Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-26
FIRE FIENDS
LAST NIGHTS DEVASTATING FLAMES.
Damaging Fire IN Lucas Csllar-tsn
thousand Dollars loss-A QUartstts
Of Bla-e 10 the Fifth Ward
Losses Small

ing from the cellar o. Tue hkSl>IEA pu"H
ins. occupied by G. Y. Lucas IS a music
store aud Mrs. Frank Vennum As a
boarding house. A representative oil
this paper was on the spot, and hasten
ing 10 the rear found the smoke forcing
itself through the creyiees II every d.
reciiOn. An alarm was sent IN irom the
McLcre House and from ChrlS
Sisbke's, while the crowd Shich
had gathered underworld, unsuc,,
10 force the cellar anu
store room doors. A plank was brought
AMI used against the latter, but at the
suggestion oi some one that the flames
would thus be fed with air, II was
stopped. Then the cellar doors were
pried open. sn immense volume OF
smoke rushing out and driving back the
men.
A Babcock extiugllsher Was brought
iron the IstskI1encer office aud the
stream directed in the cellar, but the
fire WAS further back and the effort Was
useless. But this time the bells were
ringing turiously, and shortly aiterwsrd
the Atlantic engine was on the ground
and a powerful stream thrown into the
cellar.
Wild confusion reigned in the board
iny house. BoarierS We're reused from
their sleep and hurried, half dressed,
down the stairs. Two ladies were car
ried down, partially clad, as by this
time the dense smoke was filling every
part ofthe building. driving out those
who attempted 20 save any furniture.
Mr.. Lucas had been sent Tor, ami when
he had arrived and opened the door, the
binding smoke prevented any lngre>S-
\ large harp, near the door, was re-
moved. but no further effort to save
property could be made.
To 10 this time, no flame could be
seen, the smoke which poured out be-
iny heavy and black; but presently the
IRE appeared near the cellar door, and
Immediately aiterwart burst through
the floor. The hose were Immediately
turned through the plate glass windows
to fight the visible foe, and many per
sons gave the building up for lost. The
flames poured out the rear windows,
and, carried by the wind, threatened
the building containing the REGISrER
office.
By this time all the engines had ar
rived, and the tiremen, crippled up by
the l1Ss oi the striking extramen, Ia
bored hard. Gradually the flame Was
fought down out Of the first floor and
into the cellar, and finally nothing but
the bAckeued ruins remained. At thus
writing the water is still play ing on the
cellar.
In Lucas store the scene was indie
scribable. The fire had done but COM
paratively little damage, but the water
had made havoc with everything. The
stock was worth about $1,000, and Mr..
Lucas cannot yet estimate the loss. II
will probably reach $500. tie carries
- 60 insurance IN the Peabody and
5000 with J. NJ. DoddrIdge IN foreign
companies.
The building is owned by Lewis BIZ
ker K Co, proprietors OF the REGISrkR,
and is insured with J. '. l.. Rodgers, IN
the Queen. Of Liverpool, The loss will
probably be $1,000, though this Is snec-
ulation at this tune. The lower uoor
Aud the plasteriug carries most OF the
loss. The large plate windows IN
front are uuiujured, but the glass 81 the
doors and sides was completely dsmo.-
iShed.
How the tire started is Il mystery.
Mr.. Lucas WAS in the building until 10
O'Clock. and saw no signs OF tire. Tue
smell IL smoke was noticed by many
persons on Market street at least TWEEN
" minutes before the alarm was given,
bu; no Que could locate It. In view OF
the other fires, this one was generally
laid upon iuCendiarleS,
During the excitement, when II was
deemed probable the iejehuSch build
ing might ~. Mr.. John Frew, of the IN
telligs.cs-. placed that office 1t the dis
poSSl OF the
REGIsUgR ~ CASE OF NECESSITY,
but acceptance of his kind offer was not
necessary.
the Fifth Ward Fires
While the excitement at the Lucas
fire Was at its height, flames We're de-
scried rising from a building IN the
direction ni the Female College, and
with a cry that the Seminary VAS on
fire the crowd poured in that direction,
In the time occupied IN trayerSing the
ground between the fires, the building,
a stable Of wood, belonging to Miss Ray,
was almost entirely consumed. The
flames were still rising hercely and the
buildings packed closely in the neigh.
b2rhood smoked and gave evidence OF
soon Joining issues. Before the last
timbers of the stable fell, Hangs
rose simultaneously from three other
On the south, the frame
residence Of George Broeckuan. en-
ploved al OFT, Hall & Co.'S on the east
the brick house occupied by John Con-
nelly and on the north, the stable be-
longing 10 Mrs. Elizabeth Coleman.
As vet no water had been seen, a. the
department Was engaged at
the Lucas FIRE; but here the EIghth
ward reel came along and numbers OF
willing hands pulled it up the steep al
lev. A connection was made and soon
a feeble stream was playlng'on Brock
mans house. The Ray stable was en-
tirely consumed and this left the others
TO be easily managed. Buckets were
used on Connelly'S house aud 1t vas
soon beyond danger. The Others
followed suit, though not be
fore Broeckman's house was badly
scorched aud a quantity of hay
burned in Coleman's stable and the
building considerably damaged.
Miss RAYS loss is unknown, but will
not reach a high figure. No insurance.
Mr.. ColemSn's loss will reach about
$50. with no insurance.
The Connolly loss is trihlng, aud
q little, though not much,
heavier. There is no theory, beyond
iucendiarism, that will account for the
fire.
Still Another.
Abouta quarter before 10 O'Clock, last
night colored man employed about
the residence Of Vim. b, Simpson, on
Fifteenth street, discovered the stable TO
be on fire. The Atlantic was notified,
but by the time the men arrived, Mr..
Simpson and his man had subdued the
flames. Ii was the supposed work oi
an ihceRdiary.
THE REGISTER suggests that Wheeling
hill should be turned into apark tor the
benefit Of the city. This would be a