Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
FIRE AT WHEELING.


ing last Washington Hall, at Wheel
ing, in which building the Legislature
held their sessions, was discovered to
be on fire, caused from defective flue
in the Banquet Room OF the Masonic
fraternity. A large portion OF the
building was destroyed before the flames
could be extinguished. The Wheeling
STANDARD Says
The Legislature was about to convene
in its daily session when the alarm was
sounded, large majority OF the mem
bers being on the floor, assembled IN
knots about the Hall aud engaged in
the discussion of personal and State
matters. The report that the building
was on fire caused great CONSERVATION
among both the members and numerous
officers of body, who began immediate
" to carry the records, documents and
furniture out of the Hal into the street
This was continued until all of the prop
erty of value belonging to the State
was placed out of danger The Court
House room will be used for the occu-
pancy of the House of Delegates dur
ing the remainder of the session, and
the furniture has already been either
partly or wholly removed to that place.
The Senate will not longer occupy the
Second Branch Council Chamber. be-
cause of the danger that the walls OF
the bedding may fall and demoIish the
ARK" aud all inside of it. The north
wall which adioins the city building, is
cracked and shows signs OF giving away.
The large and elegant billiard parlor of
the Mcclure House has been engaged
for the use of the Senate by the Council
Committee on Capitol.
After the fire had been raging two
hours, an accident occurred in the third
floor. which proved fatal to }. G. Oil
yer, a commercial traveller for the Phil
adelphia dry goods and notion firm at
Godfrey IL Go. He waswith several
others in the building bravely contest
{ ing the advance of the flames when a
lot of burning timbers tell upon them,
almost burying two Of the number, the
/ gentlemen before named, and John
/ Reid. the timer. The latter suffered
the breaking of one Of his legs, and sew
eral burns and bruises, while Mr.. Oliver
was frightfully cut and burned about
his head and neck, and it was thought
he was also internally injured The
latter had probably inhaled fire and
4 tha p,y
mass, and was in great agony. He was
( rescued through genuine feat OF dar-
ing by Billy Wheat, who regardless OF
the advice of his friends, rushed into
the dangers VI the human holocaust,
snatched the PROSTATE body of the Phil
adelphia stranger and bore it off as
though il were but that OF child. Mr.
/ Oliver was taken to McLains druy
store and there kindly and promptly al
tended to bv several gentlemen, includ
inc Rev. j. T. Thatcher, Drs. Allen
Edwards. .Jr., and others He talked
almost continuously during his terrible
sufferings. although but little of what he
said could be understood. In response
to a question by Rev. Mr.. Thatcher as
to whether he had ever known the love
and saving grace of Jesus Christ, he
I said: 20 YES, but my God. am suffer
ing, suffering; o my God ! But His
mercies will save me in the dark hour
of affection | believe il | die now |
shall be saved. brit 0 Jesus what suffer
lng Dan are you here! Where are
YOU, Dan!
These were about the last coherent
words uttered 10y him. The Dan
! called for by him, was neatly dressed
gentleman ostwenty six or seven years,
who was at his side, aud seemed to be
his intimate friend. Oliver was large
man, weighing about two hundred
pounds, and after he was hurt stated
that he had been an old PhiiadelphIa
fireman, and could not resist the temp
tation to 90 into the burning building
At twelve o'clock he was carried from
, the drug store to his hotel, the Grant
House, where he died within two hours
after his arrival, and his body taken III
charge of the Masons Of which order he
was a member.