The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-05-18

Especial Dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer.I
DAYTON, May 16, 1869
Turner's Opera House, one of the finest
institutions of the kind in the West,
was erected and completed in this city
in 1866, at a cost of nearly $3.50, 900.
Tonight it is a mass OF ruins, and the
fire which destroyed it was the most
disastrous that ever visited the city of
Dayton.
Between one and two o'clock this
morning fire was discovered in the third
story of the Opera building, on the cor
ner of Main aud First streets, in the
neighborhoOd of the green-room. An
alarm was at once sounded, and the en-
tire Fire Department of the city, con-
Sistiug of three steam engines, was
summoned to the scene; but before they
could get TO work the fire had made
such progress in the upper portion OF
the building that it was entirely beyond
control.
At the time a strong and steady wind
was blowing from the west, and soon
the fire was communicated to the recti-
flying establishment of W. P. Ayres &
Co., adjoining the Opera building on
the east, and thence to the elegant pri.
vate residences of Jacob Schwab, Joel
Estabrook and Augustus Kuhn's, which
were partially destroyed, portion OF
the furniture and Valuables only being
saved. The residence of Mr.. Charles
Harris, standing in the track of the
coutiagratiop, was the only one saved
on that side of the square, from Main to
Jefferson. The outbuildings attached
TO all these premises were destroyed,
and the saving of Mr.. Harris mansion
from the common ruin was a miracle.
When the conflagratiou reached its
greatest height, the scene was appalling
IN the extreme, aud the light from the
ourniugamass Illuminated the city and
country for miles in every direction.
The general impression is that the fire
was the work of an incendiary, as no
plausible reason can be given OF its ori-
gin. OF the Opera building nothing is
LETT standing save the splendid ornate
front which remains almost entire.
Ine greater portion Of the walls of the
other buildings are standing intact.
Inc supply of water at a critical period
gave out, and the engines were unable
TO werk long before the Opera building
was destroyed; had there been an abun.
dant supply it is more than probable
that some of the adjoining buildings
would have been saved. In addition to
the buildings burned as above named,
a large building owned by VI. Dinner,
and occupied by himself as a furniture
wareroom and by H. Sandmeier & Bro,
grocers, was also consumed.
Loss OF LIFE.
In an effort to save a portion of the
property IN this building H. Sandmeier
lost his life. While engaged at his work
portion Of wall fell upon him. and
before assistance could reach him anotb-
er crash came, and he was buried he.
meath the ruins. When taken ont. abont
eight o'clock this morning, his BODY was
found 10 be burned and mutilatei in ,
most horrible manner. His family were
present at the time of the disaster. and
this fact added additional horror to the
heart-rending scene.
Among those seriously hurt in their
endeavors to save the destruction OF
property and goods was Patrick Owley
and Patrick Garrety. A number Of
others were slightly burned or hurt
The Opera building was owned by J. NJ
4 w. Turner, ard was held by them al