Of unknown source, the fire
completely destroyed the upper
story of the mansion which stood
at what is the Morris Lewis location
today.
mi
These larger fires were in direct
contrast to the less disastrous blaze
OF today in the town. Last Saturday,
the fire engine was called to a
grass fire in the back yard of the
K. K. Derrick home, which was ex-
tlnguished by the firemen. Within
the past week, also, Mr.. Rathell
was called to a burning pickup in
front OF the H. L. Nichols residence.
The owner was not known. and the
fire was out upon arrival of the en-
CINE.
All considered, this years fire toll
has hoop low