The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-14
LAST NIGHTS BLAZE.
The Lingaman House on Fire-Great
Excitement But Little Loss.

Last night abou, eight o'clock an
alarm of fire Was -oa d,d at the
Lingaman House, on Water street, and
spreading rapidly soon became general
throughout the city, the steamboats, ring
ing their bells and the engine houses fol-
lowing in their wake. In few moments
the greatest confusion prevailed, the
streets being crowded with people anx-
iously awaiting election returns
at the time, and the thorough
fares leading towards the river
were packed, as was also the
levee in front of the building which was
on fire. Some fifteen min utes after the
alarm had been sounded, two engines
arrived at the scene, and attached their
pumps to the plugs at the corners OF
Twelfth and Main streets and Main
street and Alley Is, running their hose
round the block to the burning building.
When the firemen arrived, the large
crowd already assembled obstruct-
ed their progress to great extent,
but the fremen worked their way
through, and but little time was lost be-
fore a stream of water was playing on
the fire, which was located in the cellar.
On their arrival dense volumes OF smoke
rose up from the cellar through the
gratings, and on their opening the cellar
door the flames were materially aided
and came streaming up the stairway in
the faces of the fremen. Ingress In
this direction being impracticabIe, an at
tempt was made to flood the cellar
which was successfully accomplished, and
the flames soon extinguished, with a
damage to the building and loss OF goods
of about 500, For some time after the
fire had been extinguished, the crowd
fingered about the house, the volumes OF
smoke which had been confined to the
cellar, now finding egress through numer-
Gus windows which had been opened IN
the meantime, supposing that the flames
had broken out afresh, and not until it
became positively known that the fire
had been extinguished did they dispense.
AS is usual in such cases there were
various rumors current as to the probable
cause of the fire, but not until late hour
could anything definite be learned. The
most plausible, and from our information,
the only correct theory as to the cause OF
the accident, was barrel of oil catching
fire from lamp containing
"keystone fluid" or gasoline
which a man named Peter
Kaiser, employed about the premises
was using while drawing oil for use about
the house. The man, however, as soon
as the accident occurred, rushed from
the cellar frightened half out Of his
wits and crying, and on being accosted
in rather severe tone by Mr.. LingS-
man regarding his careiessness, protested
that "he couldn't help it," and uncer-
moniously disappeared. AT a very late
hour last night he had not turned up.
Mr.. Lingaman is OF the opin-
ion that he is so badly fright
ened that he fears to show himself,
although he will probably put in an
appearance to-day, as his hands are said
to be irightfully burned.
The building is insured for $4,000, of
which amount $4,000 is in the Peabody
and $1,000 in the .E:na. Mr.. Lingaman
says, however, the loss vii. not exceed
500, and it is doubtful il he puts in any
claim for insurance.