The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-26
Confagration in the Monu-
mental City.
Great Destruction Of Property and
Probable Loss Of Life.
Churches Destroyed and Confu-
sion Supreme.
Baltimore Rivaling Boston
and Chicago.

morning fire commenced in the steam
turning factory of Joseph Thomas d
Son, in Park street. The entire upper
portion was soon in flames. There was
a strong wind at the time. The rear
part OF the cattle stables caught fire
and the flames gained rapid headway
and spread to buildings on Clay street
and Park street The heat was intense
and the inmates quilted their dwellings.
A boiler in the factory of Thomas &
Sons was precipitated and exploded
with terrific report. The wind blew
the burning fragments of roof, &c, in
all directions until Park street, from
Lexington to Saratoga, was soon one
mass OF flame. Every house ia on fire
down Clay to Liberty and in the rear
OF Liberty to Lexington. From Liberty
to Saratoga is impossible on account OF
wagons, furniture, &c, and women and
children fill the streets bewailing the
calamity of destruction. Up Park and
Saratoga streets to Mulberry street at
intervals, roofs are aflsme. The Mary
land Academy OF Art, on Mulberry
street. and the University OF
Maryland adjoining, are burning
The widest reports are current. Ea"
giues were stationed near Clay street
where the destruction is greatest, but
the intense heat drove the firemen off
and burned the hose. The entire po-
lice force is guarding the furniture that
is in the streets. All is confusion and
tumult, but no panic. Rows Of citi-
zens are passing buckets ofwater where
there are no engines. Showers OF cln-
ders and ashes are falling. The fire is
terrible.
At 1:45 p. IN. the central Pr esbyter-
ian chnrcb, corner of Saratoga and
Liberty streets, commenced to burn and
will probably be entirely destroyed.
DR.. McIron's Lutheran church, on
Lexington street, between Park and
Howard streets, took fire at l:l5 a. m.
About ten squares are now burning.
St, Alpbonsus church 10 now in ruins.
2.3OP NJ, the fire is now said to be
under control, the wind has abated and
the fremen and citizens are steadily
laboripg at the burning buildings, and
the flames do not appear to be extends
ing. 1t is hoped that many buildings
which now appear in imminent dam
ger may be saved.
SECOND DISPATCH.
At hali>past ten o'clock this morn
Ing an alarm was sounded from box
No. %, located at the corner OF Clay
and Park streets and the fire depart
ment was soon busily hurrying to the
scene. The fire commenced in the
large steam turning factory OF Joseph
Thomas d Sons, on Park street near
Clay street. When the engines reach
ed the building the entire upper part Of
the structure was in flames. There
was a strong wind at the time, which
was blowing from the southwest.
Vast volumes OF flame rolled from the
burning mill, which was filled with
lumber, shaviugs and other combustio
BILE material. Lexington street was
soun filled with people, who commenc.
ed running carriages from the Centasl
livery stable, the roof OF which was
soon in flames. The policemen also
engaged in removing the carriages
to a more secure place. The flames
gained rapid headway and soon COM
municated to buildings on Clay street
and on each side OF Park street. Every
one seemed Impressed with the idea that
Baltimore was on the eve Of receiving
one OF the severe visitations that had re-
Gently scourged the cities OF Boston and
Chicago. All along Lexington street
the saIeswomen in the fancy stores and
the lady customers that always frequent
that street were seen out on the pave
ments OF the streets looking with
alarmed faces at the lurid flames as
they burned high into the air. The
eat was 30 intense that it was impos-
sible to enter Park street between Clay
aud Lexington. The entire fire depart
ment rushed to the confiagration, and
the policemen ran towards the resl-
dences in the direction in which the
fire was proceeding and warned the in-
mates to make every preparation tor
the approaching flames. Shortly after
the FIRE broke out a loud report
gave notice that the boiler OF the
engine in the factory of Thomas d
Son had exploded. The flames
formed a powerful whirlwiud darting
| up in wild leaps. The 6remen worked
in constant danger. A breeze Which
prevailed added to the intensity and
strength of the flames and carried chin
giles and other burning material to the
roofs Of other buildings in the neigh
borhood and some squares beyond.
Park street, from Lexington to Sarato'
ga streets, soon became mass OF flame
every house being on fire. Down
Clay to Liberty street, and on the rear
of Liberty and Saratoga streets the back
buildings are burning. Liberty aud
Saratoga streets are impossible With
wagons &C., filled with furniture thai
they were trying to save, women and
children fill the streets, bewailing the
threatened destruction of their homes
Alphousus school on the south side o'
Saratoga street, running to Clay street
il gone. Stewards stables on Lexing'
ton street will be lost. Saratoga street
running west from Park street every
house on the south side is in flames
With the exception Of three houses mex
to Howard street; up Park street from
Saratoga to Mulberry street, at inter
walls the roofs of houses On both side
Of the street are burning. On Mulber