The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-27
CENTRAL GLASS WORKS
On Fire and Narrowly Escapes
Total Destruction.
LAST NIGHTS BIG BLAzE
Started in Straw Shed aud was
Stopped only altcra Hard Fight.
Loss Unknown, but Consider
ablc-Thc Insurance.


Loss Unknown, but Consider
nblc-Thc Insurance.
The large brick building at the corner
OF McColloch and Fifteenth streets,
owned by the Central Glass Company
and occupied by it as an Office, packing
department and warehouse, narrowly
escaped total destruction by fire be-
tween 7 and o'clock last evening. The
fire originated in some unknown man
ner in the straw house, frame struc-
ture located on the south side Of the
large brick referred to, and before it had
been cxtinguishcd, spread to the pack
ing department, where it was checked
just in time to prevent u serious contia-
grafton. No definite estimate OF the loss
could DO obtained last night, but 5000
is probably low figure. This is fully
covered by al insurance on the build
ings and stock that amounts to about
$4,000.
II was just about 1880 o'clock when
the fire bells sounded an alarm from sta
ton 80, which is at the glass works, and
atthe same time the eastern portion OF
the city was illuminated by bright
flames and showers OF sparks that shot
high in the air. People in all parts OF
the city at once realized that big fire
had started and hundreds hurried to the
scene. The first alarm was followed by
aseCond and the entire department made
all speed in getting to the place. As
soon as the apparatus was unlimbered,
under Chief Cummings efficient dircc.
ton the fire was soon under control and
q large loss of property averted.
When the first company OF tiremen
reached the Central the straw.house was
one mass OF fame, the big wooden ven.
tilators on top OF the brick building had
commenced to burn and there were
signs that the fire was fast eating its
way into the secoEd story OF the build
ing. Smoke was pouring in thick
volumes from several openings, and all
the indications were that there would
be heavy destruction before the night
was over. But us before stated, this was
averted by the excellent work OF the
tiremen.
The fire was first discovered by James
Maloney, glass worker who has been
employed at the works for number Of
years. He lives in the alley in the real
OF the warehouse, and had just started
out OF his home for short walk when
he CHANGED to look towards the straw
house and saw that that it was alire,
Shouting ut the top OF his voice, he
started to run around to the office, which
lis located in the front OF the building,
to send in an alarm. BY the time lie
reached there the flames had broken out
all through the frame straw house and
were making rapid prOgress towards the
brick building Before the TIRE Ya5
under control it did get into this build
ing and burned some shelving and dam
aged the roof considerably, but the most
damage was done by smoke and water
In the straw hopge there was stored
about 200 tons OF haied hay and abont 81
tons OF straw. The straw not being
baled burned freely and was all con
sumed. Comparatively little hay was
burned owing to the fact that it was
tightly baled, bit II was thoroughly
soaked with water. The building was
badly charred, and new one will prob
ably have to be built.
In the SQrehGuge there will be big
loss on the stock Of wrapping paper
which was quite large, The shelves
that were touched by the fire were filled
mostly with lamp gO0ds, and several
hundred OF these were swept oil by the
force Of the water from the hose. Goods
packed gpd ready for shipment were
damaged by smoke end water, and will
have to be repacked.
The works have been shut down fol
the holidays and to take stock. The
work OF stock taking has just commenced,
and but very few OF the goods damaged
had been reached. President Scott is
in Cincinnati looking some business
matters. Secretary Gehring and several
other officials tried to form some estimate
OF the loss last night, outbound thesmokG
and water so disagreeable that they
finally gave it up till this morning.
The cause OF the fire is mystery.
The theory OF spontaneous combustion
in the hay, that OF incGndiarism and that
of care!essncss on the part OF some en-
ploye were all advanced. ltseems hardly
probable that the fire was started b. an
incendiary, for the hour was too early.
II there had been any desire to burn the
property later hour would, in all like
tihood, haye been selected, for then the
destruction would haye been almost GER
tain. To-day may develop the caGse as
well as the loss.
The insurance is as follows:
| Rinn Wheeling ....-....... 1000