Fire Damages Kinston Battery, Kinston Vulcanizing, Jackson Mattress Companies, Oct. 25, 1922

Heavy Damage From Fire in Building on Blount Street. . . Early Morning Blaze Takes Property Toll of $9,000. Defective Wire Held Responsible—Insurance Is Ample

Insurance men assessed the damage in a fire in a two-story brick building at 109-111 Blount Street early Wednesday at $9,000. The damage to the building was estimated at $4,000. Samuel Spence, proprietor of the Kinston Battery Company and the Kinston Vulcanizing Company, occupying the first floor, sustained $4,000 damage. The Jackson Mattress Company, in the upper story, in reported $1,000 damage.

The damage was fully covered, it was stated, except in the case of the mattress company. Its loss was heavy considering the capital invested. One of the proprietors is blind.

The origin of the blaze was not discovered. It was believed the fire started from a defective wire in the ceiling of the building.

Prompt response by the firemen prevented a heavier loss. The walls of the structure were not greatly damaged. The blaze was discovered at 2:10 A.M.

From the front page of the Daily Free Press, Kinston, N.C., Wednesday evening, Oct. 25, 1922