The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-11
ORPHAN FESTIVAL,
DEsTRrcrrvE FIsR a AlAR41xgvII.IE

OMo-OpeT Forty thousand DoLLdE9'
Worth al Property DssAn0ged--At III
teen minnies 10 Y O'Clock on Frlday
night the extensive Agricultural 1mpIe-
m=ot Factory OF AessTs. STarfZ q Sons.
OF our neighboTing town Of Martins
willie, Eas discovered 10 be on IRE The
intense Light Al 6rsf led 70 the conclu-
zion that some one Of the large manu-
fsetnripg establishments in 1be north
ern part Of the city Was being consuD-
ed. The IRE bells we're sounded and
the streets WERE soon alive with engines
and 6remen rushing 70 the supposed
scene Of CONGREGATION. On discover
ing That the fire WIS across the river, the
dremen determined If possible TO rem
der assistance 10 their neighbors IN
As soon ~ they reached the 1erTy land
ing some Of the dremeu crossed the
river ia skid, and as soon As practiea-
bic had steam up on the ferry bOaL-
The Hope 10 engines were then
taken over, and, although 100
works. In very few moments
we're throwing two or three powerful
stresms on the IRE IN that part Of the
building occupied BY the ONCE, with
the view Of e6abling WOrkDen 70 Sc
care the safe and lis contents. Their
Efforts we're suceessful, and the safe,
containing si1huDdre1 dollars in money
and ali The books and valuable papers
OF the drn WIS drawn from its beEg
bed uniniursd. On Saturday our re-
porter visited the scene Of coDhsgratioD
and found the destruction LnOsI com
piete. In conversation with Mr.. STartz
be learned that the origin Of the IRE
cauDot be accounted for, Il having been
6rst discovered IN The south end Of the
works where no hrE had been used all
the day presiding He seemed Fsry
10th 70 bslieTe that Il Was the work Of
an jneendiArx. as he is not aUare Of
having an enemy IN the world. al.
though many Of the citizens Of the town
freely express their conviction that such
was the origin Of the fire.
a lady residing directly opposite the
works Is satisfied that a short time be-
fore the Ere Was discovered she heard
something like a slight explosion. She
got mp and looked ont but Saw no IRE,
bat heard some conversation near the
building. She had scarcely laid down
again when she discovered the light of
the commencing couhsgration, aud
rising,gaTe The alarm. So rapidly did
the flames spread that IN less than five
minutes the whole interior was seeth-
ing mass Of hre, and by the time any
available number Of persons arrived on
the spot there was not the shadow OF a
possibility that any portion of the
building OF It's contents could be
saved The building contained twenty
three .ThrezbiDg Machines, ten Clean
ers and thirteen ThreShens complete and
ready for shipment, and worth about
nine thousand dollars; there were also
= number Of others in process OF con-
struetion- Besides these, there were a
large number OF every variety Of agri-
cultural implements, 80 thai putting
the lowest estimate Of value upon the
buildings and their contents as they
stood Friday evening, the loss foots up
1oFiy-twothOusandd dollars; upon which I
=
These were the most extensive works
Of the kind In Eastern Ohio, and from a
small beginning had reached their final
proportions. through patient industry
and the ftr1ctest attention TO superiority
Of workmanship upon all articles
Of their maehines and other mauuiac-
tures wHs unsurpassed by any in the
country. The destruction Of these
works Is a public loss rs well as a
severe private calamity. A large num-
Der OF workIDen are thrown out of
employment and have lost all their
tools, and the general interests of the
place has suffered serious disaster. |
The sons OF Mr.. SwartZ had but recent l
y purchased the interest Of Mr.. Albert |
Rice, who was for many years the part
ner Of the elder SWartz, which purchase |
had absorbed the largest proportion Of |
their means the loss, therefore, falls |
with peculiar severity upon these young |
men.
Ths Alessrs. swartz have the heartfelt
sympathy Of the whole community,
and it Il 10 Be hoped that they will Be
enabled 70 commence the reeonstruc-
tIOn Of their works at an early day.
3fE. SWartz IL OF opinion that not
withdrawing his safe was Of the best
quality, II could not, under the terrible
heat 70 which II WIS subjected, have
prevented the books, money and papers
y contained from destruction, except
for The aid Of the iremeD, and he de-
sires 20 express his deepest gratitude TO
one and ali OF the Wheeling Gnenlen
who % nobly did All in their power 10
alleviate his disaster.