The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-27
From the Pittsburgh Chronicle.l
SOUTH SIDE FIRE.
American Iron Works Partially De-
strOyed.

I
stroyed.
Between eight and nine o'clock on
Saturday night, fire broke out in the
American Iron Works OF Jones q
Laughlln, Brownstown, and in about
one hour the foundry, pattern shop
new mill, spike factory, carpenter shop
and brass foundry connected with the
works were a smouldering mass Of
ruins. The fire broke out at heating
furnace No. ,, which was worked by
Henry Shubberd. The Fire Depart
ment on the South Side was early on
the ground, and endeavored, but in
vain, to stay the progress OF the flames
None of the tenement houses were
burned, but the occupants OF those IN
the vicinity Of the burned district, the
southern portion OF the site. moved out
rather hastily, pitching their goods into
the street, and hurrying women and
children into the mud and rain, without
assisting for a moment in the efforts to
check the flames.
The new mill in which the fire origi.
mated was erected about eight years ago,
on the line of the river. The structure
was about l50x4O0 feet, and 80 feet in
height, and was used in the manufac,
ture of sheet and merchant iron. The
building contained fourteen heating
furnaces, five trains of rolls, two sheet
and four merchant iron mills. One
line of new and improved shafting ran
through the building, near the roof, and
was run BY new and improved en-
CINE OF seven hundred horse power
which was located in the upper part
Of the building. This structure was
totally destroyed.
The spike factory ran parallel with
this building, and was about the same
size as the new mill: The building con-
tained ten spike and four bolt machines,
TWENTY-FIVE screw cutters, two large nut
punchers, and also two engines. This
building was also destroyed, together
with most OF the machinery. Parallel
with this building were the nail factory
and machine shop, which fortunately
were saved. The machine shop is one
of the largest in the country, and con
tains the latest and most improved
machinery, and its destruction would
have entailed serious loss. Passing
these buildings the flames spread to the
foundry, which was located at right
angles with the spike factory. The
foundry was one.story structure. about
100 by 200 teet, and was totally destroyed
with all its contents. Just above this
building were the brass foundry, the
pattern and carpenter shops, and
also the boiler house, all Of which were
DESTROYED. The brass foundry was q
small building, about thirty by forty
feet, and did not contain any valuable
machinery. The pattern and carpenter
shops were thirty by fifty feet, and
three stories in height. The pattern
shop contained all the patterns that
have been made in the works for the
past sixteen years, and they were in
valuable, as many OF them can never
be replaced Fortunately the firm
have the plan OF some OF the patterns
DESTROYED, which will greatly assist to-
ward repairing some OF the losses
incurred. These buildings composed
all that were destroyed by the fiery
element, and covered about three acres,
embracing about one,fourth OF the
works.
The loss has not been definitel y as.
certained, but it is estimated by the
proprietors to be between 100000 and
$4,000. As some Of the most valua-
bic machinery is believed to be only
slightly damaged, and also large
amount Of stock, the loss may not
exceed 100000. The insurance is
about 500. 600, mostly in foreign COM
panies, only S25O00 being in home
companies. The insurance is dIstrib-
u,ed among one hundred companies.
OC this amount $2j 900 is in Pittsburgh
com mpanies. Iti divided between the
Eureka, Boatmen's, Citizens and Mer
chants and Manufacturers. The work
of rebuilding will be carried forward as
rapidly as possible, and it is probable
that none OF the men will be out Of
employment. 1t is thought that full
work will be resumed in sixty days.
Until the permanent buildings can be
erected temporary frame structures will
be put up
The Fire Marshal ia busy invest.
eating the cause OF the fire. He states
that the South Side fire department, as
at present constituted, is wholly made
auate to meet the demands Of a large
fire, and the supply Of water was
lamentably deficient.
Chief Cupples, in answer to a call for
help, took some Pittsburgh engines 10
the fire, but brought them back, partly
on account Of the scarcity OF water and
par,Iv. it is said, on account OF the dis
courtesy Of the South Side f.emen.
The excitemen. caused by the fire
was very great. Hundreds Of people
visited.the scene, many going from the
city on foot, Notwithstanding the rain.
The ssv was lighted up brilliantly, and
throngs OF people focked TO the bluff
over the Monopgahela river. and stood
there watching the splendid sight
From the Baptist Record-Charlestor, Feb