Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-22
THE BEAUTIFUL NOME
Of Hon. Lewis Baker Totally De.
stroysd by Fire
Early Yesterday nOming---Fuly Insured,
but a Loss Money Can Never Re-
plaee---PrObabls lnesndiarism
---Reward Offered.

About o'clock yesterday morning the
beautiful country residence Of Hon. Lewis
Baker, Just this side of Elm Grove, was to-
tslly destroyed BY FIRE. Nothing but two
blackensd ehimneyS and q pile Of smOlder-
ing ashes mark the spot it once occupied,
the former standing out in sorrowful relief
in spot once so beautiful. The flames
originated in the southeast wing Of the sec
ond floor, and the building being Of ornamen-
tai wood was rapidly consumed. Mr.. Baker
and his family are residing on Twelfth
street and the house was in charge Of Fred
Rensselaer, who, With his wife and Ave chill
dren, occupied rear annex The first H.
timation of the FIRE he had was the roaring
of the flames, and the destruction by the
FIRE was so rapid that he and his family
barely escaped with their lives and few
effects. In few moments the fierce flames
had enveloped the building, and half hour
aherward found it
IEYELED WITH THE GROUND.
Not an article could be removed and the
entire collection ofhousehold goods, includ.
ing the furniture, piano, pictures and library,
were consumed in the Ere. The house was
built By Mr.. Baker some years ago, and
year BY year he had added to it, as occasion
suggested, until ii was completed as one of
the most beautiful and comfortable houses
in the State. In the course Of q quarter
century of married life, Mr.. Baker had
gathered those thousand and one articles
dear to the household heart and valuable
beyond price and which money cannot now
restore or replace. he had valuable
library an2 collection of family portraits
which are now irrecoversbly lost.
SUPPOSED TNCENDIARIsM.
1t is believed the fire was the work of in
eendisrism, for several reasons taken into
consideration with the attack on Allen
Davis toll house, printed elsewhere. The
lower floor was securely locked up and any
entrance would have been detected at once.
The FIRE broke out in remote spot, where
none had ever been and no hypothesis of
rats, mice or spontaneity, would satisfactor-
lily account for it, The accepted belief is
that thieves got into the second story, ran
sacked the building and then, BY accident,
or with intent to cover their tracks set FIRE
to the building.
Several miners, living IN the vicinity, who
get up very early, saw two men, at different
points, hurrying down the HempGeld track,
away from the FIRE. One was questioned
about the FIRE and said hurriedly that he
knew nothing about it. On the evening
before, several unusually impudent tramps
were in the neighborhood of Mr.. kimberlys
residence, which fact may have some con
nection with the FIRE.
Mr.. BAKERS IDEAS.
Mr.. Baker was very much grieved at the
destruction of his work Of years in providing
an attractive home for his family and espe
cially at the loss of family relics and
souvenirs. He was quite at a loss to ac-
count for the fire, unless it was incendiary.
Said he:
Il am 10th to belle re il possible any human
being could have set FIRE to my house and
especially as it was occupied by a family
with FIVE children. Yet will pay q reward
of $500 for the arrest and conviction of the
person or persons who performed the das
tardly deed, If it was the act of anyone"
Mr.. Baker also expressed himself as deep
" grateful to the neighbors who had labored
earnestly but unayaiingl : to save his prop
erty.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRE.
When once the flames got Roadway, their
work was rapid and fightfuL The light
cast in the sky was intense and one might
have been able to read fine print at o long
distance. A high wind prevailed aiding
he fire very much. In the attic was a
number of magazines and when the roof
was gone, these were seized by the wind
and flung, like blazing torches, many yards
away. The neighboring building of Mr..
Askew, underwent a perfect bombsrdment,
while fragments were hurled over to the
residence of Mr.. Hornbrook, on the oppo-
site hill 1t was fearful yet magnificent
scene.
The destruction was complete. The
house, ice house and dairy were burned to
the ground The stable escaped, saving a
carriage and buggy, but the harness, stored
in the house was last. The gasometer es-
capped, by some singular means.
INSURANCE AID Loss.
Two policies of $1,000 each, had been
written on house and furniture, by J. NJ.
DOddridge, one in the Etns, of Hartford,
nd the other in the London, Liverpool
ard Globe. The $4,000 will not begin to
cover the loss, which Mr. Baker estimates
At SIS. 600. But even that figure would
not replace the fine house so quickly de.
stroyed, with all its priceless collection Of
household treasures
Mr.. Bakers many friends were warm in
their rendered sympathy.
A ROBBERY FRUSTRATED,