Williamsport, Maryland Fire
March 26, 1882
Fire at Williamsport Three Houses
Destroyed. Our neighboring town of
Williamsport was on Sunday last the scene of
another destructive fire. About half-past three
in the afternoon a fire broke out in a two-story
log house on Potomac street, owned and occupied
by a lady named Besore.
The alarm was promptly given and the citizens
turned out en masse, but the town being without
any fire apparatus, the house of highly
combustible material, and a heavy south wind
blowing at the time the progress of the flames
were soon beyond control. Fire speedily
communicated to the building of
John Montgomery
on the west and John
Barry on the east. The frame house on
the opposite side of the street occupied by
Isaac Dodd, as
well as the house owned and occupied by Frank
Newcomer, on the west and adjoining the
Montgomery building, also took fire, but by the
exertion of the citizens both houses were saved
with slight damage. The origin of the fire in
not certainly known, but it is supposed to have
originated from a defective chimney and was
first discovered in the roof of the
Besore
building. The houses destroyed were occupied by
six families, Mrs.
Jacob Besore, Joseph, Thomas and Lee Montgomery,
Mrs. Meads and Rachael Poffenberger.
Mrs. Adam Long
moved out of the Barry
building on Saturday and so escaped
the fire. These families, all in moderate
circumstances, lost nearly all their furniture
and personal effects and the loss will be
severely felt by them.
Mr. Barry had an insurance of $500 on
his building, with
Armstrong & Bitner, insurance agents
of this town, but the other two were not
insured. The total loss will probably amount to
$2,500.
During the progress of the fire two men
Mr. Jack Long
and Mr. John Wilson
were hurt by falling bricks from a chimney.
Mr. Longs [sic] injuries are quite serious, but
at last accounts he was doing well.
The Herald and Torch Light, Hagerstown, MD
29 Mar 1882
Transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
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