The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-08
ALMOST IN DEATHS GRIP.
4 Passenger Train Rushing Past
u Burning Powder Mil.

u burning Powder MIiI.
The New York Herald Of TUesday says;
The Stamford special" leaving that town
at 1855 A. NJ, containing over 500 passen.
gerA bound to this city, had narrow ed
cape from destruction yesterday morn.
ing. The train left PeIhamville and was
approaching Mount Vernon, when the
giant powder mill, located between these
points, and ouly 100 feet from the track,
was discovered to be on fire. The train,
although running nearly full speed, was
stopped Immediately, and some OF the
hands were sent ahead 10 ascertain the
danger, il any. The building was found
10 he one sheet Of llame, but az the pow.
der house, where the powder is stored
was some fifty eeL from the factory, il
was felt that the train could be run past
with safety. Between the powder. mill
and the powder.house there WIS n plank
walk, and workmen were hurriedly tear.
ing this up as the train approached the
rcene. ii passed without harm after d
quarter OF an hours delay.
The establishment has been considered
extremely dangerous ever since its cree.
ton last GUNNER. The number OF pas.
senger trains alone running daily over
the New York & New Haven is nearly
forty, including the Boston and Wash-
ingtun express, and the indignation OF the
paEsengers has been frequently expressed
since the erection Of this mill 10 near the
track. At first, and until the buildings
were nearly completed, the travellers over
the rOad were unaware OF their character
but when the facts became known remon'
strances were sent 10 the railroad compA-
nv and the removal Of the buildings was
urged. The mill lay in hollow Perhap:
forty feet below the level OF the train, and
as the flames rolled up clearly aud rapid
" from every side, the ground every
where covered with snow, there was 8
picturep resented grand as it was danger
ouS.
The fire was discovered soon after s
o'clock in main building OF the Powder
Companyis works, where was stored lot
OF nitrate OF soda, charcoal and sawdust
Of black walnut aud whitewoOd in bar
rels. The engineer, Samuel ]. Sparks
who made the discovery, saw flames oyei
some OF the barrels. He sprang into the
next room, where three men were at work
making up cartridges, and shouted :
warning. All left the building precipi-
lately. They were none too soon fol
their safety in getting out, the aAme'
having by this time developed the entire
building, which was soon totally de
stroyed.
The fire Is supposed to have originated
in spontaneous combustion. No FIRE wa
in the building except in the engine room
and the men were not permitted 10 smoke
The Mount Vernon lifemen started viii
their machines for the Ere, but gave up th'
task they had undertaken on learning
that powder works was burning, wisely
concluding that it was a kind Of fire they
hal better keep away from.
1t is said that besides the manufacture
Of powder, It has lately been suspecIer
that the building was used as an illici
; distillery. twas reported last night tina
Deputy Collector John A. Henry, Of th'
Twelfth Revenue District, had yisiteI
the place on Saturday, and that he tounC
three mash.tubs and the appliances FOL
distillation. lie contemplated making |
raid on the place yesterday, so the story
goes, and that he took into his confidence
} five or six persons who were 10 Assis
him; that the matter leaked out through