Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-24
TWICE BURNED.
The Grant House Again Attacked
BY Fire.
A Laundry and Confectionery Buned-lhe
Hotel Damaged by Bungling Pipe
men-Scenes and Incidents
Loss and Insurance.

In 1877 the Grant House, AT the cofueh
of Main and Tenth streets, with the large
livery stable, was almost entirely con-
sumed by fire. A portion of the ruin was
habitable and this with the building on
the south, made enough room in which to
run the good family hotel L. s. Woodman-
see has since conducted. The northern
part of the building contained silliman's
confectionery and the Pearl laundry on the
first floor, and the upper stories were laid
off as hotel rooms Last night ire broke
out in the cellar of the laundry, evidently
having caught from the furnace. An alarm
was sent in from box p, corner Main ana
allev :, as no key could be found to the box
corner Market and Tenth streets. Inc
department responded, but that depart
ment had heaped on its devoted head the
MALEpIcTIoSs OF THE HUNDREDS
who assembled. First, there was no
wrench 10 nit the plug right in front, aud
then The Nigilant could not connect
with its plug. The Island reel got no
alarm and come over a day after
the fair. And then the multitude
waited and wondered, as the fire roared
and the smoke spOuted, why the water
was not thrown on. Finally, with the
United ahead, the engines began to play
and from that time it was matter OF only
moments until the flames were subdued;
The fire broke out in the cellar OF the
laundry and originated in the furnace. A
darkey sleeping in the room awoke and
got out in hurry, as the smoke attracted
the attention of the people passing by.
In moment the lower portion of the ruin
O of water
had be.n thrown on. A rush CAS- made,
and the goods in Silllman's confectionery
and some of the linen in the laundry were
removed, but all in a damaged condition.
The door o. the laundry were closed to keep
out the air, but presently the smoke
DROVE THE GLASS OUT
with a crash, sending fragments on to the
heads OF by.standers. Albert Shallcross,
Fred Husemen and Jacob Nunge were
each slightly cut about the face.
About this time the ire had very we'll
Quilted out the store rooms and was
vigorously attacking the dwelling rooms
over head. These we're occupied by
George Chew and vie, Miss Oxtoby and
Miss Mallie Malther. The fire made short
work of them and soon had the build
ing a complete ruin. A heavy tire
wall saved the hotel proper aided by
the streams of water now playing in
both front and rear. At one time
the fire appeared in the hotel, through the
upper door, there was mOmentary panic,
but the flame was driven back quickly. An
incautiOuS pipemau let stream fly into
the upper hal, dong q little damage be-
fore il was cut of, but not TO any any
amount.
THE OWNERSHIP.
The burned building Is in liti CATION be.
tween Henry X. List and l.. ;. WooI-
mansee, and Mr.. List owns the other
building. The loss is slight, as the
building was merely q relic Ot the tire OF
-. The damage will be more than GOV
cred by s., UCO. Mr.. List has a policy in
the Manufacturers for s., 500, half Rein
sured in the General, of Paris.
Silemans loss in candy, fruit &c, was
considerable, but the amount is not known,
and is not covered by insurance.
The Pearl laundry lost about $50 worth
of linen and tOo,s but its ironerS and some
other tools are unhurt. Ii had just ar.
ranged for an insurance but had none.
Nj. Chew lost all of his furniture and
wesripg apparel and a new piano. The
fall of the front of the building completely
buried everything in his two rooms. He
has 1870 in insurance on his property.
Miss Oxtoby lost fine gold watch and
other jewelry, including a diamond ring.
Miss Malther lost her jewelry and wear
ing apparel, together with everything else
she had in the room.
The loss at the hotel is trihing. The wa
ter did little damsge, hut once more the
cutoff uozzleS paid their value ten times
over. At the beginning OF the fire, the
hotel people CU,,ed the lire department,
and AT the end praised il vigorously, say
ing there never was better set CT men.
NOTES.
The United engine was the first of the
engines TO get water on the tire. Remark
ably fast time WAS made by this company.
The Hope hose company had the first
stream of water on the fire. A great deal
of valuable time was lost by this company
owing to their being unable to get the
proper key for the hre plug to which they
were attached.
The Nigiaut engine company were I'M
fortunate. They made all preparations to
attach To the plug in frvnt of DR.. Logan s
residence. but when they went 10 put the
suction tube on il would not tit, neCessitating
the removal OF the engine to the plug on
Market street, north Of Tenth, causing a
delay of about fifteen min utes.
The alarm of fire was turned in at half
past ten last evening, but, owing to the
trouble experienced by the companies OF
the Fire Department situated near the lire,
over ten minutes elapsed before any water
was turned on the fire.
Walker Peterson got badly drenched
while working vigorously in the rear.
The crowd at Zinn's cCrner caught the
water once.
VIM. Entler lost about 500 in fine linen
in the laundry. 1t was Insured, but not
for that place.
The Pearl laundry had Just started up
now and will feel the loss severely