Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-08
The Laushlin Nail Works the Scene
Of Disaster.
The Old Factory Building Entirely
Consumed,
While the Remainder Of tho Prop
srty Narrowly Escapes.
The Loss Bstwssn SIS, 900 and
100000,
Fully Covered by Insurance In
Foreign Companies.
The Mill to be Rebuilt lmms-
diatsly.

nAun refryi nOLiCou . Aoiso 'N
smoke and small tongues of fame issuing
from the opening round the main steam
pipe which furnished steam for the factory
engines in the cellar below. Mr.. Brandt
fastened to the scene of threatened diss-
ter and upon going down stairs found that
the FIRE had spread over large space OF
the under floor, there being double floor.
BE hsd no means at hand to extinguish
tas flames and sounded an alarm TO
Jerry Murphy Neil AtkisOn and John
Dixon, three other employees.
By the time Mr.. Brsndts assistants ar
rived the fire had gained such hesdWsy
among the grease and other inasmmAble
material about the engine and stairway,
that, to use the watchmsn's expression,
pouring water on the flames onlyiuereased
their vehemencs.
A general alarm was aounded BY footing
the mill whistle, and the sound was soon
taken up BY the whistles of other factories
10 town, and in few minutes every posi-
Die fire alarm, including the hosrss shrieks
OF men and women, was in full blast.
Almost the entire population turned out,
and as is customary in places where the
protection against FIRE is limited, nearly
every one worked hard to save the property,
Mayor Keller, Of Martins Ferry,
was early on the scene and
immediately tsisphoned the news to
the owners in this city, and also called
upon the Fire Department for aid.
A team OF horses belonging to
the mill were sent over to meet the promised
engine, the Niagara, and BY the aid thus
lent the apparatus arrived in good time.
/ The engine was stationed at the river, and
at once went to work with good effect.
Inc Island hose reel accompanied the
eagine
Ia the meantime men had gone to work
20 save the nails in the warehouses, and
osber portable objects that were
in danger. The FIRE in the factory
increased with marvellous rapidity, and 10
less than an hour the entire structure had
been consumed, except burning skeleton
which stood TO mark the form Of the once
valuable plant. The pumps at the mill
we're put to work by Manager Ford, aud
the water turned on the partition between
the factory and the forge department
Several hundred feet of new hose, but with
no couplings or nozzle, were found in the
wsreroous, and impromprG couplings OF
canvas and cloth were made by the willing
crowd, and the hose put to use. One man
pulled of his shirt and tore it to pieces to
couple tgo pieces OF hose together. There
seemed 10 be 40 desire on the part OF
any one to hrng back Or to shlrk
| their share of work Locked-out nsilefs and
heaters were present in large numbers and
| did al in their power 10 save the plant, oil
though sone cid refuse to handle nails tor
the purpose of saving them. 1t was re-
ported at several times that the hose had
been cut, but Judging from the good feel
iug and willingness 10 work which FREEDOM
mated amongst all present, the cutting
must have 6asn done by drs gRiDg the hose
over sharp iron plates, or else some other
than Intentional means did the Injury.
The C & P. railroad agent tslegrsphed
to Bsllaire for an engine to come up aud
tase the loaded cars from the switch, In
which place they were in danger of being
burned. The $50 train arrived but
was tagged before the burning build
ing was reached. Tbs train was delayed
| . considerable time, the track being near
the front wall of the destroyed building,
which was liS5i5 70 iS.l gu The train as 1t
passed,
The burning building presented eSsnd
spectacle, with the hissipg, ssething flames
pouring through the windows and the cor
rugated iron root, where sheets had
burned loose and fell to the cellar below.
The hardest fights against the progress
Of the danes were at the partition between
the burning factory and the forge depart
'msnt and at the doors which lead to the
warehouse The former was Of iron, built
against wooden timbers. aud it was only
with the utmost efforts that the forge
was saved. The doors were wood aud
hung in wooden frames. Ittook, however,
quite while for the heat TO ignite these
doors, and by keeping water on the inside
their destruction Was delayed till
the heat on the outside had spent lis
fury, and the buildings placed in compare
tive safety. As is natural IN time of ex-
element, some men allowed their hands to
get ahead OF their minds, and did some
thrpgs which had tendency to destruc-
ton, but on the whole the unframed FIRE
men worked very well, as the result of their
veil directed efforts show. When the Gre
engine sad hose reel from Wheeling az
rived. the buildings surrounding the old
factory were considered gessonsbly safe, |
aud the exertions were dire cted to the
saving OF the machinery in the burning |
ruin.
The books and papers Of value were
stored in the large FIRE prcot safe in
stone vault adjoining the
Office, and the remainder Of the
Office secoutrements were carried into the |
yard and special guard stationed over
them By Mayor Keller. Nearly al the
nails had been taken from the factory floor
to the warehouses, leaving only q small
amount OF stock to be destroyed. and sven
a part Of this was rolled out Of danger.
AT hsltpsst two this morning the burn
ing bmbers in the cellar Of the build.
ing were about DESTROYED, and with
the help rendered b7 the Silsby engine. the
probabilities are that everything will be
cool By morning. The walls are all
firm, and in good condition,
sad the foundations under the
factory 6oor are not badly damaged. The
grind stones ere all cracked and broken 80
as to render them usslsSs and the condi
hon Of the other machinery depends con- I
upon the amount of heat genera 5
ted BY the fallen tim5ers, which, however, i
we're not numerous, the structure being !
oailt entirely otiron except the frame work
md floors.
The loss viii probably fall somewhere {
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