The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-19

FIRB YESTERDAY M0RxtSo.-ln our late
edition yesterday morning We gave q brief
account Of a fire that was then Ia progress
In the Peoples Bank Building, corner
Twelfth and Main streets, bat from the
lateneSs Of the hour we we're unable TO
give any particulars. The IRE was dis.
covered about S:45 A. n. by messenger
boy who opened the door Of the water
closet In the rear Of the rooms OF the
Western Union Telegraph Office, when
the flames burst forth In volumes, and the
smoke at once filed the whole Of the
basement Of the building, driving out the
operators and Others. The flames attract
ed the attention Of Nightwatehman John
Murdoch, who gave the alarm In the
nelghborhood, and al the same time
NlshtWaichman Junkins discovered
the state OF affairs, and Immediately
ran TO the hose house on Eleventh
Street, and returned with the reel and
hose. An attachment was made TO the
nearest plug, and the hose taken In charge
by Robt. Erew, pressmAn Of the ISTELLl.
oESCER office, who directed the stream Of
water upon the flames, which were de-
vourinS the stairway, aud rapidly making
their way TO the more combustible matter
in the second story, which Is used for
offices and sleeping apartments; and to
his, more than to any other mans effort
that night, Is due the credit oil saving that
building and getting the flames under
dispatched to the Vigilant Engine House
in North Wheeling, and 10 the Atlantic In
East Wheeling, as no alarm could be sent
in, from the fact the FIRE had impaired the
wires. These engines arrived soon after, but
not until the flames were under control BY
the reel hose. The engines, however, did
good work in extinguishing the shoulder
Ing embers aud also checking an incipient
blaze in the top OF the building. A re-
potter Of this paper visited the scene o.
the blaze yesterday for the purpose OF as
pertaining the origin Of the fire, and also
the extent Of damage done. Manager
Morgan OF the Western Union Telegraph
Company, was found busily engaged II
clearing up the debris, and in repairing
the wires and connections. He said tina
he did not know that he had any particular
theory as to the origin, but II he did have
any ii was that ''it had been set on fire.
"You will notice." he said, taking us bacl
TO the water closet in which the tire start
ed, 'thAt the gas jet Is eighteen inches be
low the wood work or any other combusti
bic material, and consequently It woult
not be natural that Il started there. Wha
leads me TO suppose It was fired L
the fact that the door leading K
the closet has not been shut for two
years, as it has no latch on and would no
stay shut; now, last night this door wa
closed and something placed against II u
keep it closed, and when the boy wen
back there and pulled it open the flame
burst forth. 1t is very easy for any on,
to gain admittance TO the room without be
ing noticed"
We then examined the damage done t
the building. The stairs leading from III,
Twelfth street entrance to the seconC
floor were entirely consumed, and also tn
wood work in the closets Of the telegraph
office and bank. The walls were mucl
Ecorched and blistered on the seconC
floor, and also the doors and window
scorched and broken. The room at tn
; head OF the stairs, occupied by D. L. Hub
bard, Esq, as q sleeping apartment, wa
deluSed with water and much OF his iurni
ture seriously damaged. This gentleman
who was asleep at the time Of the fire, wa
awakened with difficulty and made mar
row escape from the burning building, a
did also MeSsrs. George IoSt, ChaS. Col
Inns and another gentleman, who wer
asleep in an adjoining apartment. Night
waichman Murdoch rushed through tn
flames to the rooms OF these gentlemen q
great personal risk and Awakened them.
Tie ceilings in several OF the rooms ar
somewhat damaged by water. The fur
; niture,and,carpets in the directors room o
the bank were very much injured by tn
smoke and dirt, and Teller John Cal
, ney had 4 valuable canary sutiocated.
Much credit is due WAtchmAn Junkin
for the promptneSS with which the rec
and hose were gotten upon the grounds
. and to Murdoch for valuable assistanc
in arsusing the sleepers.
The Peoples Bank Was built in 1871: i
three story building used as follows
. the basement as the telegraph Office, th
first floor as the banking Office, the secont
as offices and sleeping apartments, an
the third is the Wheeling Business Co
lege. Itis one OF the most creditabl
buildings in'the city, and the finest ban
building in the State. The loss to tn
building will not exceed $1,000 and i
fully insured in the following companies
RSyAl 9
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