The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-22
4 DISASTROUS FIRE.
IS BAKER's HOUSE BURNED
At Elm. Grove Yesterday Morning Strong
Reasons TO Believe tho Fire was, the d
work OF InsendiariesA The Loss
+ Heavy one In More ways than one. b !.

road tllS klQb ol E4lm dloNcj alN apuue /
Ave miles from the city, was discovered
10 be onifire, and before anything OF any |
value whatever could be rescued the
house and all It's contents were entirely |
consumed. The loss, viewed solely from !
a financial standpoint, will amount TO be- |
tween S14 coo and Sl5, 900, on which there
Is an insurance OF Sl0, 200. Il.
How the FIRE originated Is mystery.
About three months ago Mr.. Baker leased
the Harden mansion on Twelfth street
until the first OF April, and moved his
family into the city for the winter, leaving
his country home and all its belongings in
charge OF one OF his tenants, Fred Rense.
iaer, who with his wife and family Of five
children moved into and occupied the rear
portion of the house. They were ava
kened yesterday morning by the roar and
crSckle Of the flames, which had already
enyeloped the main part Of the house and
commenced to feed on the portion they
were occupying They barely had time to
escape with their lives and what few
clothes they could hurriedly pick up,
VAIN RFFoRrs TO STAY rHR PLANES.
By the time they had rushed out half
blinded and suiiocated by the smoke, the
citizens OF Elm Grove had arrived, having
been awakened by the alarm sounded BY
the engineer OF a passing train on the
Hempfeld. The people made brave
effort to save something, but with no APP
pliances at hand for extinguishing the
fire which devoured the beautiful home
with a frightful rapidity and in face of
the terrific heat, they could do nothing but
stand and watch the quick destruction Of
what was probably one Of the most com.
plete homes in the State. There was no
Dire in that portion OF the house in which
the fire IL supposed to have originated,
and the fIues throughout the house were
all in a safe condition. II has been sug-
gested that mice might have gotten at
some matches and thereby caused the fire.
Many are inclined to believe that the
hand Of IN incendiary applied the torch.
Mr.. Baker, Enthusiastically 10th tobelieye
It possible that any human being started
the. fire, said yesterday thatititwas the act
OF anyone, he would cheerfully pay re-
ward OF $500 for the detection and conyic-
tirn Of the inhuman wretch.
1NcENDIARlsM PROBABLE.
In support Of the incendiary theory is
the fact that two suspicious characters
were seen inithe vicinity shortly after the
fire occurred. Tom Scott, coal digger,
living along tho line OF the railroad some
distance this side OF Mr.. Bakers place on
going to his work in coal mine, met q
well:dreSsed man walking rapidly towards
the city. His hat was pulled down, so
that his features could not be distinguish
ed. At that time Scott did not know Of
the fire and no words were passed be-
tween him and the stranger. Another
coal digger, also on his way to the mine,
noticed the light Of the fire which was Just
beginning to burn and almost immediate
" afterwards met q man running. He
asked what was the matter, and tue fell
low who was well bundled up, answered,
81 don't know and continued on up the
track. This took place on the other side
Of Elm Grove. Earlier ia the evening, a
suspicious character was lurking about
Col. Allan Davis at the Leatherwood toll
house for two or three hours, and once he
was fired at. II the fire that destroyed a
beautiful home and came near consuming
a family OF seven was started by an incen.
diary, the tiend, II caught should receive
the severest punishment.
Mn. BAKERS PLANS.
Mr.. Baker, notwithstanding the fact that
he has disposed Of the Regtsler and pur-
chased controlling interest in the st.
Paul Globe, did not intend togive up his
residence. He intended to always regard
1t as his home. He and his family were
80 attached 10 the place that they had
never for a moment thought of giving it
up. His family were eagerly looking for
ward to the first of April when they would
again be ut home. Even while Mr.. Baker
and his sons were engaged in st. Paul, the
handsome residence out the road was to
be TO them home and all that the word
implies,
Mr. Baker purchased the place sixteen
years ago. twas the old Lunsford estate.
lie made numerous additions TO II each
adding more and more to Its comfort
and convenience. II contained fourteen
rooms, all nicely furnished. 1t was a
frame building with broad piazzas, sur.
rounded by large and well kept grounds,
and presented q hospitable appearance to
the passer-by, that was in keeping with
the warm and cordial welcome that always
greeted guests. 1t vas o charming place
In which to be entertainedin that manner
Mr.. and Mrs. Baker are noted for.
The house was fitted up with gas and
water. II contained large library OF
valuable and well selected books. Nearly
all the private papers OF Mr.. Baker
were also there and were consumed.
In fact almost everything he
and his family possessed except
what winter clothing they had brought
into the city WINS consumed. The china,
silver and glassware, furniture, carpets,
pictures and the thousand and one atti-
Giles OF but little intrinsic value, perhaps,
but rendered dear and precious by assor
citation, and the loss OF which Is incalcua-
BILE, were swallowed up in the blaze In one
short half hour. Mr.. Baker, in referring
TO these articles yesterday, showed his
emotion very plainly, and said that the
more he and Ills wife thought OF that por-
tionpof their loss the heavier II seemed to |
bear. To hiG neighbors who labored so |
earnestly but unsuSoessfglly to save any
thing but the stable, he desires TO express |
his sincere thanks. In his loss Mr.. Bakerl
has the sympathy Of the community.
This was very generally expressed yester-
day.
Thefire willpreyent Mr.. Baker from going |
10 st. Paul as soon as he intended. He
was to have left to-day. He expects 70 |
rebuild on the site Of his former home,
and also intends putting up several neat |
and commodions cottages on his property,
that will make very desirable homes when
the Elm Grove road Is extended, The
SIC, 1000, was in two companies,
the Etna, Of Hartford, and the London
and Liverpool Globe, s., 900 in each.
NJ -;,,,55, -, n :, Z, ~ IN