The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-30
THE MELlSBURG FIRE.
bic BLAZE foR A LlTrLE PLACE.
tn. Larger Part Of the Principal Bushes, square
pss,IOy.d-rhs orlEIn And Prosr.ssOfths
Fire aua Particulars Of the Losses
aud 1psurancs-othsr SOttG

# -|HH" ...'
The n~eighboripg own Of wellsburg was
furnished with q sensation Saturday morning
In the shape Of a destructive fire, the like Of
which 1t never had before and it is to be
hoped never will have again. Before The
flames were %extnguished one-half Of one Of
the most prominent squares in the city was
totally destroyed, involving a loss OF about
9,OOO. The FIRE was firstdiscovered about4A.
NJ, At that time James Hughes, a boStler
sleeping 10 the Office OF John Fowlers livery
stable, q large frame building about 40 by
100 feet, situated OH the west side OF Charles
street, mid way batween Market aud OHIO
stfeets, awoks aud found the place
full Of smoke and u ire raging
overhead. Half dressed, he ran across the
street, awakened Fowler, aud they beg4n re.
moving the harness and stock. In the mean.
time other parties had discovered the blaze
| and gave the general alarm. In n verv short
,ms the stable was developed In flames.
Those living in adjoining property saw al
once that their buildings were doomed and
began removing their effects; but so rapidly
and flsrrtly did the iltmes advance both
north and south, that but very little Of any
value was recovered. The dwelling aud TIN
sbop Of John NJ. Ch4rnock, south Of the sta.
bic, first caught fr0m the stable, aud aith lis
contents was quickly consumed.
SPREAD OF rHE FLAMES
South OF this was the fame warehouse,
two story brick dwelling and general mer.
chsndise store OF Hugh Barth. All Of this
property, together with the contents, was de-
slroyed by fire. On the north, just across u
small alley, were two twostory frame build.
ings and u blacksmith shop, belonging TO
Robert Thompson, a manufacturer and re.
psirer OF wsgons and buggies. These were
quickly reduced 10 ashes. "A quantity OF
valuable tools were lost In this building
Adjoining ThompsDn's property was the old
Town Hall, a substantial two-story brick
with a tin roof. The ground floor was used
as a storage place for the ancient and curious
contriyances Gu led hand fire engines. The
second floor had been but recently fitted up
and occupied by Glass Il Sons, prOprietOrs Of
the Pan HdHdc Netrs. For nearly two hours
this building withstood the heat, but tinally
it became 50 intense that the inside wood
work, ioists and rafters caught, and then
everything went with arush.
THE LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
From the owners the following waslearned
as to losses aud insurance: Hugh Bartb,
store, dwelling, merchandise and household
goods, loss shout SO, 900; insured for So. coo in
the London Il Lancashire and 81 sou in the
Lancaster. JUhn NJ. Charnock, buildings,
tools, stock and household goods, loss s.. 500;
insured for 500 in the Manufacturer OF
wheeling. Fowler lost three horses and sig
vehicles, together with numerous small arti.
cles, estimated loss 81 800; Insured for $1,000
in both Manufacturers and Peabody OF
Wheeling. The stable builaiDg was owned
by 1. George and wan worth 81, 200; 1t was In
surtd for 500 in the Peabody. The old Town
Hall was valued At 81 1900, with no Insurance.
Oh Il. Glass & Son lost nearly everything;
they estimated their loss at $500 or 5000,
and had but 81 00O insurance, carried by the
American, OF Wheeling
The entire town was seriously threatened
at one time, and dispatches were sent by the
Mayo to this city for aid. Chief Dunniug
had the yigilant engine made ready to start,
aud was waiting for a train, when word was
received that the FIRE was under control.
The water supply was fair but the hand
engines practically useless. The citizens
formed a bucket brigade aud managed to
ave the market house, and q frame structure
north OF the Nt1ps Office. Back OF It was the
jail, In which there were no inmates.
INCIDENTS CT THE FIRE.
The excitement at all times was intense.
Hughes In saving the horses was kicked
In the stomach and knocked insersible, aud
came near being suffJcatet while In that
condition.
The heaviest loss. comparatively, falls on
Charnock, whose insurance Is far below his
loss. He has been q hard worker and was
getting hintelf into good shape.
Astablc that stood where Fowler'R did,
was burned on the night OF June 20, 1878. but
the other buildings escaped.
The Nelrs, though slightly dikfsnred. is
still in the ring, and proposes to rise Phoenix
like, etc.
I'D. Lloyd lost a hearse valued at $500.
There was considerable stealing during the
progress OF the FIRE, and also considerable
drunkenness and one fight.
The personal property OF the livery stable
was TO have been sold Saturday morning at
sheriirs sale. The origin OF the fire is un-
known, but incendiarism was generally &C.
cepted as the cause.