The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-26


lNosNprARIsM--Johm Reds Store
Fired Again.-About one o'clock yes
terdsy morning an alarm Of fire was
sounded from the Guards Hose House
bell, which lasted for two or three min
utes and was then sounded from the
Atlantic Engine bell for about the
same length of time. When we got out
on the street we could hear no sound
and see no light to indicate which way
10 look for the fire, 30 we returned to
our couch disguised with our present
mode Of communicating an alarm.
We learned yesterday morning that
there was near being serios conf1agra'
ton at the Wholesale and retail Liquor
House of John Reid, jr., at No. 10 Main
street, at the head of South street. At.
tempts had been made to fire the store
in five different places, and the matter
had been planned with considerable
skill to ensure the destruction Of
the building if not Of the block,
by the heartless in eendiary, whoever he
was. A fire had been kindled 10 a pile
OF straw aud boxes near chimney IN
the second story, and in two different
places among a lot of old books and
papers under the stairs leading from
the second to the third stories. In the
desk in the counting room below,
amorg the hooks and papers, fourth
blaze was started, and under the stairs
leading from the first to the upper floors
amid 8 pile o! very combustible mate>
rial the fifth was started. The one
near the chimney up stairs and the one
under the stairs below were the largest,
and the ncenliary seems to have used
every means to have them burn surely.
He seems to have expected that the
light of the fire in the second story
would be seen, but that the means oil
reaching it would be cut off by the
stairs being in flames, and thus, the
destruction OF the store would be rem
dered certain.
1t fortunately happened that John
Reid, SEN, who resides next door, was
unable to sleep and about half an
hour after midnight smelled the burn
ing straw. His experience with fire
has been 90 recent and 80 disastrous
that be was at once on the qm v,oe, and
in a few moments had discovered the
fire and given the alarm. With the
assistance OF his neighbors the fire was
extinguished before great deal OF dam
age was done. A large hole is burned
in the floor up stairs, the stairs are
blackened and charred and very
handsome counting house desk is
ruined.
1t is thought that the incendiary,
whoever he is, slipped into the rear OF
the store and hid himself among the
boxes and barrels up stairs, be ore the
store was closed, and, remaining there
until he had completed his netarlous
work, let himself out the back door and
through the rear gate, as the bar OF the
back door had been taken out and the
door unlocked after the store was closed
for the night
The rascal added robbery to his other
crime, for before leaving he broke open
the money drawer and stole some
seventy-fve or eighty cents, all the
change there was in it.
1t hardly seems possible that man
would attempt such a wholesale and
systematic destruction OF property for
the purpose Of committing a robbery
and yet we hardly believe Mr., Reid has
an enemy capable OF taking such q
revenge. The whole affair is shrouded
in mystery. No one seems able to &C =
count for the arson or to know who is
the guilty person.
"F.rE"-Tbe Wheeling Dramatic