The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-12
CONFEDERATION,
$l50,000 Worth of Prop
erty Destroyed.
THE OLD ATHENEUM IN
RUINS.

PeoV b"SA'OI ehoe
sive malt house of Buttertield q Ce'i
known as the playhouse or kilns, was
discovered to be on fire. The alarm
soon brought the Fire Companies to the
spot, together with q very large croWd
of citizens. The fire had made consid-
cradle Roadway before any tiremen ap-
peared, as the combustible matter In
side was of SO inhammable nature that
that part of the building was beyond
the hope of being rescued from the de-
vouring element. The only hope now
was that the main build ing aud other
buildings contiguous thereto might be
saved. The pork and packing house of
Messrs. Handlan & Jordan was in close
promixity, which contained much in
flammable matter Also the old malt
house of George w. Smith, now being
converted into foundry, was but few
yards from the scene of the conhagra-
ton. The firemen grappled with the
seeming Herculean task, and partially
subdued the fire in the lighthouse, or
rather kept the main building and
those above mentioned from becoming
the victims of the terrible destroyer.
But human hopes are often illusory.
A fire was now discovered in the main
building. The energetic Firemen soon
subdued this as was supposed, and
when the hearts of all seemed elated
with the triumph that human perse-
verance had made, the treacherous ele-
ment, which had been at work unseen,
broke out with redoubled fury and force
in the upper story and roof of the main
building. SO furious was the fire that
all efforts now to subdue or arrest the
flames were unavailing and idle. In
less time than it takes to describe it,
the third story was enveloped in one
red glare of rolling flame. The inner
portion of the building being of very
combustible material, it ignited at the
| first touch of the hot breath of the de-
vastating monster. The spacious room--
some ninety by one hundred and thirty
feet, was one sea of lurid light. We
have heard hundreds remark that it
was the grandest and sublimest specta-
Gle they ever beheld. The floors were
piled up with enormous heaps of grain,
and as soon as the fire had, in the least,
weakened the support, they gave way
from the mountain weight that was up
on them.
In less than one hour from the time
the fire burst out in its frenzied fury in
the main building, the whole was one
mass of smouldering ruins. The heat
was so intense that it seemed to raise
the massive walls, and then they tum-
bled to the ground.
1t is the most destructive fire that
has occurred in eur city for years. In
deed, it is questionable if there ever
was one that destroyed as much prop.
erty. The sufferers are Messrs. Butter
field s. Co., Messrs. Dodson d. Bro, and
Mr.. Fairfax, our city architect.
The loss of Messrs. Butterfeld & Co.
is much the largest, as they were the
owners of the building. The building
cost, when constructed, some $4,000,
but it having been used as Bastile
during the war, people had become
preiudiced against it and would not bid
much for it. 1t was knocked off at auc
ton to Butterfeld & Co. for 800.
They afterwards purchased two lots
and put up additions to it to the
amount of some $4,000 more. They
now estimate their loss at the cost of
the property, which was, at least, some
$4,000 below its value. This would
make their actual loss about $780, 900.
On this amount they are insured to the
amount of $40, 000-about one-half be-
ing in our homo offices and the other
half in foreign Offices. This embraces
the insurance on the building and on
the stock.
Messrs. Dodson e. Bros. rented a
room in said building and carried on a
large business in grain, flour, &c. Their
loss is estimated at $4,000. On this
they are insured to the amount of SlO,-
600, in the home offices. Mr.. FairfaX's
loss is but small, compared with the
balance. He had erected a neat little
office as drafting office, adjoining the
rear of the main building on John street.
He had the good fortune to save all his
plans and specifications, and only suf-
fers the loss of the little building,
which cost him in the neighborhood of
$500.
There are some "reminiscences con-
nected with this noted building which
are deserving of passing notice. 1t
was erected many years ago by two
wealthy gentlemen and called the
Atheneum. The first story was fitted
up for business shops, while the second
was converted into most magnificent
theatre, scarcely excelled by any in the
Western country. Here the gay and
Intelligent citizens of our city often
met to hear the dramatic plays OF
the great Bard of Avon personifed.
Here was often depicted the cunning,
treacherous and demon-like character
of Iago, who plotted the ruin Of the
fair and confiding Desdemona. Here,
Macbeth and Macduff, by theatrical
"stars," fought till the Birnam woods
began to move. But times changed and
the theatre was converted into an Amer,
lean Bastile, vieing, in successful com
petition, with the dungeons of Calcutta
But now, the spot noted for those incl
dents above described is one heap OF
, ruins.
But eur synpathies are with the suf'