The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-25

DISASTROUS FIRE LAST NlGnT.- Burning
of Hobbs Bros Machine SShols.-About II
O'clock last night the wild alarum bells
rang out an alarm OF fire, and although
The streets but an instant before were COM
paratiyely deserted, in q moment they
were crowded with a iostling throng push
ing towards Centre Wheeling, where Q
great light could be seen In the vicinity oil
Hobbs Bros machine shops, on Water
street, near Twenty.tlrst. The whole
neighborhood seemed to be Illuminated
by the burning building, and strong,wlnd
which prevailed carried the sparks direct
" toward the most crowded portion oil the
city, threatening general contlagratloh'
The alarm came from the Guards Hose
House, and was promptly repeated by the
big bell on the Capitol, but from some
cause the steamers did not come to time
MS quickly MS might have been reasonably
expected. A yexatious delay ensued, anu
III tho meantime the Hobbs machine
shops we're being rapidly devoured by the
flames. The fire had FIRST been noticed IN
tho northeast corner OF the, buildings,
where the engine room, was Located, anu
famed by spanking breeze the names
spread SO rapidly that within 0 lew mo-
ments the two buildings were wrapped III
sheet OF flame.
The department having arrived and got
into posititon for work, the efortsof the
firrmen were directed solely to the safety
Of tile adjoining buillings,q the Hobbs
buildings being by this time 50 nearly ae'
stroyel that alt attempts to extingulsh the
flames would hnye been futile. Inside .oi
twenty minutes the buildings were In
ashes, and OF the machinery, patterns and
stock. nothing whatever was saved. The
foundry building, adjoining, was slightly
damaged, and row Of tenement houses on ]
Water street, owned by tho. baltimore 4
Ohio Railroad Company, were, several
times in flames, but each time the lire,
la,idics,'' who werenow hard 9twork, and
doing good service, succeeded In stopping
the progress OF the devourlng element.
Tie woodwork on the east side OF sthese
buildings was badly charred bYs2the
flames. III u
Tic two wooden buildings burned were
built many years ago by Mossrs Hobbs 4
TAYLOR, and cost $1,000 and 81 200 respect:
iycIy, Some time since the buildings anu
ground, machinery and patterns, were
Bought in by the Franklin Building Asso'
citation, for 5000, the Association
holding n deed OF trust upon The
properly for tho amount named. The
small tools, engine, and sonic fixtures
about tho premises were bid in BY Ed
ward and Bert. Hobbs, creditors oil Hobbs
& TAYLOR, for $1,000, Subsequently the
buildings and machinery were leased ny
Messrs. I'D. and Bert. Hobbs OF the Build
ing Association at rent OF $500 per year
As the ground Is valued at 81 800, md
the price paid for the whole property was
5000, the loss to the Building Associa-
ton would amount TO $500. On the
building, machinery and patterns there is
an insurance OF $1,000, which. ls carried
equally By the franklin and Peabody
Companies OF this city. The tools and
stock OF the Messrs. Hobbs, valued at
something like 81 900, were uninsured,
and willb d total loss. A part OF one of
the buildings was occupied by Mr.. Dan.
Cady, boiler maker, whose loss We did not
ascertain. The origin OF the fire Is I'M
known Mt this writing. l,l'
There is perhaps no better location IN
the city for works OF tho kind destroyed,
and in all probability, although we do not
sneak by the card, the shops will be re-
built. tits hoped that=nos delay will be
experienced III erecting new buildings,
and that the industry now Temporarily
languishing may be renewed OF an early
Iav ~ a1r