Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-09
THE i%NCENDIARY FIRE
at Martins Ferry BY Which a
Depot
Aod Much Freight Were OestrOyed-Loss
$500 - Those Who Suffered
General Notes.

The burning of the Martins Ferry de-
pot at an early hour yesterday morning
was the theme of conversation throughout
the town during the day and evening.
Nearly every person had something to say
about the enterprise displayed by the
DAILY REGISTER in containing an account
Of the fire and reaching the many reader
doors about breakfast time. About twelve
minutes after two o'clock the flames were
discovered by some working men on their
way to work. An alarm was sounded an
a minute later almost the entire population
was aroused by the continued blowing Of
the Buckeye Glass Works whistle. When
the flames we're first discovered they were
confined 10 a small space in the south end
Of the building, not larger than a wooden
bucket, but in a few minute the entire
building was a sheet OF flame. As there
was no water near by and no wells bearer
than the Buckeye Glass Works well, a con-
siderable distance away, no attempt was
made TO save the building and they turned
their attention toward saving the contents.
Some boards were removed from the side
OF the building and an entrance effected.
By this means considerable freight
of different kinds was safely
removed. While a number Of willing
hands were engaged in efIecting good work
in the freight room, Mr.. John kyne, Of
the Atlantic saloon, and the C.. & 7. depot
agent, Mr.. w. s. Dilworth, succeeded in
etTecting an entrance TO the office and by
strenuous efforts safely removed all the
valuable contents, such as books, papers,
money and tickets. These two gentlemen
worked like Turks to save the valuables, as
did Mr.. Kyne especially, not saying that
MANY others did not render valuable ser
vice. Kyne, determined that no valusbles
in the office would be lost, remained among
The dense smoke, falling ceiling, cracking
timbers and roaring aud fiery flames, and
displayed great herOism. Finally, on be.
ing driven out, he crawled through a small
window with the flames following at his
heels. In making his escape he had
nearly all of his clothing torn from his
cody and lost from his pockets about 80.
The building, as stated in yesterdays REG
IsTER, measured about 30x75 feet and was
worth probably 5000. Fortunately there
was much less freight in the building than
usual. and as a considerable amount OF 1t
was saved the loss on the freight is not
heavy. The contents of the express Office,
which contained goods OF considerable value
were all destroyed, as also were the
Instruments, books and property Of the
Western Union Telegraph Company. The
total loss is estimated at So. 800. though II
is not known at this writing. The entire
depot was destroyed except a few feet OF
the platform.
The fire was Of incendiary origin with
out q doubt. The flames when first discOy-
| cred were seen issuing from the south end,
near the floor. Those who first saw them
think that the building was fired under the
floor, as there was every indication OF this
theory. Who the incendAries are is not
known, and will probably never be found
-. .~l.,o .ar,a - nau,a Iataptiya UnFk IL
done: What their object wa. in the devillsh
deed appears TO a mystery.
Falling sparks,
Almost every man, woman and child in
town were on hand in good time. People
barely dressed ran, leaving their doors IN.
locked, and strange TO say, not one robbery
has been reported up till this writing.
John Kyne deserves a pass.
Among the merchants who were rather
heIvy losers are Z. D. Cattelle &
c.. DR.. A. p Oae, B. f. Brady,
Klein and f. c. Boyd. Theaker & Dick
son lost a very fine unique heating stove
Sc Il TO them from New York TO exhibit at
the West Virginia State fair. A large
qusntiiy Of glass belonging 10 the R|son
Glass Company was destroyed. The Ohio
Valley News lost considerable type sna
other bran new material. The Union News
Company is out about so on the outfit Of
James Crooks.
At present an old box car is being used
as q telegraph Office and station. The
Western Union had the wires all repaired
and Off e established. and in working or.
der by : A. NJ City Hall will likely be
used as a station until q new depot is
erected. The officials viii visit the scene
to morrow and soon afterwards decide
upon the plans for rebuilding. From reli-
able sources We hear that the leading
officials are favorable to the building OF q
II light depot on the site of the old depot
and erecting q passenger depot on the
compauy's lots between Hickory and
Locust streets, west OF the railroad These
lots were purchased with that intention
about fifteen years ago, and as the old
depot has become entirely too small for
the rspid growth of Martins Ferry, and
the building OF several large msuufso-
tories. il is not unlikely that the above
plan will be decided q pom.
The reason the depot was erected upon
the cd site wss because the grouRd occu-
pied by the depot was donated TO them by
Mr. Joel Wood and others.
Who will be the losers Of the burned
freight?
The burning OF the depot yesterday
morning makes the second time inside O.
Twelve years. The first time Il was ais
burned by ineendisries, tho crcumstanc
attending the burning being about tn
same IS this last FIRE, occurring at the sam
time only only on Sunday morning.
II the fire had occurred one morning ear
lier the loss would have been twice a,
heavy as the depot contained fully doubl.
the smount of freight
additional Martins Ferry asws on
Seventh PsRel
THE blessed privilege oil seeing that great
art work is extended for 9 few dsyI