Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-27
DEADWOOD DEVASTATED
ENTIRE BUSINESS PART OF THE
TOWN
DESTROYED by Fire-The Flames Famed by
Light Breeze-BuiIdings Burned Like
Chaff - Terrific Explosions
Loss S2,000,000,

are rendered homeless and in destitute
condition. The fire is still burning.
The loss is estimated at a million and
half to two million dollars. There was
little or no insurance. Particulars later.
Further Particulars.
DEADwOOD, September pa fire
broke out in the Star bakery, on Sher-
man street, this morning, and following
that thoroughfare swept everything be-
fore it on Lee, Main, Gold, Wall, Patton
and William streets, and several resi-
dences on Centennial avenue. 1t was
famed by light, and having nothing to
contend with, except very inefficient
fire department, everything was at the
mercy of the flames. Less than half
score of pronounced tire-prOof ware
houses withstOOd the severe test. The
buildings being mostly Of wood and
poorly constructed, they
Burned Like so Much Chaff.
The fire spread with such wonderful
rapidity that any attempt at saving any
thing would have been useless. All
along its course terrific explosions oil
gunpowder, petroleum, liquor, &c., were
OF frequent occurrence, and many build
ings were blown into atoms. The hook
and ladder apparatus and the hose car
riage were the first things TO burn, leav-
ing nothing but few feet of worthless
hose with which to battle against the
deyouring element. The new water
works were tried for the first time yes
terday, and this morning were put to
their full capacity with little success in
subduing the flames, on account OF
Scarcity Of Water.
The hillSides were almost a solid sheet
of flame, and the water from the bOuld-
er ditch could not be had, otherwise
considerable property would probably
have been saved, as the ditch ran almost
directly over the worst spot The wild
est excitement prevails on account OF
the fearful force of the flames, and the
people thought of little besides saving
their own lives, hundreds escaping with
only their night clothes. Every team
within five miles OF the city was called
into service to help save what cOult be
gotten out. There are probably about
Two Thousand People Homeless
and many destitute. About one hun
dred and twenty-five buildings besides
fifty or sixty dwelling houses are de-
strOved, and while it is utterly impossi-
bic To get any definite figures regarding
the loss, well posted business men place
il at from one and half 10 two millions.
The fire is still burning, but all its ma
terial is exhausted and there is no
danger of its spreading unless there
should re Il favorable changein the
wind. The principal
Losses
are II. c. Lake hardware, $780,
600. insurance $4,000; Miller Il
Mcpherson, groccrS, $4,000, uninsured;
NJ. J. Wertheimer 4 Co.. dry goods,
$4,000, insurance $40, 900; Frank Welch,
S35, 900, no insurance; Graves IL Curtis,
furniture and chinaware, $4,000, no
insurance; William McPugh, liquor
dealer, S23 900, no insurance.
Also, First National Bank, $4,000, un-
insured; Browning X Weingrose, gro
GERS, 10000, uuinsured; Benjamin
IIallstein, grocer, 10000, uninsured;
Munter * Lilicnthal, clothiers, $4,000,
insured for 5000; c. b. Strass, dry
goods, 5000, insured for $4,000; Stan
& Bullock, hardware, $4,000, insured
for $4,000; L. T. Comfort, fruit dealer,
5000 uninsured; Heteil & Co.,
$4,000, insured for $1,000; Daniel
McLaughlin's residence. $4,000, unin-
sured; Matthiessen d Goldberg, grOcers,
$4,000, uninsured; l.. o. iebman,
fancy goods, $4,000, insured for $1,000;
Jensen 4 Bliss, hardware store, $1,000,
uninsured; Culbertson Il Young, pro-
duce merchants, $4,000, fully insured.
Several firms, whose fire proofs were
saved have posted notices that they will
open for business Saturday.
Preparing TO Rebuild.
Lumber is being hauled rapidly aud
buildings will begin as soon as the debris
can be cleared away in a far more sub
Stantial way than before. Most OF the
merchants who have lost their wooden
stores will erect brick ones in their stead.
Labor is in great demand and every
thing presents lively appearance.
\ meeting was held by the prominent
citizens, this afternoon, which was
prompted by the numerous thievlng op-
eratiOnS since the fire broke out, and
the many cases OF lot jumping. Hon.
Judge Moody presided. twas decided
to call on General SturgisS, command
ing at Fort Meade, Tor a company of
troops to act as a guard over the proper
" of the unfortunate sufferers by the
fire, which request was promptly COM
piled with and a company OF cavalry
was at once sent here, together with ten
wagons and two ambulanccs 10 transport
the destitute To Fort Meade, where
they will be provided with camps
and ratIOnS, kindly offered by
Gen. SturgiSs. All the saloons are
closed. by order of the sheriff and the
city presents an unusually quiet ap-
pearance. \ citizens committee OF safety,
numbering seven, was also appointed at
to-dav's meeting, who will aid the sher-
iH in preserving the peace, and evil
doors caught will be speedily dealt with.
A proposition TO organize a vigilance
committee one hundred strong was voted
down emphatically. The postotiice,
which was destroyed, lost =, 600 in post
aye stamps and stamped envelopes, but
no mail was destroyed, and the coaches
are running regularly with the daily
y
have been made by Eastern merchants,
but will hardly be accepted, as the mer-
chants bear their losses with all possible
grace and are not inclined to place
themselves under any obligations, at
the same time apprcciating the willing
offers made by all branches OF trade.
The merchants whose places Of business
escaped have not taken advantage Of
the necessity Of the hour by advancing
the prices of staple groceries, as was
generally expected.
Murderer Hung.
KNOXVILLE. Tenn, September 90
Anthony Blair. Colored, was hung at
MorristOwn this afternoon, for the muir
der of Maggie Walker, his step-daughter,
in July last. Alter conviction, the pris-