Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-21

alarm at the ONCE, anu cuPeEIiSShuShs
West Immediately rang the bell to sum-
mon the day guards, who responded at
once.
Citizens OF the town made good time to |
the scene OF the fire, and made furious ef-
forts to save the buildings. The reservoir |
in the grounds afforded plenty OF water, |
and the water works pump was at once
started st the river, giving them an abund-
ance OF water.
The hoplessness of
Saving the Building
became apparent, as it was filled with oils,
turpentine, &C., and the attention was at
once turned to saving the adjoining build.
ing and contents.
The stock OF brooms, whips, &c, OF
Weaver, Bardall & Co., in the adjoining
buildings were hastily and securely de-
posted at a safe distance from the burning
ruins. The building was brick 2i2 feet
long by 40 feet wide, two story, and built
in 1873. The lower story was used as re-
ceptacle for boxes wheels and machinery
OF wagons and for making them.
The second story
was filled with paints, oils, turpentine,
etc, and was also used as the paint room
of the company. The whole building was
filled with wagons already manufactured
and in the process OF manufacture, and the
stock was very valuable. Mr. Gamble, in
charge of the Webster works, stated to the
REGISTER reporter that their loss is from
$3.50 to 800, 900: $4,000 in stock and the
balance in machinery. This is covered by
policies in the Anderson agency at Wheel.
ing.
The Webster Company
will at once go to work, and will lose only
six weeks by the fire. The have large
stock OF wagons to fill existing orders. The
most valuable machinery, such as
steam hammers, punches, &c, are gone
"a total loss. The building belonged to
the State and is worth some $500, upon
which the Anderson agency, OF Wheeling,
and Smith agency, of Parkersburg, hold
policies to the amount of $500, one OF
them in the Northern, of New York, for
81 100 the remaining four like amounts.
The Prisoners
h,,n,,,o ,.or,. tlocS M and tbprp
| were only two guards, Col. West increased
the number two more, although this was
unnecessary, as the COnviCtS were all locked
up in cells, and escape was thus impossible
A number of the more trusty of the con.
viCts were taken out and set to work to help
extingush the flames and they did nObly
The day guards, assisted by the citizens.
who were judiciouslv admitted, Su-,
perintendent West told the following
story to the REGISTERS special commits
sioncr: was in the office at nine
o'clock this evening, and had been for
some time before. Nightwatchman Hen
| dershOt had made his o'clock rounds, his
o'clock rounds, and started on his 10
o'clock. He passed through the blacksmith
shop and shops Nos. > and 3, and had just
entered the joint shop of the Webster
Wagon Company near the eastern enclos-
ure when he discovered
A Brilliant Blaze.
He at once gave the alarm to the office
where notified the attendants and EN-
ployes that the building was
on fire and rang the bell to call the guards
who had gone home for the night, or were
sleeping in the building. This alarm
brought not only the guards, but scores of
anxious, willing, hearty citizens from the
town, who gave the most excellent aid,
and tell you briefly, without it, the
other
Buildings Would Have Conc.
The adjoining building of Weaver Il
Bardell was on fire several times, but it
was cxtinguished and the loss upon it will
be slight, principally to the roof. Men
were at once put to work and moved the
contents of the other shops to a place OF
safety. There was no fire in the building
all day, nor was there any necessity for
any. The second floor of the burned build.
ing was filled with wagons, manufactured.
and others in all stages of incompleteness.
| think the walls are good and can be used
again. Isent two additional guards to the
Corridors of the Prison
IN which the convicts were. The wind was
very favorable blowing from the West and
carrying the fire away from the adjoining
building. 1t was also pack ed with inflama-
bic matter. think We did we'll, consider
ing that there was no engine on the grounds,
and only willing hands to help us out.
The reporter encountered
Two Theories
as to the origin of the fire; by far the most
popular one was, that the fire was the work
OF an incendiary, but who could do such
deed at such an hour is a mystery. The
grounds are vigilantly guarded and da.
trolled every hour; andif any fire had been
set in the room, the contiagrstion would
have been immediate. Another theory and |
more natural and plausible one, is that
the fire was the result of
spontaneous combustion. The old |
rags or refuse OF the paint shop, could |
easily ignite and communicate to the ma
terial in the ROOM
Joseph Gallagher,
President Of the Board of Directors OF the |
penitentiary, favors this theory, although |
both he and Col. West are very much mys-
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