Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-06-10
WaEEIIN1i W. Va. FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 1881


The whole efforts of the fre brigade
were Immediately bent on
Saving the Sacred Ednce.
but 10 no avail. Nothing was saved
but the sacred vessels and some OF the
most yalusb.e q plate andfurpiture OF the
sanctuary. The fire had possession oil
the noble structure in almost less space
of time than il takes to tell IL, and the
finest and largest church in the city was
doomed 1t was grand sight to wit
ness the
Ansry Flames Climbing the steep,es OF
the Church,
and to zee them fan few minutes
later. The more northerly Of the two
was the first to go. II, gradually tot
terei over, and then fell over on 70 the
roof of the structure. The othersteeple
gradually sunk. Mkt after the church
came the frisrs' school opposite, and
still the ire swept on. Trusting. as IL
confident that 50 majestic an edifice
could never fall prey 20 any OF the ele-
msnts, the neighbors around had car
ried their houshold goods to the front
of the church and piled them at the
very door of the sanctuary.
All Was Irretrievsbly Lost p
The church was worth at least Sl00. 600;
insurance only $4,000. At the foot Of
Jupiter street, below Berthlot market,
the flames had crossed from the lower
aide of St John street, and IRON this
point they rapidly flew west along that
fins avenue, keeping pace with the other
division Of the confiagration opposite.
Nor was the fire confined now to st.
John street. At Jupiter street 1t
Spread Southwark to Bertholot Market
Place,
destroying Gabriel and St. Patrick
streets as far out as there were build
ings TO be destroyed. A vacant field
alone stayed the progress OF the tire. AT
Scott street the fire ran upwards toward
Grand Allie at a terrible rate OF speed,
there being no water, men, hose nor
other appliances to stay it. The only
gap caused by the recent coniigrltion
here stopped the total destruction OF the
whole street. II is impossible TO de-
scribe the spread OF the flames on every
side, and will perhaps be more satisfac
tory to give an idea OF the
Boundaries ofthe Burnt District.
The only thing that the firemen sue
ceeded in doing was to curb the hre on
the east Of Genevieve street, and in TACT
the wind was blowing from the east and
northwest. From Latourelie street up
nearly TO st. John street, the westerly
side OF st. Genevieve has been swept
away. To the north the fire extended
as far as Richmond street. The western
limit is little beyond the street car
stables at Mount Pleasant near the city
boundary. The limit sJuth at Barton
near Scott and at Gabriel street has
been already mentioned. Briefly sum-
med up the streets consumed are Dun
Mug, east and west, Richmond in part,
principally the south side, Latourelle,
81. Oliver, R;chelieu, Daquillon and st.
Johns ward in Mountcalm, st. Gabriel,
Nouvella and Barton, running north
and south. The principal streets were
Southerland, Dsliquy, 81. CLAIR, st.
Marie and st. Genevieve on the West
Side, besides Jupiter street, in Mount
Calm ward, also West Side. Among
the property destroyed on John street
were a large number OF handsome build
ings used as stores and private residen-
ces. The
Battery Was Called Out
and rendered excellent aid in saving
property and in keeping order. Several
remarkable wbirlwinds were caused by
the fire. Meiwere In some cases lifted
of their feet On the lower field, where
the most OF the burnt-out people had
camped with their saved goods, the lire
followed and burnt up most of the
goods piled on the grass. The burning
shingles fell over the city and as lar out
as Maple Avenue during the night, en-
dangering every part OF the town Sew
eral incipien fires in different streets
were suppressed by the vigilance OF the
occupants. 1t is estimated that there
must be q y
Loss of Two Million Dollars
between buildings, stock and furniture.
Over 500 families are rendered home
less, and at least $40 buildings have
been destroyed. 1t is impossible to give
a full and correct list OF the sufferers anu
losses and assurances at this moment.
but all the insurance companies doing
business in the city are heavy losers
The fire brigade and apparatus was
quite unfit to cope with such fire and
to it's weakness and the wretehed water
service the whole disaster is due.
The Dead
Five lives are known to be los'.
The three bodies that have already been
recovered are those o! Mr.. and Mrs.
Hardy, llS Oliver street, and that oil
Marvis A. Joioer, OF Richelieu street.
Mrs. Geo. Lspperirre and two children
are missing, and it is believed have per-
isaed in the flames. st. Johns Church
/, insured for $4,000. $3.50,
Losses and Insurance.
The total loss is estimated at 81, ,5OO,-
OOO; the Insurance will probably reach
$3.50. 900. The city engineer estimates
the number Of houses destroyed at 6UC.
he Governor Generals ball, which Was
TO have come off this evening, was
postponed till the evening OF the I'd.
Tne remains Of Mr.. Harry were dug
from the ruins horribly burned.
Relief for the saffsrers.
A subscription has been started Tor
the relief of the sulfeIerI The Cove
nor General gives $500, Archbishop OF
Quebec 81 900 and the Mayor 500.
Besides those already mentioned,
there are reports of others missing.
Only the walls OF the st Johns Church
remain. IL will be rebuilt.
The official number OF houses burned
is 657. The Ii gslative Assembly voted
$4,000 for the relief OF the suffering
The most Of the sufferers being in fair
circumstances the amount OF severe sui
fering will not be so large. The approxi-
mate losses Of the insurance companies
doing business here is from $3.50. 600 TO
100000