The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-21
{ FIREIN- CHARLESTON.
The BURNING or the Journal Office
Foil Particulars OF the Fire.

Ene Rurntng or the Journal Office
Fnii Particulars OF the Fire.
From the Charleston Courier, l5th.l
Atabout three o'clock A. NJ. yester>
day fire was discovered by a night
Waterman in the room occupied by
Baines Il Ewing. dealers in books,
periodicals, stationery, ETC., which is
situated on the north corner OF Sum.
mers and Kanawha streets, at the lowe
end of Levee Square. The alarm was
Immediately given. and shortly after
the steam fire engine was in action at
the scene of the fire The ringing OF
the Court House bell soon brought to-
gether a large and excited crowd of
citizens, who during the progress Of the
confagration are said to have afforded
valuable assistance to the fire DEPART
ment and owners Of property that was
being consumed by the fire.
THE FLAMES
ran fiereely and were only subdued after
au hour and half consumed by vigor
Gus and hearty work. The engine got
out of order and burst section of hose,
after playing a few minutes upon the
burning structure, and occasoned an
agonizing delay Of some time before it
was again put to work. In this emer-
gency little garden hand engine under
the direction Of Mr.. Charles Ward, and
owned by the Gas Company, did inval-
liable service and undoubtedly saved
the city, as the fire was held in check,
or at least prevented from spreading.
by it, while the larger engine was being
adjusted. Had the fire been commu
nicated across Summers street, mer-
ciful God might have helped the unfor-
tunate; no human agency at our dis
posal could have checked the confla-
grafton
The stock of Baines e Ewing was
entirely destroyed. The
JOURNAL" OFFICE,
including type, presses, and other APP
purtenances OF printing Office, WAS
also wholly consumed or damaged so
much as to be Of no account for print
ing purposes. The building in which
the fire occurred was two story lex
elusive of basement) brick, the front
portion of which, on the first floor, was
occupied by Baines Il Ewing, and the
back portion of the first floor and the
whole of the upper story and basement
by Gibbons, Atkinson & Co., proprie-
tors of the Journal. This house was
owned by Joseph Shields, Alvaro F.
Gibbons. editor of the Journal, Samuel
s. aud E. T. Moore.
INSURANCE.
Paines & Ewing and Gibbons. Atkin.
son Il Co. were insured in the Home OF
Columbus each for $500 Both firms,
however, will lose considerably in ex-
cess of this sum. The owners Of the
buildings were also insured tor S2OOOin
the State Company Of Petersburg.
The loss on the building is estimated al
$1,000.
Col T. f. Chambers, matchmaker
and jeweler and dealer in clocks, sill
verware, etc, in the Herald building,
next to the Journal building, lost be-
tween $500 and $1,000 in removing his
goods, thefts, breakage and welting by
the engines. His stock is insured in
the State at P ,rkershurg for $1,000 and
in the National OF Wheeling for $500,
so that he ia safe.
Mr.. Shields, owner Of the Herald
building, sustained damages from the
fire upon his house that will amount to
a considerable sum. He was also in
sured for $4,000 in the Andes andFire and
Marine. Mr.. Shields, the agent of these
companies, is making arrangements Tor
a prompt adjustment OF the losses.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The origin OF the fire is matter OF
speculation, as nothing definite is
known concerning it Mr. Ewing
thinks that a burning cigar might have
been carelessly thrown down a coal
hatch, and the fire thus communicated
to lot of waste paper from the book
store and printing office, which was
near the opening. He let the store
about IL o'clock, and locked the door as
usual, being particular to try it after
turning the KEY, and when tie fire was
discovered, some firemen say that upon
beginning to force the door open they
found it unlocked. This fact also al
fords an opening for speculation as to
Il l.nrx al fha fire