The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-04
DISASTROUS FIRE!

Conflicting Reports about the
Origin Of the Fire, &C., &c.
Yesterday afternoon, shortly aler three
O'Clock, an alarm Of fire was sounded
from the Vigilant engine house in North
Wheeling. 1t was quickly taken up by
the bells on the other engine houses, and
in a few minutes spread throughout the
entire city. A column Of black smoke
was seen rising over the hill north Of Mt.
Wood, and the report soon gained wide.
spread circulation that the "TOp Mill"
or Wheeling Iron Works, were on fire.
On every street leading in that direction
crowds Of people rushed along the pave
ments, while large numbers climbed the
hill easlof the city and pressed on through
the cemetery, over the rayine just beyond
it, and assembled the eminenCe overlook
ing the mill. The street cars were liter.
ally packed with persons eager to get to
the scene OF the fire For many years
there has not been so general IN excite.
ment In this city as prevailed yesterday.
Even ladies, 10 the number Of hundreds,
made their way through the heat and
dust 70 witness the destruction Of one Of
our largest manufacturing establishments
The buildings covering the machinery,
the office, carpenter shop and several
other structures, being entirely Of wood,
II was the work OF but 10 few minutes
10 reduce the whole 10 ashes, The Fire
Department was not on tho ground
promptly, although the alarm was given
when the flames were discovered, or rs
Soon thereafter as 1t was possible to con-
vey the information to the engine house
nearest the works. There was consider
able delay,we were told, in getting one or
more Of the engines out Of their houses,
on account Of the Worthlessness Of the
horses, and we take occasion just here to
call the attention Of the authorities TO
this fact. We heard II mentioned several
times yesterday, and unless horses can be
had that may be relied upon in such em-
ergeicles, We had better go back 70 the
old hand engines. Men under similar
circumstances used to, and would again,
"run with the machine" and work ener-
getlcally in endeavoring TO exLinguish
fire. This was pretty generally and en-
phatiCalIy expressed by the crowd, yes
terday afternoon.
Then, too, we heard complaint Of the
condition in which some Of the engines
reached the ground. None were ready
we were told, to throw water on their ar
rival-one at least had toundergO the
process of being readIusted in some of Its
parts before 1t could be efficient, We
must say, however, that the Department
after reaching the ground, did as well as
could be expected under the circum-
stances. There arc no fire plugs In that
vicinity and water had TO be taken direct
ly from the river. To force this through
several hundred feet Of hose up tho sLeCD
bank was no easy task. Yet notwlth'
standing those difficulties tho nremcn
worked with will for several hours, and
did all that was possible to prevent the
fire from, extending TO contiguous
buildings, as well as 10 extinguish the
flames bursting out occasionally among
the fallen timbers Of the mill.
Tho loss sustained by this destructive
fire cannot, at the present writing, be def.
nitely stated. We were informed by one
who had good opportunity to know, that
the property was worth 100000, and that
there was insurance on II amounting to
$4,000. There were about 5000 kegs oil
nails on hand, upon which there were
policies aggregating $4,000. cof the
amount insured each Of The Companies in
this city, except the German, had a risk
OF 5000; the Andes, of Cincinnati, $l0,.
900; the Continental of New York, like
sum. The balance Of the whole sum In.
sured was held. by companies in Pitts
burgh and New York. Our informant
could not give US names or amounts. De.
sides the losses above stated, about three
hundred men are thrown out Of employ.
ment, which will seriously affect the bust.
ness Of the entire northern part Or the
city. 49,.
As TO the origin Of the fire, there were
several reports. One had II that three
men were seen coming out oil the base.
ment of the factory, (wherc the flames
were first discovered) and sat down a
short distance from the works. After re.
naming there lew minutes they got up
and walked away deliberately They
had scarcely disappeared when the watch.
man on duty noticed the flames and gave
the alarm. ~
Perhaps the true theory Is that the
fire resulted from sponta neous combus.
ton. In the basement mentioned there
was On apartment in which the cotton
waste used in cleaning the nail machines
was thrown This being completely sat
urated with oil made precisely the condi.
tlons supposed to produce spontaneous
combustion; but we had rather attrsbute
the disaster to natural causes than to
human agency. .l .lfa.#
When we LEFT the ground, the safe had
not been opened. 1t was believed, how
ever, that its contents were intact, as II
was of the best fire proof make, and had