Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-22
The Quiet of the Sabbath Dav d.
stroysd by the Clangor OF
the Fire Bells
And the Hoarss YsIIs of Firsmen
and Excited Citizens-Iwo
Blocks of Buildings
4, ths Heart of the City, the Prey
of the Fierce Flames whIch
Roar Like Demons.
The Loss, Insurance, Notes. 10
cidsnts, etc.


GOO and $4,000. The pars'sulars are as
follows: All.
ting in the front door OF the establish
ment about quarter past o CLOCK Wneh
he noticed an old man on the other side
of the street looking towards the opera
House. Suddenly pointing, he said;
aTuERE's FIRE"
Running out into the center OF the street
a light cloud of smoke could be seen
ascending in the rear Of the Paxton
Block, and second afterwards the Cap
itol bell was disturbing the Sunday quiet
by ringing out an alarm from station "A,
corner OF Fourteenth and Market.
By the time one reached the alley in the
rear of the buildings the fire had aa-
ysnced with frightful rapidity and was
roaring away like furnace.
The Paxton Block is two.story affair,
extending from 1919 to 1925 on Market
street. 1t covers only half OF the lots,
the space in the rear being covered with
SHEDS AND STABLES.
Rapid inquiries developed the TACT
that fire had oeen seen to suddenl" issue
from the stable in the rear OF Schulz's
confectionery store, and before the alarm
had been turned in the entire frame was
in blaze, and the heat being intense it
Quickly fired the low wooden buildings
on the south and from them quickly
reached the McCourtney building and
Paxton houses
THE FLEE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department seemed to be a
long time in getting water on. Had IL
not gotten water into the alley in the rear
of the fire when It did the entire business
centre of the city would doubtless have
been destroyed, for the heat had been
so intense that it had fred the rear OF
the houses of Maxwell d Isham, j. A.
Miller, G. D. Bingell and Hazlett,
Wheat x Hayes, and the doors and win
dow stills were burning like finder. A
good wetting down, however, quenched
that, and the loss sustained by any oil
the Main street houses is nothing,
About the time the water was turned
on in the alley, the wind started to
blowing from the northwest, and drove
the fire right through the Market street
buildings.
Ten minutes after the fire started, II
was seen that it was useless to attempt
saving either the Schulz building or the
Paxton block, and second alarm was
sent out, while the firemen were sta.
toned so as to prevent the spread, anu
also to keep down the fire.
THE POLICE ARRANGEMENTS.
Capt. Bennett promptly procured lines
and stretched them across the street
This is one of the best things that can
be done at a fire, and its wisdom and
efficiency was aptly shown yesterday.
The crowd was immense, and came pour
ing in from all directions. Notwith'
standing the great heat, the roofs, win
dows and cornices OF the buildings on
the east side OF Market street were lined
with spectators, while the street in both
directions was literally covered, it being
almost impossible to get through. 1t
was a good behaved mass OF people
though, and gave but very little trouble;
it came early and STAYED late. At y
O'Clock the sidewalks were crowded, and
at IL O'Clock there could be found knots
cfpeople discussing the matter and the
points connected with the contia-
grafton. The good order kept
is largely owing to the efficient work OF
the police force.
HOW THE FIRE PROGRESSED.
1t was but a few moments before the
stables in the rear were completely des-
troyed, time being barely allowed to re-
move the horses, all OF which were
taken ont in good condition. The fire
| in the Main street buildings had been
subdued, but the red destroyer had
taken strong grip on the Market street
row of business houses, and the inter.
esting point was in front. The wind
drove the smoke and FIRE through and
| il poured out of every crack and crevice
| in a thick black cloud that was almost
sitting. For the next hour, the scene
was an
EXECITING AND THRILLING
one. The Atlantic at Pullock's, the
Vigilant on Main street and the United
at the Mcclure were all working hard
and the Eighth ward hose
had on one or two plug STRAINS. The
water supply was never better; the
basin was full and tine pumps were
working regularly and with good force,
Superintendent Riddle watched things
and managed to keep the basin full all
the time.
The fire first gutted Schulz's building
and then followed Hutchin's art and
music store, with his living apartments
in the second story. At Helmbright's
cigar store the fire was kept in the Sec
ond story and did not get below that,
but swept on through that story to the
Opera House where, after long and
persistent fight, it was stopped and not
allowed to get into that handsome edi.
fee, although at one time it was given
up for lost. About $3.50 o'clock, the fire
was under control and although hard
to hold in hand, steady work and plenty
OF water won the day, and it was by
gradual degrees that the flame was
extinguished, although a plug stream
was kept up all night.
THE LOSS AND INSURANCE.
The loss is a large and serious one.
Outside OF the loss on stock and tie in.
surance, which is given below, there are
the little Things oil an intrinsic nature
but of incalcuable worth will neverthe-
less be missed and in addition to that,
the loss in time is another point to be
considered.
The buildings No. 1913, 1915, 1917 and
1919 we're owned by J. K. McCourtney
ESQ, and are all more or less injured,
especially the Schulz building, OF which
nothing but the walls are left standing.
On these buildings the L ma Fire and
Marine had $500 insurance, and on
the building occupied by Schulz, No.
1919, there was an insurance OF 81, 800
with the Peabody: the loss viii amount
to much more. No. 1918 and 1915 was
occupied down stairs by the E:na
Fire and Marine Insurance Company
and up stai,s by Jos. Ii. Sage, sewing
machine agent, and also DIR. Gasmire
had suite Of ak rooms. This building
is badly damaged in the rear; it is
thought to the extent of $1,000, which
also includes the slight damage done the
Hebrank buildings mo. 1917 No.
1919 or n. Schu'z's confectionery stand,
was completely quilted. and the loss on