Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-01-30
A DEFECTIVE FLUE
rHg CAUSE OF A DISASTROUS PIRE AT
PIIfSBURG.
Big Business Block Burned Early Yesterday
Norning-A Loss Of fhrs Hundred
Thousand Dollrs-Naruw Escape
From . hsy Death.

PIrsBURe, January 2s-A defective
fue in the four story building Of c. G.
Hussey, No. ~ Fifth avenue, occupied hy
Urlipg & Sons, merchant tailors, and
Heeren Bros, manufacturing jewellers, re-
suited in . fire this morning, which burned
fercely for eight hours, and oocasioned
loss of $500. 600. For . half hour after
being discovered IL did not look - II it
would do much damage. Before II Was
gotten under control, the communicating
building occupied BY VIM. Haslase 4 Sons,
wholesale Erocers and fancy goods store,
had been included in the general destruc-
ton, neighboring buildings deluged with
water and . block fpll Of people treated To
q night OF terror.
About hAlf-past three o'clock this morn.
ing policeman passing down Fifth ave-
nue. noticed smoke and flames issuing from
the windows Of the Urling building and
gave the alarm. The department re-
sponded promptly and for time il was
thousht the flames could be controlled, but
before 4 o'clock they broke out with re-
newed fury, and . few minutes later the
fire was in almost every part Of the build
ing. A general alarm was then sent in
and the firemen were soon hard nj work.
IL was not until this time that IL was dis
covered that two men were sleeping in the
third story. They were c. p. Heis and
c. Newbcrt, employed by the Heron Bros,
who occupied the upper part Of the build
ing, There was an immense crowd on the
street and the greatest excitement ] evail-
ed. The iremen run ladder to window
in the room in which the men were, and
rescued them. When they appeared at the
window cheer went up from the specta-
tors. The men who slept In the building
had retired before midnight, and were
sleeping when the firemen came into their
room. In the meantime the flames con-
tinued TO spread, and in short time had
communicated to Haslage e. Sons grocery.
the rear Of which reached 10 the Urling
building. The infismmable material In
the Haslage building aided the ire in get
ting the better OF the fremen. Finding
that IL was impossible 10 save the burning
buildings they turned their attention to
the adjoining property, and 10 this way
succeeded in keeping the fire from spread
ing, although considerable damage wa-
done from water. The total loss WAS
S295, 500, on which there was. .$s05, 900 in
surance.
VIM. Haslage said this afternoon that
his loss would be $l20, 600. The building
was valued at $4,000. and the loss on
stock IL fully $sO, 900. The building was
insured Cor $50, 600 and the stock $50, 900.
OF this amount $4,000 Wa in Eastern
companies and the balance in home and
foreign companies. Heener Bros. carried
a stock at from 500, 600 to $il0, 900. They
had $50, 900 insurance. The stock Ia not
nearly all destroyed. They had $1,000
worth of goods packed for shipment TO-
morrow, which were saved. Five large
safes are also in the ruins filed with val
uable iewclry, watches, etc, which they
hope TO save.
&. G. HusseE owner Of tho building oc'
cupied by Urling and Hesren x Bros. /,
places his loss at $4,000. The building
was valued at $4,000. The loss IL fully
covered by insurance.
| Urling & Sons place their loss at Sl2, =
600, on which there In 0,OOO insurance.
The loss of Degelman * Black, dealers In
woolen goods, Is estimated 10 he $l2. OOO,
all resulting from the store being Hooded
by water. II In impossible TO get the list
Of insurance companies interested, ~ most
OF the policies are In the safes, which are
still in the burned buildings.