The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-30
ALMOST A BLAzE.
The New mcLure House ON Fire-Seri.
Gus Damage 10 the Interior by Water

Gus Damage 10 the Ihterborpy "esst@
Insurance, Incidents, dc.
A few minutes before o'clock last
night, a FIRE was discovered In a fue Of
the Mcclure House, near the elevator.
The fire itself was not apparent at aFst,
but the smoke from it peFmeated the
whole building and nearly stiaed the in
mates. An alarm OF FIRE was at once sent
in from the City Building, and in few
minutes the Atlantic engine was
on the grounds, followed as quickly
as possible by the other engines
and hose companies. Before the arrival
of the e: gines. however, the Babcock Ex'
tinguisher belonging to the 1STELLE'
oEScRR was broug ht up, and the little
chap did excellent service, preventing the
spead OF the flames and holding them in
check until the arrival OF the larger ap
paratus. The flames, il was found, had
secured good hold upon the lath and
other woodwork surrounding the hue
nom the first to the fifth stories, and were
well under way when discovered. On the
second floor hole was chopped in
the hue and water turned in at
the aperture, but the chopplng
OF this hole was attended with
some serious consequences, IS 1t gave the
flames an impetus they would not other
wise have attained, and rendered the WORK
OF extinguishipg much more difficult, as @
draft WAS thus created. Considerable do.
Law took place between the attaching oi
the first and second line OF hose, and q
little more Roadway was again made by
the flames, but when the hose was nnally
attached the work OF reducing the lire to
subsection was comparatively easy, and
before long they were entirely subdned.
THE HOUSE.
The New Mcclure House Is at present
operated by Col. E. S. Norton, and owned
by Capt. John Mcclure. 1t is large FIVE
story brick building and ia one OF the lar
Dest hotels in the West. Within the past
two years it has been completely return
ished and equipped with all modern ap-
pliances. The building has always been
q source OF pride to the citizens of Wheel.
ING, and It's destruction would have been
Of incalculsble injury to this city.
81 THE LOSS.
Itwould be extremely hardatthis writing
TO estimate the loss sustained by the owner
Of the house and it's lessee. The loss to the
ewner OF the house will not be large prob.
ably not exceeding $1,000 in all, the prin.
cipsl part being occaEioned to the ceilings
by reason OF the water. The loss to the
lessee. Col. Norton, will reach from 81 600
to 81 400, and is on account OF furniture,
carpets, &c.
These losses will berepaired at once.
TIE INSURANCE.
The insurance on the building, We were
informed by a son OF the proprietor, is
about so, 900, $1,000 of which is lin the
Royal and Queen, both English insurance
companies, for which Major ]. V. L. Rod.
gers is agent. The remaining portion has
been placed by T. P. Phillips, agent Of the
franklin, in various companies, but as
Mr.. Phillips was out OF the city We did
not learn the names OF the companies.
On the furniture Major Rodgers has
S., 900 in the Royal and Lancashire, 2,5OO
in each: W. F. Peterson 5000 In the
Home, n. Y, $500 in the Home, Column
bus, and s, 500 in the Phoenix, Brooklyn.
THE ORIGIN.
The FIRE is supposed to have originated
from defective Aue on the first floor Of
the building, or from a stovs.pipe either
in the storeroom occupied by j. R. Hand.
Ian & 90. or by an Italian confectioner,
and from slight beginning worked grad
ually TO the upper stories.
Col. Norton says be wishes 10 publicly
compliment his employees for the zeal and
efficiency displayed by them in the pro.
lection OF his property and effects. Every
one Of thsm, the male portion. We mean,
was at his post, and each did what he
could. The nightwatchman, James Fer
relI, discovered a lighted newspaper
among the kindling wood in disused
room on the fourth floor, and extin.
guished the fire started by 1t with some
trouble.
OTHER DAMAGE. st.
The store room fronting on Market street
and occupied by J. R. Handlan & Co.,
was flooded with water and some damage
done to the stock. BY the efforts Of Major
Rogers and others the stock was saved
from very serious damsge and placed be-
yond the reach Of either flames or water.
On this stock there is an insurance Of
ST 200 in the Rogers Agency.
John Bailie's ticket office and the Amer.
lean Union telegraph Office were also
flooded but no serious damages resulted.
The night was intensely cold and the
Department deserve especial mention for
their heroic efforts to save property.
Their clothing was frequently frozen stiff
and they suffered intensely from cold and
ice. g.l
1t Is matter OF congratulation that the
damage and loss Was no greater than II
was, for had the flames gained full head.
way there would have been no limit to
their destructive progress.