Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-08
Volcano, W. Va. Destroyed.

A Wheeling, w. Va, dispatch of
Aug. 4Ih thus describes the burning of
the town Of Nalcanu, place containing
about 1000 inhabitants, on that date:
Every thing is II total loss. The
fire originated in the stone building
of Thompson and Barnes. 1t was dis
covered aboutfour O'Clock. The flames
spread rapidly and reaching some oil
tanks, they caught fire and bursted, the
burning oil running through the streets,
setting fire to every thing on either side
of the streets, through when it passed,
Transforming the streets into IL lake of
fire. The following are some OF the
principal and heaviest losses: Volcano
Oil company, $4,000, no insurance; w.
G. Stiles, Jr. $4,000, insurance $4,000;
Graham q Smith $4,000, insurance
$4,000; Thompson e Barnes IS 800, in
surance 81, 600; o Id Fellows Hall 81 400,
insurance 81 600; G. 4 IL. Whitman
$4,000, no insurance There were s.
GOO barls of heavy oil burned
TO stores, the post nttice, railroad depot
and telegraph office, nine dwelling
houses, u hotel, the Walking Beam print
ing office, the West Virginia Transport
tation office, Smiths boiler works, one
pumping station aud several other
small buildings. Everything is total
loss. Almost the entire contents of the
stores and dwellings were consumed, tho
flames spreading with such lightning
rapidity and all the buildings being of
wooden structures. The following are
some of the Insurance companies
holding risks i'll the burned district: A.
G. Stiles, insured in Pennsylvania Fire
Insurance Co., of Philadelphia, 81, 900,
Jefferson Insurance Co., of Steuben-
vile, o., $1,000, Aetna, of Wheeling,
West Virginia, 1900, West Chester In
surance Co., of New York, $4,000, Nj
agara, OF New York, $4,000; Thompson
4 Barnes, insured in Franklin, OF
Wheeling. $1,000, German, of Wheel
ing, 81 900; Graham Il Smith, insured
in the Queen, of Liverpool, $1,000,
Free Mason, of Cincinnati, $1,000,
in the Union Insurance Company OF
London, 81 600; Niagara, OF New York,
5000; Jefferson, of Steubenville, o.,
81 600; Pennsylvania Insurance Co., of
Philadelphia, 81 600; and the Odd Eel
lows were insured in the Franklin, Of
Wheeling, $500; German, OF Wheeling,
So 900. The fire was undoubtedly the
work of an incendiary, AS there were
two attempts made short time ago to
burn the town, and since the night
watchmen have been put on and had
Just gone off duty when the fire was dis
covered. Some few nights since tray
eler ut the hotel woke up about two
o'clock III the night, and hearing a
noise and voices of men talking, got up
and went to the window and could dis
tinguish two men, and heard one Of
them say Let us burn the damned
town" He went down stairs
and aroused the hotel people, but
nothing could be found Of the
Williams who were going to do this damn
abe act. 1t is more than proba bic that
one OF the guilty parties will be found.
The total loss will reach $4,000. The
insurance, rs near rs can be ascertain
ed, is $4,000. There is such contu-
sion ut this hour, it impossible to OBJ
tain Il full list OF the insurance COM
panies having risks in this place. The
present outlook for rebuilding the
place is not very favorable, and the
leading citizens and business men have
as yet taken no action in this direc.
ton, but are looking around and at
tending to what is left Of their business
and property.