Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-09
IRE!
Tbs / aushlin Nail Works Totally
Destroyed
At Midnight Last Night, and Hun
dreds
of Men Thrown Out Of Employ
ment.
A Short Account of the Fire, with
Estimated Loss, Etc.

One OF those disastrous mill fires &C.
Cured last evening that have on several
separate occasions visited this vicinity.
This time it WAS the works OF the
PROSPEROUS I.aughlin Nail Company,
situated about mile above Martins
Ferry. Where yesterday stood busy,
humming mill. this morning will
be found a smoulderine mass OF
red hot ruins. Owing to the lateness OF
the hour the full and elaborate particu-
lars cannot be given this morning, and
only the brief mention OF facts eau lie
made.
The mill, which WAS sitrated in an
isolated location, WAS guarded AT night
bv thee Watchmrn. The hour ol mid
:.r.ht had Just passed when II MAS Ills
covered that heating furnace NJ !. Nj!
mated in about the centre ui the buIId'
ing, had in somr manner CON
muuicatel tire Ia the roJI which
blsz4d mp rapi lily and inrionsIy The
ut ighbors we're alarmed and turned "n'
in full force. Amen leavur Was made I"
iorre water through the hose, but
there was not sufficient heal
Of sleam on to run the force pump anu
it was seen that the only thing to 20
was 10 endeavor to save the surround
ing buildings. Attention was first paid
to the large building which was used as
a warehouse and in which the office was
also situated.
In the meantime the fire was raging
furiously and sweeping everything be-
fore it in relentless manner. The Jorge
department was first taken away and the
nail factory was at the same
time wrapped in flames. The
heat was intense, so intense in fact that
those who were endeavoring to save the
warehouse were almost driven IRON
their post. On several occasions Was 1t
on fire, but wafer was dashed on, and
thebuilding ultimately saved, although
the end nearest tue copflagratiOn was
badly charred.
At = O'Clock the factory, the forge
department, the oil house, the
annealing house, the blacksmith
shop and tank house were all con-
sumed and the fire was still raging in
the ruins, the nails burning with that
intense sun like appearance and giving
out terrible heat.
The factory was substantial brick
structure containing sixty-two machines.
The forge department was frame build
ing with twelve boiling furnaces aud
three heating The other buildings were
common ones, such as all mills use
for the purposes named. The Laughiin
Nail Company, of which Alex. Laughlin,
Esq is President, and VIM. Glessner
Secretary, took the mill in l77S. ltwas
built several years before that and op.
Grated by the OHIO City Nail Compa'
nv under which administration
it did not succeed very
WELL But change took place
when 1t changed hands and ever since
1878 it has prospered finely and fer some
time past has been running full and
with plenty OF orders.
What the loss will be, it cannot be &C.
curately stated. 1t was various Y esti-
mated at from $500, 900 to 100000. The
gentlemen OF the mill were too much
worried and exerted to care to make
any statements, except that the
loss was fairly covered by
insurance. The insurance is
is largely placed in Rogers agency and
Major Rogers is at present ont OF the
city.
The loss OF time is, however, almost
as great loss as the other. In the
neighborhood OF 200 men are thrown
out Of employment.
As before stated the mill was good
one. being both large AMI substantial,
covering considerable space OF ground.
1t is probable that the company will
rebuild. The fact OF the fire was known
to but three or four in this city at
- Il Al.