Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-11
BRIDGEPORT BLAZE.
A Destructive Fire Over the River
Yesterday.
-Four Buildings Gone Up in Smoke-Ths
Loss and Insurance-Baek River
Bridge 0amaged-Vol.
unteer firemen.

Our enterprising little neighbor. Bridge
port, was visited yesterday morning, be-
tween s and clock, by fire that proved
quite disastrous. The alarm was sounded
here and hundreds of people visited the
scene. The rumors about here were, as
usual, highly colored and exaggerated,
though the fire was bad enough. The
blaze first appeared in the Osborn proper
~, which is situated on the east side of
the c. & z. road. 1t is supposed it caught
from a defective tiue in the part of the
house occupied by Mrs. Wheeler. The
only fire in that portion OF the house was
in the cooking stove, which was in the
southeast corner OF the building. The
wind blew quite gale frem the south aud
in very few minutes after the fire was
discovered the entire structure was
burning. The buildings burned were both
frame, and on The lower house the Chin
neys were built Of common stone pipe,
commonly used for sewers, and the wonder
is that they have lasted thus long.
The house next the creek vas owned by
Amos Osborne and was not insured. His
loss will probably amount TO $1,000 or
$500 The building was occupied by four
families. VIM. Wheeler lived in the base
ment story on the south side, and lost all
his household goods and everything he had
Some of the goods were gotten out in very
b. d condition. He estimates his loss at
$500 and is insured in the Ohio Insurance
Company for 500.
Mrs. Hetty Rhodes, whose husband is an
invalid, loses nearly every thing she had.
She wss able TO get out one bed and
sma | amount of wearing apparel. L. &.
Criswell also lived in the lower house and
lost most of his goods: he was fully in'
sured and is the only one in the building
vino was
Max Gaus also occupied part OF the Os.
borne house and got all his goods out in
somewhat damaged condition.
The house Immediately above the Os-
borne house was also burned to the ground
and was owned by Mrs. Cochran, widow of
William Cochran, deceased. The house
was insured for $1,000 and Mrs. CoChran's
loss will be about $4,000 in all.
Mrs. DOrcus Ferry lived in the upper
house and lost all her household goods.
Joseph Hamilton who kept a saloon IN
this building got every thing out.
The Western Union telegraph line and
the Telephone COmpanyS wires were both
down, but We're liked up yesterday after
noon as soon as the fire subsidized sufficient
ly to allow the repair men to 90 to work.
The bridge across the back river was on
IRE SFNtTdi Tue auu
almost suDerhuman efforts Of the tiremen
saved it. The Atlantic engine was at
work at the river on the Bridgeport side
and the Island Hose Company ran their
hose over the top of the bridge and kept
stream running from the plug on the
Wheeling side.
Foreman Wally Lukens' and Al. Everett,
both did noble work with the Island hose,
Everett held the nozzle and Lukens engin-
eered the work.
The Miller and Atchison buildings Just
across the railroad track were on fire several
kmes and were only saved by the great eff
forts Of the Bridgeport bucket brigade. The
work done by the Bridgeport volunteer
brigade was well done and deserves special
mention. On the top Of the Miller build
ing were Tom Duncan, \. J. Heinlein, Will
Briedenstein, Will Clark, Will Citizen, +.
II. Barker, John Rosenberg and Mr.. Glib
son, while Jim Reed, Ed. Glass, Jim Clay
land, Reuben Porter, {. Appenzellar, Geo.
Naus, Jr., Chris. Heinlein, John koehn-
lein, Doc McConnaughy, Rock Mitchell,
John Berry and Ike Connaway held the
flames at bay on the AtChison property.
The heat was so great that the boys had to
be kept saturated with water all the time
10 enable them to stay at all.
Jim Holloway and Joe Love, OF the bank
force, worked like veterans, and did much
toward saving the bridge. Albert Smith,
of the Bridgeport water works, furnished
the water for the bucket brigade.
The koehnlein Brothers, John, VIM. and
Henry, Ed. Lysle, Ad. Everett and Late.
Citizens were all on the roof of the bridge
and were instrumental in saving it from
the flames.
A. J. Clarke, OF the bridge company, was
seen by the REGISTER scribe and said that
he thought 81, 900 would fully cover their
loss.
The loss at the adjoining buildings was
considerable, as all their effects were moved
out, and the stealing and breakage can not
be estimated at this time. Maggie AdOlph
is probably the heaviest loser from this
source. Her furniture and show cases are
badly broken and many snail articles are
missing. Her tableware and china is also
all broken.
Robert Atchisous loss by water and fire
will amount 10 about $500 or 800, and Mil
ler's is about the same figure.
Leopold NuSents loss is about 500.
NOTE.
The force at the c. * z. office vacated in
short order.
Kirk McConnaughy had nearly all his
hair scorched off.
Hon. Ross J. Alexander is making some
Improvements at his residence.
Barney Steele and his family returned
from q visit to Pittsburgh to-day.
Jacob thinner. an extraman of the United
company, had his hands and face badly
burned.
Very many OF the Bridgeport boys had
their eyebrows burned off and the Bridge!
port boys handle fire we'll
The United engine did very effective
work, and did not stop throwing water
until after l. o'clock.
The Mayor of Bridgeport at noon yester-
day invited the tiremen to the Frazier
House, where tiue repast was served
them.
The town was filled with sightsaers
from Bellaire, Martins Ferry and Wheel
ing, who came over to see the ruins yes
terday.
About o'clock the Atlantic engine
broke valve and was compelled to hasten
back to the city for repairs, in case of q fire
in her own district.
James Lysle did very effective work at
the fire. rendered aid to the tiremen and,
as one of the members the bridge company
remarked, saved the bridge"
About thirty.six OF the telephone wires
were brokeR At the fire in Bridgeport yes
terday. Last evening MI Wolf informed
a reporter that the wires would be fully re-
paired and ready for service by noon to-
day.
Lynn Tysle came over from Wheeling
with brand new suit OF clothes on, which
he changed for an old suit in a shed near
the fire. When he came to look for his
new suit the shed was harmed and the suit
was non est.
The loss estimated BY the bridge compa-
ny, as stated above. is 81 O00. but this is
greatly eXag geraied. 1t is believed $500
will cover the loss. The bridge is insured
in all of the Wheeling companies and
sgents $500 in each.
IRE following conveyance was admitted
to record at Clerk Hooks office yesterday:
4 deed made the 10th day OF May. 1888 by
Mary Lsas to Henrietta Elias, in consider
ation of 800, for the east portion OF two
lots on Forty-Second street.
These are solid facts.
The best purifier and system regulator
ever placed within the reach OF suffering
humanity, truly is Electric Bitters. lnsc-