The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-16

ueuCGs' SlhIh bHeeO PoVtVVVJ T OuEln ave
nue. $4,000, Third avenue $25O,OOO
State street $1,3OOOOO, Wabash avenue
$1,700OO0, Michigan avenue $4,000
Taylor street $4,000, Polk street $4,000
Harrison street $4,000, Congress street
$75, 900, Van Buren, street $50, 1000, Court
between Wabash avenue and State street
$4,000; total $4,025,O00.
The insurance can not yet be ascer
tanned.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The following general description ol
the fire and the efforts Of the fire depart
ment to get 1t under control ls furnished
by the Times: Nearly east Of the shanty
where the fire originated was the large
brick oil refinery Of Fitch Bros, tho IN
terror oI which with Its large tanks OF oil
was all ablaze before tho arrival Of the
second engine. The heat emitted by the
burning of its inlammable contents
was intense, and when the wall
fell, but a few minutes before tho first
steamer began to play upon 1t, the whole
neighborhood for radius ol thirty rods
around seemed to burst forth in one Ell
multaneous blaze. Just north Of the rag
shop was . story.and.a.half barn, filled
with hay, which famed up in an instant,
and the flying wisps Of burning hay lit
roofs nearly a block away. With such
rapidity did the fire spread alter it was
first discovered that two horses in this
barn were burned to death before they
could be rescued. Eight or ten engines
in the First district were speedily on the
ground, and most Of them took their sta
tions on Clark street, where Marshal
Benner attempted TO check the spread Of
the flames. Engine No. 81 and one other
were stationed on Fourth avenue, and a
vigorous fight with the advancing foe
was commenced at this point. In few
minutes alter the first alarm the shanties
stretching eastward toward Fourth ave-
nue. were all a1ame for nearly half o
square. At 4:40 o'clock, II minutes
after the first alarm Assistant Marshal
Sweeney turned in the second alarm and
the engines from the greater part Of the
South division and from several Of the
West Side houses were soon at the scene
OF peril. The heat arising from half
acre OF blazing pine shanties was terrible,
and the breeze stiffened as the heat in
creased, bearing obstruction to the dry
roofs that lay in the path of the destroyer
for rods ahead. A large part of the aug.
mented fire force was concentrated on
Fourth Avenue, hall way between 18th
and Taylor streets, where they worked
with terrible energy 10 stay the progress
OF the advancing enemy. In 20 minutes
alter the first alarm the roofs OF the build.
ings on Fourth Avenue were all afire for
width of dozen buildings, north Of
No. 2s5. At 7;50 o'clock, II minutes
after the second alarm, the general alarm
was turned in by the Assistant Marshal.
This last warning brought the entire force
ot the city. At the time the alarm was
struck ol the West Side engines were at
a small fire on the corner OF Ashland
avenue and 22d street, and they were
thus retarded nearly half an hour.
In less than hall an hour the engines
that were stationed on Fourth avenue, di.
rec:ly in the path Of the fire, were CON-
PEELED to beat retreat. All succeeded in
doing so except Engine Company No. 81,
the colored company, who delayed a
minute too long, and, the flames bursting
on them before they had attached their
horses to the engine, they were compelled
to abandon it, and the handsome steamer
was warped and twisted into mass oil
half melted iron and steel in the fiery fur.
mace that glrded it. The fire had swept
diagonally across the block TO the corner
Of Taylor street and Fourth avenue, and
was rapidly eating It's way through the
remainder Of tho block fronting on Clark
and Taylor streets. The Marshal station.
cd number OF engines on Clark street.
anu every etiort was maoe 10 stay the
northern progress OF the ire along
that thoroughiare; but tho shanties
from which poured q swarm OF fallen
women laden Gown with wardrooes and
furniture were ripe for destruction and nc
sooner mad the torrents Of water extin-
) gulshed the tire in one building than the
rool OF Under boxes still iuFther to the
) north would burst into flames. But the
most oi the MsrShaPs attention was d.
rected TO the front OF the fire and every
| effort was made to keep the fire on the
) west side Of the Avenue, but the driving
, wind was laden with burning brands
which lit on the roofs beyond and kindled
them IN IN instant The Alice Street
bapust Church was the hrst building to