Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-19
THE BANK FIRE.
Narrow Escape of Il Valuable
Block.

Shortly before / O'Clock Yesterday
morning. the veritabe dark hour before
the dawn, Waterman James Murdoch
discovered smoke issuing from the
Twelfth street entrance of the Peoples
Bank building, and at once gave the
alarm. Joseph Hedges, who slept at
Gutman's store, was aroused and
finding something wrong with the
alarm wires, rushed 10 the Atlantic En-
zine House and summoned the firemen.
I'm the meantime, Watchman Junkins,
Bob Frew and others had gone TO the
Hope Hose House, brought out the reel
and had q stream of water in the build
ing.
The fire, which had apparently origi-
mated under the steps OF the building,
had, by this time, made its appearance
through, and was steadily climbing up,
the smoke filling every room and hall
i'm the building. Several persons, who
slept on the second floor, made their cs-
cape, and for time it looked as though
the building was doomed. But finally,
when the fire department arrived, and
lent its assistance 10 those already en-
gagged, the flames were gotten under
control, and soon entirely eXtinguishcd.
The steps, which should have been Of
iron, were badly burned, and
door frames, glasses and the
walls OF the second story suffered
and these with the damage done by the
water and the heavy smoke, will cOnsti-
tute the loss. Everything in the south
western corner was thoroughly satur-
ated with water and more or less in
iurCd. The flue containing the wires Of
the Western Union Telegraph Company
ran up lust where the fire was hottest
and the melting of the wires prevented
the sending in OF the general fire alarm.
Temporary wires have been run through
the windows and the business OF the
company goes on uninterruptedly.
In the directors room of the bank,
singular scene was presented. The
APARTMENT must have been most densely
filled with smoke and thin deposit of
tar was spread upon the upper surface
of everything in the room. The tables,
chairs, carpet, chandelier and
other furniture bore the APP
pearance of having been newly
vanished in black. Everything was
sticky, and a strong odor of tar and
smoke pervaded the apartments. This
constitutes the damage TO the bank
property proper.
Prof. Frasher came off with less loss.
His large school room on the upper
floor was untouched, save by little
water and few broken door-plates, a
burnt sign and general dampness were
the injuries to his secOnd-stOry posses
SiOns.
The room Of Dana Hubbard, over the
directors room, was scOrched about the
window and door frames and considera-
bly, drenched by the hose. His loss will
be slight.
Altogether, the loss will be covered by
81 900, and, as the building is fully in
sured will he made good There is
$4,000 insurance on the house, placed
with six different companies and when
divided up, the loss to the companies
will be slight The damage will be re-
pared at once.
How the fire originated is a mystery.
There was a rumor Of something about
an intoxicated operator, but this, upon
Investigation, we pronounce groundless.
The fire started in water closet in the
rear of the telegraph office, and was pro-
badly caused by ilaring gas jet. Mr..
John Morgan is OF the opinion it was
the work OF an incendiary, but from the
situation this is scarcely-probable.
The fire department and the volun.
teers have been universally commended
for their promptneSs and skill in subdu-
inc the flames. Had matters been
managed otherwise, instead of a slight
fire. il might have been our duty to
chronicle the destruction OF one OF the
most valuable blocks in the city.