The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-19
ACRES OF FIERCE FLAME.
An Extensive Daylight Illumination
At Pittsburgh, Pa, Yestsrday-Four Acres
Of Lumber Totally Destroyed-Loss
Estimated at One Hundred Thou.
sand 0ollars-NarrOw Escape
Of Two Men From Death.

PITTSBURGH, May 1S.-The extensive
planning mill, box factory and lumber
yards of George S. Lacy, in the Eight
eenth ward, were destroyed by fire this
morning, involving loss of 800, 900, the
contiagration being one Of the most seri-
GUS and destructive that has taken place
in that part Of the city for some time.
The establishment, including the-lumber
yards, is one Of the larges, in this vicinity
and covers an area Of about seven acres,
being bounded on its four sides by the Al
legheny river, Butler, Fifty.frst and Fifty
second streets. The Allegheny Valley
Railroad runs through the place, dividing
it so that square, four acres in extent,
fronts the river bank, while the remainder
runs along the railroad on the south side.
The planning mill, together with the box
factory and other minor concerns in con-
nection, occupy the former area, and i'm
mense piles Of lumber, finished and un-
finished, filed the remaining space within
the enclosure, SO that the entire iour
acres, before the devastating power Of the
flames laid them low, was piled high and
solid with compact mass OF timber,
whose aggregate dimensions Is carefully
estimated at 100000 feet.
The space on the south side OF the rail-
road was also piled high with planks, and
other lumber, but the amount at this point
will hardly reach 100000 feet, and was
but slightly damaged. Tne planning mill
proper was a two.story frame structure,
and was 100 feet long, and so feet wide,
but the engine room and other small
buildings fronting on the river bank, was
where the cunhlgration had its origin,
and 1t was here at about hali-past nine
o'clock this morning that Mr.. Love, a car
penter employed In the mill, first saw the
flames breaking through the roof. He was
in the yard attached 70 the establishment,
and as soon as he observed the blaze he
at once shouted to Thomas Byrne, the
foreman OF the lower department, who at
the time was standing at window. The
latter quickly jumped outside, and as the
FIRE had, In an incredibly short space Of
time assumed quite a serious aspect they
gave the alarm, and the other employees
about sixty-6ye In number-hastily quit
work and busted themselves in
saving their tools and whatever
other articles OF value they could
Meantime an alarm was sounded from
box 70, at the corner OF Forty.eighth and
Butler streets, and the department soon
responded. BY the time they had reach.
ed the ground, however, the flames had
communicated with the large establish.
ment, and that side fronting on the river
was already enveloped In mass OF flames
that every moment assumed more extern
sive sway. II was seen at once that the
force Of liremen was entirely inadequate,
and accordingly another alarm was sound.
ed, bringing Two other engines aud reels,
making in all FIVE OF the iOrmer. It was
then found that there were only two plugs
on Butler street that were near enough to
be used, and accordingly three OF the en-.
gines were drawn down to the river bank.
The fire was gotten under control at about
halt.past eleven O'Clock, alter having been
In progress about two hoHrs. By this
time the iour acres OF lumber and build
ings had been reduced TO mass OF ruins,
and the adjoining piles Of lumber had
been badly damaged. Two men were in.
jured when the fire first started, one oi
them, named James ClouSe, jumping from
a second story window and badly hurting
his ankles. The other, Robert Williams
q scroll sawyer, was injured in similar
manner, he having remained in the burn
ing building until compelled 70 jump tol
| his life.