Carteret News-Times,
February 1, 1952
(Historic Carteret County Photographs: legeros.com - courtesy Jesse Chaplain)
Raging $100,000 Fire Razes
Three Beaufort Stores
Fireman Battle Blaze For
Four Hours
A $100,000 fire gutted three stores in the
heart of Beaufort’s business section yesterday morning. Firemen from five
municipal fire stations battled the blaze from 10 a.m. until mid-afternoon.
Flames were reported under control at 1:15 p.m. but at that point Eastern
Rulane, Downum’s 5 and 10, and Downum’s department store were shambles.
Damages were expected to go far beyond the
$100,000 mark as acrid smoke and penetrating fumes seeped from store to store
on the north side of Front Street, the damaging vapors flanking out east and
west from the holocaust.
The blaze was caused by an explosion in
the rear of Eastern Rulane. A workman, Charles Hudgins, was transferring gas
from a small cylinder to a larger one. The fumes came in contact with an
open-flame gas heater and the fire leapt up, burning Jack Crawford, Eastern
Rulane manager, who was standing nearby. He was admitted later to Morehead City
hospital for treatment of first and second degree burns on his face and hands.
Hudgins escaped unhurt. Dr. John Way, who treated Crawford, reported his
condition as satisfactory yesterday afternoon.
Half and hour after the alarm, box 16 at
Front and Turner, was sounded, the Morehead City fire department was called,
Newport, Cherry Point and New Bern fire trucks later turned up on the scent.
Newport and New Bern to stand by at the Beaufort fire station.
Hundreds of spectators, who jammed the
south side of Front Street, were scattered periodically by explosions and
clouds of yellow smoke that blanketed the business section.
Fumes
Penetrate
The dense fumes caused choking, coughing,
and tear-filled eyes. Persons rushed from the vicinity of the fire, only to
return in a short time, to watch the valiant efforts of Beaufort firemen who
were scaling ladders and maneuvering over the roof-tops to pour water on the
flames.
A light wind from the north
carried smoke out over Beaufort Inlet. Spectators milled around the rear of the
stores, able to get a clearer view because the dense fumes were being whirled
in the opposite direction.
Fire hoses snaked the ground
behind the stores and lined Front Street from Turner to Craven. Two Beaufort
pumpers were gulping salt water from Taylor’s Creek at the Esso dock and the
third was pumping fresh water from Craven and Turner.
Salt Water Used
Cherry Point pumper, at the
Sinclair dock, was pumping salt water to fight the blaze, while Morehead City
firemen on Turner Street in front of the Davis House were pumping fresh water
at 750 gallons a minute.
Front Street gutters ran full
as the water squelched blazing timbers and rushed outward again into the
street. Black billows of smoke poofed upward, to be followed by smaller,
strangling clouds of angry fumes.
Employees in Downum stores
evacuated the buildings several minutes following the Rulane explosion. Eastman
employees later left the building as did personnel in Herring’s radio and
ready-to-wear shop.
Eastman’s side walls were
fireproof and an air space of 12 inches separated Downum’s department store
from Herrings. Smoke damage, however, was reported in the radio and clothing
shop. Hal Potter, owner of the two Downum buildings, was partially covered by
insurance. It would not be learned whether the Rulane building, owned by Mrs.
Rosa D. Chadwick, was covered.
Fronts Dangerous
The fronts of all three
buildings were declared in dangerous condition and that section of the street
was roped off to protect passersby, should the walls collapse.
At 1:45 p.m. Beaufort and
Morehead City pumpers were still in operation, but New Bern, Cherry Point, and
Newport firemen were lined up at Holden’s restaurant for chow.
Every Beaufort fireman in the
vicinity turned out. Morehead City firemen on the job were Clyde Willis, John
Parker, Lindsey Guthrie, Dr. John Morris, George Stovall, Harry Burns, Charles
Guthrie, Mack Edwards, Walter Smith, Alex Roberts, Chief Grady Bell, Assistant
Chief El Nelson, and Norman Canfield.
Beaufort police officers
Maxwell Wade, Carlton Garner and Bertie Clyde Piner were directing traffic, as
was Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ayscue.
This fire was one that has
been predicted in Beaufort for many years. The fear expressed was that a strong
wind from any direction would cause destruction of the entire business section.
Yesterday was a snappy day, the sun bright, and the wind, fortunately light. At
noon, it practically eased to no wind at all.
