1907 - Fire in N. & W. Yards

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Roanoke Times - October 11, 1907

FIRE IN N. & W. YARDS

Cars Burn Near Catogni's Lumber Yard - Show Threatened

   What might have been a very disastrous fire for the Smith Shows 
occurred at 2:30 yesterday morning near Catogni's lumber yards when a 
Norfolk & Western box car was entirely consumed, a car loaded with 
lumber partly burned, and several cars of the circus badly scorched.
   The alarm was turned in at 2:20 and the department responded 
promptly. It was found that the car was on fire and only the wheels 
were saved. The flames had spread to the car of lumber and were 
attacking the circus cars when the department arrived. A stream of 
water soon stopped the fire.
   The car burned was empty and the supposition is that some hobo had 
gone in it to spend the night and either started a fire or threw a 
match in among some inflamable material which may have been in the 
car. This is the only solution offered for the origin of the fire.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link