The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-07
ALMOST a CALAMITY.
Fife at the -. AIpHOnsus Church
The Ceiling Badly Damaged-A
wedding that Was Celebra.
ted Under Difficulties.


Yesterday afternoon about half past
twelve o'clock marriage ceremony was
being performed in St. sAlPhonsus
Church In South Wheeling, The altar
was decorated in honor OF the occasion,
and all went off quietly until john Diet
rech and Dora Schmitt had uttered half
of the necessary vows, when boy who
had been engaged IN some duty near the
front doors Of the church rushed up to
the officiating priests and said thst there
was fire in one OF the fues
and that the ceiling was in flames. This
wss found te be true, and an alarm was
at once given. The marriage was
hastily concluded and the bridal party
hurried out of the church. Hook and
Ladder Company No. WAS the first ire
company TO arrive, being closely fol-
lowed by the Atlantic steamer, OF East
Wheeling. The Vigilsnt steamer, OF
North Wheeling, came down, within
about eight minutes after the alarm was
struck, making for itself first class
record for enterprise. 1t was found that
the rstters of the ceiling and some OF the
woodwork of the southern wall were
burning, and two streams OF
water were soon playing upon
the burning mass. In short time a
large crowd gathered on Market street,
and some anxious members OF the con-
gregation pressed into the church. The
plastering became saturated with water,
and cracks opened in every direction to
such IN extent that it was momentarlly
expected that the entire ceiling would
fall In view of this, Officers Robertson
and Thompson cleared the church OF all
outsiders, and kept the eager crowd from
entering the doors and imperiling their
limbs. In the rear Of the building
all was in the greatest confusion
Men ard womep were hastily carrying
the articles from the altar to place OF
s7tety, while the priest made the neces'
sary preparations in anticipation OF the
spreading of the flames. II wss
seen in a short time that thess
precautions were unnecessary as the
fire was completely under the co.,
troll of the tremen and the only danger
was that OF the ceiling falling. At hall
past two the excitement began to die
out, Us by that time the space between
the roof and the plsstering had been
flooded with water and no more lire
could be discovered. Up to a late hour
last night the ceiling had not fallen,
although it is probable that
it has been ruined and will have TO be
replaced. Two small holes were cut in
it BY the firemen 10 let the water IN, and
wItn these exceptions but little trace OF
the flames could be seen, but the puddIes
| in the aisles and the water which trickIed
down the walls on both sides, as well as
the naked appearance of the altar, were
ample reminders OF the fact that the es-
cape rom total loss hsd been narrow
one. The organ was covered with rub
Der blankets and fortunately escaped with
out the slightest injury, rs lar as could
| be learned. The loss is tritlIng one,
ard even taough it should be necessary
to rcplss.er the church, the damage
would rot exceed 500 or $500. 1t
| is very fortunate that the
fire did not take place during services, as
panic might have ensued which would
have been most disastrous in It's conss-
quences. The priests say that they
think they have been very fortunate, and
even if the loss had not been covered by
tn insurance OF twenty times its amount,
the congregations would have cheerluIly
contributed whatever sum was required.
The steps Leading to the front entrance
became coated. with ice, and several
funny incidents occurred during the eI-
element of the early part of the after
noon. One man came rushing out, look
ing very selt-important, and evidently
intended to descend the steps one at u
time. When he got within two feet OF
the top step he began to slide.
He tried to say "thunder and lightI ING"
but he didn't have time. He did not
even touch the bottom step, but landed
on the pavement, like II young earth
quake, and those who were on the out
side OF the crowd and could not see well,
thought that the root had fallen IN.
When be stood up he did not seem rs
cheerful ms he lad been, and apparently
could not remember what he came out
for, ~ he said something about u fire"
that was not at ii! appropriate to con-
hagatIUn in q church.