The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-01-16
THE EIGHTH WARD CONFLAGRA.
THAN

destruction OF the Roman Cathollc Churcn
Of the Immaculate Conception, but the
lateness eff the hour prevented US from
giving any particulars, which are about
as follows:
Shortly after one o'clock yesterday
morning some workmen in passing the
church, which is on seth street, in the
Eighth ward, saw bright blaze in the
basement of the editice, and they imme
diately gave the alarm of fire. 1t was at
that time of the night when almost
everybody is wrapt in deep slum-
Der and it is the hardest work
to arouse them Consequently the omin-
Gus cry of fire resembling the streets,
did not have the electrical effect as gen
erally is the case. 1t was not long, how
ever, until large portion of the popu-
lation of that ward were hur-
rving to the scene Of the
fire, which spread very rapidly. The
very glare of the flames as they leaped
through the roof and darted their frey
tongues through the upper windows of
the building, Illuminated the entire
southern portion of the city. In the
meantime men started for the
United Engine House and gave
the alarm but it was some
time before it become generally known
and people living in the upper end of the
city was aware of the fire.
The Sth ward hose company was the
first to get stream on the fire, and the
lremen with the assistance of some citl-
zcns did everything in their
mower to check the hames'
but without accomplishing their object
The flames had complete control OF the
Church, and it was patent to all that any
further to save it from ruin would
be fruitless. About three o'clock the
steeple fell in, which added fuel to the
flames, and for awhile the
fire ragged with renewed
iiercencss. About 81 o'clock the United
engine arrived and commenced playing
on what remained of the building. The
Atlantic engine did not get there uutil
sometime after, but of course was OF no
benefit at that time and did not throw any
water on the now fast subSiding flames.
The Viglant engine did not put in an
appearance as by the time they got the
alarm, the fire had spent its force.
Several buildings in the neighborhood
ofthc burning church took fire from tn
flying sparks, in an early part of the
night, but by the efforts of the sth ward
hose company and the citizens, they were
Immediately eXtinguished. Notwith-
standing the intense cold they all worked
with a will and earnestness, and they
deserve great praise.
The fire originated IN the basement of
the church, where the heating
apparatus is located. Everything was
examined early in the evening and
found to be all right. Patrick McDer-
mott, the sexton, who had charge Of the !
the heater, is new man in the position,
and it is supposed he played the part OF
fireman too thoroughly.
The building is comparatively new !
one. and was valued with the con-
tents, at from $4,000 TO $4,000. There
was only $500 insurance on the proper
tv, 81, 500 of which is held by the Fire
and Marine, and $4,000 by the Citizen 81
both of this city. The walls of the build
ing are standing and in good state OF
preservation, and as the church will be |
Immediately rebuilt, this will lessen thu
amount of the loss considerably. |
There was great deal of complaint
and indignation felt by all the citizens at
the workings of the fire department at
this fire. but the fact of the matter is
the Department are not so much to blame |
as the city authorities for not providing |
for a better means Of communicating !
alarms. The United and other two en-
gines were prompt enough in responding |
and getting to the scene of action after they |
had gotten the alarm. In this particu-
lar case, we doubt very much if fhc build !
ing would have been saved, even if |
there had been telegraph alarm, for the |
fire had evidently been burning long !
time before it was discovered at all. |
On the subject of improving the Fire !
Department and taking measures to
better secure the citizens of our city |
against the destruction of their property !
by fire, we will have more to say here
after.
CoUNcIL PRoCEEDINGs.-FTrst Branch