The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-02
A GREAT FIRE.
over n Million DollArS' Worth of Property
DsAtroyed Mt Buffalo,


BUFFALO, N. Y, Feb. 1.-Fire broke
out at 11:4O this morning in the NAM
moth dry goods establishment Of Bsrnes,
Hengerer & Co., Nos. 256 to 26S Main
street, and in few minutes the whole
interior was a ssething furnace.
The employees were pRnic.striken at the
first alarm and made rush for the street.
1t was reported that four girls were seen
to perish in the flames, but Mr.. Howard,
Of the firm, states all the employees are
safe.
At noon the walls on Pearl street fell in
and half an hour later the entire structure
was in ruing. The FIRE spread to the ad-
jacent building occupied by Dickinson's
jewelry store and Patridge's dry goods
store, and leaped across the street to
Glanny's china and glassware emporium,
Morgan's carpet store, and threatened the
Academy OF Music. The Bank Of Buffalo,
in the came block with Barnes, Hsngerer
& Co., put all their books and papers in
the vaults and vacated the premises. The
Board OF Trade building was for time in
dsnger.
The efforts Of the firemen were at once
directed toward preventing the spread Of
FIRE, and they were 60 far successful that
the flames obtained no foothold in any Of
the adjacent buildings. Beyond damage
to the buildings Immediately adjoining
the origin Of the fire and to the fronts Of
those opposite on Main street, and in the
rear on Pearl street, the loss is confined to
Barnes, HenRsrer & Go. and the building
they occupied. Atl P. NJ. the fire was un-
der control.
Mr.. Howard reports loss Of over $780,.
900 on stock. The building, owned by O.
]. Camlin, was valued at $250, 900.
A later dispatch gives the following de-
tails: A few minutes before noon to-day
fire was discovered in the great dry goods
establishment OF Barnes, Hengerer & Co.,
on Main street. The building had
handsome iron front and was Ave stories
high, and extended from Main to Pearl
street. It was only few minutes alter
the FIRE was discovered before the lower
floors were q mass Of flames, and in the
short space OF half an hour the entire
building, with its contents, valued at
$3.50, 900, was destroyed.
At firat 1t was thought that some Of the
400 or 800 persons employed by the firm
had been burned, but at P. N. 1t was
thought thst everybody escaped from the
building. When the FIRE broke out many
OF the clerks and sewing girls were out
at lunch, and there were but few cuato-
mers in the store. There were many mar.
row escapes and exciting scenes while the
girls were being rescued from the upper
stories, but no serious injuries have az yet
been reported. The heat was so intense
that the efforts Of the entire FIRE depart
ment OF the city were required TO save the
buildings on the opposite aide Of Main
street from destruction. The loss by wa
ter in these stores will be heavy.
The building was insured for 500, 900,
Barnes, Hengerer & Co, hold 100000 in.
surance on their stock. Across the street
the firm OF D. E. Morgan & Son, whose
stock is badly damaged by water, hold
Sl25,0O0 insurance, and Mrs. R ]. sher-
man, oWnor Of the building, has $40 900.
Mr.. Rose, advertising agent for Barnes,
HenRerer & Co., reports that all the clerks
have been accounted for and no one was
even seriously hurt. The fire started In
the paper room In the basement. How II
started Is not really known, but It Ia
thought from gas Jet. The total loas ia
estimated at about 81 ,200, 900, with enough
fnRuFanCe To cover II.