The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-28
The IIurning Ol the Ebert and
Juniatn nj Pittsburgh YcStcr-
Iny Morning.

From tho Dispatch Of ycstCrdayl
II was about one o'clock this morning
when MI alarm from box seven called tho
fire department to the corner Of Market
and Water streets. Arriving there the
steamboat Mollie Ebert was found In
flames. The Chief Engineer and his men
at once went TO work to subduo the
fire, but finding their efforts unavailing
a second alarm was sounded, and soon
more engines appeared upon tho wharf.
Meantime the flames had spread so rap
idly that the steamboat Juniatn, barge
owned by Briggs & Kerr, two bargcs
belonging to Morris Mcdonald and hay
barge, used as n lighter for tho Mollic
Ebert, together with model barge be-
longing to J. H. Whitaker and partially
loaded, were all in lamCs-and bril-
liant light they made.
So far ms learned, and the statement
was cofrobOrNtcd several times this
morning to our reporter, the fire started
in the kitchen OF the Mollie Ebert, ly-
ing at the wharf nearly opposite tho foot
Of Market street, and spread rapidly.
The Mollie Ebert was owned by Capt.
F. Y. and G. W. Bachelor 4 Co. and ran
between here, Cincinnati, Louisville and
81. Louis. At the time Of the fire, this
morning, she was loaded principally for
ParkcrsGurg, West Virginia, and was we'll
ircighted with miscellaneous freight, the
majority of which Is, II saved in the hold,
no doubt seriously damaged. Mr.. j. A.
lIatchclor and son were asleep on board
the Ebert when she took fire and Just
made their escape, and no more. Batch
elor, H., had not time 10 put his shoes on,
and his father lost his watch. A family,
bound west, had a covered wagon on the
forecnslle Of the Ebert when She took fire.
The owner and family were all asleep in
the wagon when the watChman nwaked
them. They got of Just In time TO stand
on the wharf and sec their wagon burned
up. There were twenty-five Of crew
and several passengers on the Ebert when
the fire broke out, and, 80 far IA heard
from, all escaped. The boat was valued
al about $4,000 and, "a we nrC informed
This morning, IL insured for about one
half that amount.
The ,tuniata was owned by c. i. Bren.
nan, w, II, Gordon and Colonel Lloyd, Of
Sharpsburg. She was "iied up" on n
United States Marshal'S writ Of some
kind, and had not been on duty for about
six weeks. She Ia a total loss, save the
hull. Those attached to the boat say that
they do not think she IL insured for any
thing.
Some Of the barges were partially dcs-
troyed and others rendered almost use
less. .
The steamer Exchange was nearly iall-
ing victim to the flames but, after get
ting her stern scorched little, ex.Chief
Engineer White and others had her pull
ed few feet up stream and saved her.
The Chief Engineer managed the fire as
well as could bc expected under the cir
cumstances. Steamboats, always burn like
tinder and we're 1t not that the Fearless
and some other boats dropped out in time
and anchored in the middle Of the stream
the loss might have been much greater.
As II is,Sl6O,OOO will scarcely cover the
loss. At the hour we write this morning
II Is impossible to give the figures in re-
lAtion 10 the insufNnce.