The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-11-09

BURNING OF MoUNDsvnLE FEMALE
SEhIINARY.-The destruction of Mounds
vile Female Seminary by fire, last Sun
day. was perhaps the most serious disas-
ter of the kind which has ever occurred
in that town. A defective hue is supposed
to have been the cause, and the suppo-
sition is probably correct. The fire was
discovered in the roof, and the alarm
sounded shortly before two o'clock. A
large crowd of citizens promptly col
lected, ready to do all that could be
done to save the building or to rescue
the contents from the flames. The
young ladies boarding in the institu-
ton, about fifteen in NUMBER were of
course greatly frightened, and by their
cries OF distress added no little to the
confusion of the scene. Every occupant
of the building escaped without diff
Guilty. An effort was made to extiHguish
the fire, but as the entire roof had
caught before an adequate force ar
rived, and the wind was blowing heavily
and as but little water was to be had,
it was soon evident that the house must
60.
Meantime, strong and active men
Were at work removing the furniture,
trunks, clothing, books, everything
movable from the building. AS is
inevitable in cases of this sort, much of
the furniture was broken and otherwise
damaged in the removal, while the
clothing, books and other articles be-
longing to the inmates were scattered
in every direction, and doubtless many
valuables entirely lost.
The doors, windows, window-frames,
shutters, CRATES, mantles, and all such
portions of the property as could be re-
moved were taken cut in tolerably fair
condition. Sointent were the parties en-
gagged in this work that they tore down
the staircase leading to the second story,
before the last Of the men who had been
letting the furniture down from above
had made his descent. He succeeded III
letting himself down from window
to the ground without injury.
A barrel of carbon oil, slowed away
in the cellar was discovered when the
flames we're under full Roadway, and re-
moved to a safer locality. IL is fearful
to think of the explosion which, but for
this lucky discovery, would certainly
have occurred.
In little over one hour from the
time the alarm was given the whole
Seminary was in ashes. The shrubbery
and trees which ornamented the grounds
were not very seriously hurt. The
movables were taken to the Court
House and to neighboring dwellings,
The pupils and teachers at the institu-
ton were kindly cared for by the citi. !
zens of the place, whe with commenda-
BILE hospitality threw open their houses
for their reception.
The Seminary building was frame
structure, comparatively new and finely
finished. 1t was erected by w. Il. Old
ham, Esq, as private residence. He
disposed of it upon leaving Moundsville,
and finally it fell into the hands of Rev
erend John Woods and Mr.. S. w. Hutch
ms, who turned it into an institution of
learning. Their loss we can only esti-
mate. The building could not be re-
placed for less than $4,000, and we are
sorry to learn that there is not a dollar
of insurance upon the property.
To the town of Moundsvlle this fire
is very serious disaster. The Semi |
nary was rapidly becoming source of
pride to the citizens, and was attract
ing to the place considerable amount
of patronage from persons having chill
dren to educate. Then there were many
young ladies of the town being educated
at this institution, whose parents for
various reasons will not be able to send
them abroad to other schools. We have
not heard whether it is the intention of
the proprietors to rebuild. Indeed on
Sunday both were absent upon profes.
sional engagements, and, it may be, the
sad tidings have not yet reached them.
They have the sympathy of the entire
community in their misfortune.
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