The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-06
A TERRIBLE CONGREGATION,
The Benwood Nail Mill in
Ashes.
Twenty Thousand Kegs Of
Nails 60 With It.
Loss Estimated at 100000, With
100000 Of Insurance -.Over
500 Persons Thrown Out
of Employment

Loss ESt1mNteO AZ SoOO,OOO, WIN
100000 Of Insurance --.Over
500 Persons Thrown Out
of Employment
One of the most disastrous confagra-
tions that has ever visited this neighbor-
hood occurred last night, by which the
Benwood Nail Mill was totally destroyed.
The alarm was sounded in this city
about 10 o'clock last night and in half an
hour after the news becamegenerally and
then hundreds of people, notwithstand-
ing Benwood is four miles below Wheel
ing, commenced their journey 10 the
scene of the fire. We were among that
number and by III P. NJ, at which
time we arrived at our destination,
what was once the Benwood Mill, lay
smouldering in ashes. The scene was
one Of great excitement, and it was with
difficulty any intelligent account of the
fire could be obtained. The consuming
flames spread With such rapidity that the
workmen about the mill could hardly
realize the situation. From ali the in
formation we could gather from Mr..
Luke Fitzpatrick, manager of the nail
factory, the fire originated in the north
east corner of the new nail factory, where
the blowing furnace is located. In this
part of the factory there is no fire after
3 o'clock in the afternoon. The fire in
the furnace is lighted every morning,
early, aud extinguished at the time
above stated. The person whose
duty i! is to kindle fire, always left a
lot of shavings and wood near the fur
mace every evening to use for the next
mornings fire. In this locality the
flames were first discovered by the watch
man, who Immediately gave the alarm.
There was at least one hundred men at
work in another part of the mill, and it
is said that before the half OF them knew
that the factory was on fire 1t had been
half consumed.
The population Of the town turned out
en- n,osse all willing ard anxious to lend
a helping hand to stay the ravages of the
ruthless flames, but all in vain. Nothing
could save the property; water with the
mode OF conveying it, in buckets, of
course had no effect, and in a short
space OF time, from the
sounding Of the alarm, the fire communi-
Gated to the other departments of the
mill and warehouse, and it was evident
to all that soon the structure would be
burned to the ground. In two hours
after the discovery of the fire, the fiend-
sh flames had completely accom-
piished their work. In the warehouse
there WIS stored 10000 kegs OF nails.
and not more than one hundred and fifty
kegs were saved from the burning build
ing. This is about all there can be said
in reference to this most calamitous fire
Il was the work of few minutes, and
that is all that lie known.
The Bcnwood Mill was owned by a
Joint stock company, of which Alex.
Laughiin, ESQ., president. Their capital
stock is $4,000 which includes the blast
furnace at Martins Ferry and the tene-
ment house in Benwood. The company
estimated their mi property at one-half
OF their capital stock, or s250OoO. On
this was between $4,000 and 100000 OF
insurance, of which the Peabody and
Citizens Of this city held policy ofS5,-
600 each. The remainder of the risk is in
foreign companies The loss on tho 90
coo kegs of nails is at least $50, 900, which
makes the loss of the company $780,
600 with 100000 OF insurance. In the
destruction OF the mill nearly five hun
drcd men and boys are thrown out Of
employment. Nearly all the men have
large families depending upon them for
support This is Whit makes the fire
such n great calamity to the neignbor-
hood. Benwood without the mill will
certainly be dead place.
We were unable to learn what was the
feeling of he stockholders in regard to
rebuilding, but it Is earnestly to be hoped
that they will do 80, and as soon as pos
siblc. The lateness OF the hour prevents
any further or moro elaborate descrlp.
ton of this most disastrous fire.