The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-07-28
STEUBENVILLE,
Tho Gas Works ExpIOsiOn-LoSS
S3,OOO-SO lnSurHuCe~ - Hililta
on DUIy.
srEuBENviLLE, July 81, 1877.

on DuIy.
srEuDENviLlr, July 81, 1917.
EdItsrI IntellEenecr.
Yesterday morning about two o'clock
the slumbers OF that portion Of our popu.
lace who had retired we're suddenly and
rather abruptly awakened by a terrific
noise resembling somewhat the firing
Of u battery Of artillery, which was fol.
lowed by the rsttling Of windows, doors,
&c, people clad in Evan costume, some
with Georgia suits, rushed frantically
hither and thither with visions Of burn.
ing depots, murder OF innocent women
and children, Molly MaguIres, satlinr
guns, Hoodlums, blood and tRnnder
lifting before their astonished yisions.
Scarcely had the sounds and the eHeCts Of
the shock passed away when the
alarm was turned on, and the bells in
the engine houses pealed forth on the
midnight mir, announcing the fact that
there was conlsGration. Cries Of fire
followed from every direction in rapid
succession, and in less time than il takes
to say it, thousands Of people, INCLUDING
men, women and children, the Mayor,
invalid corps, S,Sappers and riot dispersers,
were hurrying to and fro demoralized,
but realizing that fearful explosion had
taken place, but the point could not be
determined. They were not Permitted to
remain longin doubt. Flames shot forth
Illuminating the sky in the sou thern por.
tion Of the city, indicating that tho
locality Of the catastrophe was tho City
Gas Works. Arriving on the ground We
found the building in which wis located
the purifiers total wreck, closely resem.
bling Democratic platform.
The department was promptly on the
ground. and in brief space Of tine had
the fire completely under Control, and
confined to that locality. What caused the
explosion is more than any NEWSPAPER
fellow could find out, and will forever re.
main as much \ mystery IA the disap.
peNranre OF Charlie Ross. William Lee
who was the only person about the works
ut the time, was terribly. burned and
bruised about the face and different por.
Iions OF the body. He was walking near
the puritiers when the crash came. and
was thrown into the cellar. Tie first to
come 10 the scene Of destruction rescued
him from his perilouS position, and car.
ried him to the house Of ThOmas MCCon.
nell, where he now lIes in a rather critical
condition. Every thing that can be il
being done for the unfortunate man by his
attending physicians, Drs. Johnston and
Mairs. Your correspondent was admit.
ted to the room in which he lay, last
night, and in answer 10 an intCrrogatoey
as to what caused it, he said ho could not
form any idea Of the cause.
The building is a complete wreck and
will entail loss upon the company Of
fully three thousand dollars, with no in.
surance. am informed that workmep
will be put To work clearing away the
debris and the work OF rebuilding will
he Immediately commenced.
Everything is quiet iu and around the
city. lncendiary letters have been found
around the shop of the I. G. & St. l.
Railway Company, threatening 10 burn
II up il the workmen employed therein
did not turn out.
Dobbins' regulars arc on duty every
night. A. NJ. Mattock, formerly Of II,
Gasetie, has command Of battery on The
heights, at tho upper end Of Logan street
This is but n short distance from the
opening Of the upper coal shaft, which
will afford safe retreat for his commanJ
IN case oi asGvere attack.
On THE WIN0.