Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-11-04
FIRnII PIRnIII
WALKER AND coNNEL's BLOCK IN RUINS!
AND ALSO THE MASONIC nALLn
Damages sl5,o 900.


About 81 O'Clock this morning, the alarm of fire
unceremoniuusy aroused hundreds of our citizens
from their Slumbering couches. The FIRE was dis
covered TO be in the hall separating Mcintosh, dc
ColioGFh u Co.'s Exchange office from X. ID.
Cooper's grocery; but before any amount of assis
lance could he procured, the flames had assembled
to the second and third stories, and in few mini
uteS the entire block, fronting the river, was wrap
ped i'll one vast sheet of the devouring element.
Itnext communicated to that portion OF the block
fronting Main street, i'll which was Walkers Drug
Store, and also to the dwelling knows as the "Cat
lett property" and as it was impossible to arrest
the progress of the flames at.this stnge of the fire,
the whole presented one grand conhOgraton-anu
was given up as lost!
BY this time fears were entertained that the sur
rounding buildings-beIng mostly of wood-would
also be consumed, and energetic measures were
put forth to stay the progress; fortunately though
at the risk oil life and property, about daylight the
flames were SO much subdued as 10 render any
further outbreak aim ,St impossible.
In the general confusion most of our citizens re-
moved their household goods and had them conSd-
e:ably damaged-amounting in one or two IN
stances, 10 almoSta totalloSS.
The grocery aud dry good store of Mr.. VIM.
Smith was completely gutted-goudS, shelving
and counters thrown into the street in one
mass of confusion and utter disorder; and also
the goods and fixtures of NJ. p. OSter, baker.
were equally destroyed by similar rashueSS.
In tile block destroyed, was Riggs Grocery and
ale saloon-nearly all total losS-a perfect
'Main Law triumph" so far as the destruction
ofmalt liquors were concerned. Such articles
were in the cellar, were all destroyed but few
of those on the first floor were saved.
Next-McIntosh and McCullough's Exchange
Office also used the railroad ticket Office all
saved but a few articles OF furniture. Books, safe
and Othervaluables were rescued from the flames.
NeXt-Coopers Grocery. He was about reno
wing from Wellsville, and had his entire stock
packed up. All, however, was lost. This room
also contained the entire fixtures of the Telegraph
,iaI,
Next-a room on Lisbon street, occupied by D.
& D. McDona d as a temporary business house.
All lost except book. and safe.
Next, wasN N. U. Walkers drug Store-of more
value than all the rest,-a complete mass of
smouGerng ruins-with the exception of few
hundred dollars worth ofdrugs-considerably dam
aged.
In the upper room of the block colnering on Lis
bon and Water streets, was situated the Masonic
Hall; and the fire is supposed to have originated
at the foot of the Steps leading to the Hall, not
particle ofMuSonic Property was saved. This loss
may be considered as great as any other depart
ment of The building, as the order have but recently
fitted up the Blue Lodge and established Royal
Arch Chorter. The furniture, Masonic carpet,
&c. were consumed. Loss not less than l,0O0
The above, Eve believe, comprises tie entire
loss, with the exception Of the deruction oil
household property in removing, and large
quanity OF salt used 10 prevent the fire from COM
municating to the roofs of the adjacent buildings;
must not suffer this paragraph to close, without
co plimenting a numberof our citizens for their
untiring eforSto Subdue the flames, and desperate
the course of those who look on as idle spectators
Men who will stand by with folded arms, and
witness The destruction of their neighbours property
without laying helping hand, are unworthy the
name and confidence Of citizens.
In this hour of trial, as well as all others, the
sympathetic feeling of the female portion of our
community were aroused, and most nobly did they
ply their hands IN the removal of property and
carrying water from the wells md river. Indeed
woman was worth half dozen men' was the
common remark by all around.
IJIhe breaking of the leg and arm of Mr.. James
Maylone, in the removal of a safe from the ruins
is much 10 be regretted
GTThe buildings and principal portion of the
goods destroyed were partly ensured.