Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-14
A BAD BLAZE.
A RATHER DISASTROUS FIRE ON MAIN
STREET, EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING.
The Four Story Block, Nos 1907 to 1915 Pretty
Badly Scurchsd, Involving Loss Of About Four
teen Thousand DOllars-Fully Insured.

Judge" Beymer, of the Western Union,
and box "a, at Main and Twelfth street,
formed o combination which called the
entire fire department of the city, shortly
after five o'clock yesterday morning, to
fight one of the most stubborn blazss
ever started in Wheeling. And the ire
men made remarkably quick time, in get
ting to the spot where their services were
needed. By the time theseeona round OF
the big bell had rung out, the Hope hose
company was rounding the Twelfth street
corner onto Main, where they found the
tour.story building No. 12l5, occupied by
Wilson & Chapman with portion of their
extensive paint, glass, and sash and door
business, we'll alight, torrents Of smoke
pouring from the upper windows, while
fire seemed TO be well scattered through
the building, principally, however, upon
the second and succeeding foois. The
Hope boys were followed in q few
moments by the remainder of the depart
ment, and Chief Dunning at once saw
that he had heavy contract on his hands,
and disposed of his forces to the best ad-
vantage.
The fire was first discovered about five
o'clock by some passer by along the street,
whose name could not be secured yester-
day. This gentleman located the fire
along the north side ofthe first floor, in the
immediate vicinity of the elevator shalt,
% which the flames had made their way
to the second floor. He at once awoke the
echoes with cries of fire." but this pro-
ducing little or 10 result, he ran to the
Western Union Office, where Mr.. John
Beginner, the night manager, was sleeping
That gentleman turned in the ALARM, and
in an incredibly short time waite was on
the FIRE. The flames early developed a
disposition TO mount TO the top Of the
building, through the rear, and this they
succeeded in doing despite all the efforts
of the 6remen, who experienced great diff
Guilty in getting water on the house from
that side. They soon succeeded in mount
ing to the roofs of the adjoining buildings
on the north and south, however, and
from these points of vantage, heavy streams
were played upon the fire, but for long
time Without other effect than to keep it con-
fued 10 the Wilson & Chapman building.
But little by little the fire got the upper
hand, and although the iremen were re-
inforced by the police and several volun-
teers, aud Manager Buckenberger and sew
eral reporters took line of hose up through
the Howell House and brought the addi-
tional stream to bear through a window,
the intensely combus!ible nature of the
stuff stored on the upper floors of the burn
ing building made too hot Ere 10 be easi
ly checked, and it began to eat its way
along under the roof Of No. 1918, into the
old Union Hall, recently fitted up in
beautiful manner by the G.. A. R., and
from there it went farther north beneath
tho roofs as far as 1907, or next door TO the
National Bank of West Virginia.
At six O'Clock the fire was at its height
and for the succeeding half hour the bat
tie was about even. At times it looked
as though the fire WAS going to spread still
farther, and here and there Oae could hear
the prediction that "Wheelirg's big fire
had come at last" and that the blaze
would soon he beyond all control. Thanks
to the entire absence Of wind, and the ex-
cellent work of the firemeu, these predic-
tions failed to become facts, and at seven
o'clock the firemen were past the turning
point, and began TO make Roadway against
the flames.
At this time the fire 10 the Wilson and
Chapman building WAS pretty well out, oc-
casional outbreaks on the upper floors be
ing easily subdued by the application Of
stream of water for few minutes, but the
fire under the tin roof of the buildings
further north was very stubborn, and re-
sisted the fremen for fully another hour.
Hose, axes, crowbars, etc, bad to BIZ
hoisted to the topof the four story building,
and holes cut in the roof and quarried
through the partition walls, to afford
means of throwing water on the fire, while
other lines of hose were carried by the
third and fourth story windows into the
G. A. H. Hall, where the fire was burning
badly in places, ignited by falling brands
from the blazing roof.
By eight o'clock the fire was completely
under control in all the buildings, ard q |
little later had been completely drowned |
out, but most of the. department was kept |
on duty until 10 o'clock, and it was loon
before new hose had been reeled up, and |
the wet stuff hung up in the various en-
CINE houses, making very hard days |
work.
The loss was not nearly 90 large as
would be imagined from the number of
buildings involved, and the long time the
fire burned. Absurd rumors swelled the
damage to thirty, forty, and even fifty
thousand dollar, but fifteen thousand will !
cover it, great part of this being by
water. The principal loss falls upon VII
son & Chapman, and Fred Unruh, ST., who
owned the building they occupy.
The firm named carried a stock Of about
$40, 900, about half of which was IN
the building in which the fire started
The greater bulk Of their stock, however,
glass, oils, paints, ETC., was on
the first floor and in the cellar, and was
but little damaged by the fire. The great
bulk Of the fuel for the flames was on the
third and fourth floors, where the firm
had ten Thousand sash and shutters, and
about three or tour thousand doors. This
stuff, being very dry, burned with an in
tense heat, and water seemed to have but
little effect upon the fire there for long
time. In the rear of the building on the
second floor, reporters, who were watching
he fire from the bed rooms of the Howell