Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-22
THE FIRE BELL.
THE CONFEDERATION OF LAST
NIGHT.
Burning Of Two Tenements and a Stable
The Property Of Captain A. Wilson,
Thomas Wimms and VIM. Kreiter--
Loss About s4,000-Par-
tally Insured.

tally lnSuIeu'
Last night at l1:30 o'clock the few oc-
cupants OF the streets were startled by
the cry of Fire Fire" and lurid glow
on the sky told OF the fatal truth OF the
alarm. Soon afterward the bell OF the
Guards Hose House took up the
cry and was followed by those OF the
other fire stations of the city. Proceed
ing in the direction OF the light, the fire
was discovered arising from a small
frame stable back of the old Gushing
paper mill, and situated in alley A, be-
tween Main and Market streets, and
alley 10 and Twenty-secOnd street 1t
was the property OF VIM. Kreiter, a
tobacconist. and besides a horse and
wagon, contained lot OF leaf tobacco
stored away. At the time OF the REGIS
TER's arrival at the scene, the flames
were ascending from the northwest cor
ner of the stable, and might have been
easily extinguished by few buckets OF
water. But in the excitement always
attending a fire, no buckets were within
reach until the time Of their usefulness
was past. -,
Immediately north and south OF the
now blazing stable were frame tenements
and among the residents ofthese panic
of fear and excitement seemed to almost
paralyze action. Men, women and
children were rushing about, hurriedly
half clad, wringing their hands and cry
ing for aid. Mrs. Della Lanchan, who,
with five orphaned children, lived in the
north house, was in pitable state that
commanded the sympathy of all about
her. Willing hands soon carried out
every article Of furniture the house con-
tanned, including cradle containing a
sleeping child, which had been .orgotten
| in the tumult. =.
In the south building the same condi-
ton of affairs reigned, though there was
more self possession and less de-
spair manifested. Pat Irwin and
| Told Mercer lived in one side and
Mrs. Eagan in the other. This house
was the property OF Capt. Andrew Will
son and the other OF Thos. Wimms.
Bv this time reel had arrived and
passing through the alley deposited a
line of hose. Some delay was experien-
ced in getting on water, and at this time
the fire engines had arrived, sufticien-
cy of hose laid and some system inau-
gurated. The stable was very inflamma-
Die and was quickly consumed, the
flames communicating to both the adj
iacent buildings. From the expressions
| of the bvstanders, it would seem that
the citizens OF Wheeling have not the
highest opinion of their city's fire extin-
guishing apparatus. AS fast as hose
! filled, it would burst and scat
ter broadcast the water that would
have been valuable upon the burning
buildings. In the meantime the hire
had crept under the roof of Capt. Will
sons building and now made its appear
ance in the rear, bursting out OF the
upper windows of the extension, and for
| n short space it seemed as If the block
ON Main street was in imminent danger.
Mr.. Wimm's building had also been
attacked and the south end completely
burned away. Being OF wood and per-
fectly dry, everything burned rapidly,
the demolition having been accomplish
ed i'm less time than it has taken to
write it.
At this juncture two hoses, one from
the front, the other from the rear, were
taken back and directed upon
the flames nearest the Main street
property, with such success as
10 confine the fire TO the buildings
already mentioned, which were by this
time damaged almost beyond repara-
ton. After playing steadily upon the
spots most endangered, as well as on the
fire itself, it soon became apparent that
the fireman had everything under con-
troll, and at 2 o'clock scarcely vistige OF
fire remained.
1t seemed that the engines were al
most inexcusably delayed in putting in
an appearance, and a timely arrival
would have confined the flames TO the
stable. And it was certainly exasper-
ating to stand by and see property con-
Stunning while dozen miniature foun-
tains along the street proclaimed the
worthlessness of the hose. The men
themselves did creditable work, and
could water have arrived when the first
hose was in position, the result would
have been far different.
As usual, the origin of the fire is
a mystery. No lights had been about
the stable or near il, and, from all APP
pearances, everything in the neighbor-
| hood was, previous TO the alarm,
wrapped in the most profound quiet.
| Various theories are advanced, most of
them sustaining the belief that it was
accidentally fired by tramps who had
sought shelter there. This, however, is
the merest guesswork, and nothing def
mite can be arrived at.
The loss, as nearly as can be calcu-
lated now, will reach the neighborhood
of four thousand dollars. Neither of the
two houses are completely destroyed,
but both are so damaged by fire and
water that the loss is the same. Furni-
ture and clothes belonging TO the ten
ants are also considerably damaged from
their unceremonious handling, so taken
| all together, the loss will foot up about
TO the figures mentioned above. Cap
tain Wilson's property was insured in
the Fire and Marine Company, of this
city, the sum not known. Mr.. Kreiter's
tobacco was insured for 500 in the
.Etna and his real estate in the German
and Franklin. AS the horse and wagon
were safely removed his loss will be
Quite trifling. Wewere unable to learn
anything of insurance on Mr.. Wimms'
house. though a blackened insurance
tin still clings to the wall.
Fortunately for the jewellers in and
owners OF property in the vicinity, the
night was calm and not breath Of wind
stirring, for otherwise it might have
been our duty TO record a disastrous
holocaust, which, happily, was averted.
SPRING Dress Goods, rich dark shades