Salem, WV Oil Town Destroyed By Fire, Dec 1901

BUSINESS PART OF OIL TOWN BURNED.

HALF A MILLION LOSS AT SALEM, W. VA.

250 PEOPLE HOMELESS.

SEVENTY-NINE BUILDINGS WIPED OUT BY FLAMES -- RIOT FOLLOWS THE FIRE.

Salem, W. Va., Dec. 15. -- Last night fire broke out in the Express office, a weekly newspaper of this town, which has caused a loss of $500,000 and destroyed the business district of the place.
Sixty-five business houses and 25 residences were burned. Many people lived over the business houses and it is reliably estimated that at least 250 people are left homeless. It is believed no lives were lost. An appeal for aid will be sent out tomorrow. Different stories are in circulation as to how the fire started, but its origin is still a mystery.
At daylight today a "speak-easy" was erected in the burned district and by noon many drunks and fights resulted. The authorities were unable to keep order until late in the evening. The following are the heaviest losers by the fire:
Oil Well Supply, $55,000; insurance $30,000.
United States Supply company, $30,000; insurance unknown.
JOHN WILLIAMS, $25,000; no insurance.
GEORGE W. F. RANDOLPH, $15,000; no insurance.
H. H. DAVIS, $10,000; insurance $4,000.
E. A. WILSON, $10,000; insurance $800.
D. G. POWELL, $10,000; insurance $5,000.
SACHIKO Bros., $10,000; no insurance.
DR. FITTRO, $3,000; insurance $600.
Salem Express, $4,000; insurance $1,200.
R. W. KINNEY, $3,000; insurance $3,000.
Salem bank, $5,000; insured.
R. W. YOUNG, $10,000; small insurance.
Salem Drug company, $3,000.
O. D. ROHRBOUGH, $2,500; insurance $2,000.
City Building, no insurance.
A. J. WATSON, $9,000; insurance $3,000.
FORD Bros., $7,000; insurance, $5,000.
JAMES WEEDY, $3,000; insurance $1,000.
CHARLES RANDOLPH, $6,000; insurance $4,000.
DAN POMEROY, $10,000; insurance unknown.
REYMORN Brewing company, $20,000.
A number of other houses with losses ranging from $500 to $2,000.
Although the Salem bank was destroyed the directors have posted notice that the bank will be open Monday morning for business. The rebuilding of three business buildings has already been started.

The Derrick Oil City Pennsylvania 1901-12-16
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!