Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-01-06
A STUBBORN BLAZE.
4 rUApLINE STREET BUILDING PRETTY
WELL WREcEkD. LAST NIGHT
The Lass by Fire ami Water About thousand Dol
The origin Of the Fire AScri0ed
TO Natural GaS.

ner of Market and Fourteenth streets, ut
halt past eight Q clock last night, called the
DEPARTMENT to one OF the most stubborn
fr,. known in this city for long time
back. Indeed, it would be hard TO tud
an instance in which 50 much time and
labor was spent 10y the tirrmen as COIN
pared with the amount OF actual loss from
the flames. The out-tap was not sounded |
uutn halt past nine making solid hour |
OF inceSslnt work.
The building damaged was the large |
three Story cdaice Nos. l5Ol and 1903
Chapline street, just opposite the north |
end OF the Court House, and occupied !
partly by law offices and partly 10y three
families ~ place OF residence. The lire
started either in the third floor or attic,
on the south side OF the building, and is
;tscrihtd by the liremcn either to DETECT
i've tlue ora leak Unnatural gus. The fire had
evidently been smOuldering Tor some time
when the alarm WAS turned in, "a 1t had
pretty good start up under the roof when
the first stream of water was turned on,
and the start thus gained was held by the
flames fOr half an hour, the hremen being
compelled to work at u great disadvantage.
Finally by the aid Of the long ladders oi
the new hook aud ladder truck they were
enabled TO get ioOt-hOld on the roof, but
even there the streams hau little effect,
and it was only when the water was car
ried into the house, and the hro reached
from the interior OF the building, that II
was finally gotten under CONTROL and eN-
tinguished.
The damage to the building is very con
siderable, both from fire and water, hut
nine tenths Of the loss is on the south half.
The root on this side is pretty generally a
wreck, while the house WAS hooded with
water from garrett to cellar, spelling car
pets, decorations, hooks, pictures, and eN-
erything else contained in the various
rooms. On the north side the roof IL dam
aged to a considerable extent but nothing
like so bad A. the southern half Of the
building, while comparatively little water
found its way into the rooms. 1t Will
probably take 81 900 To replace the bnlld-
lug aud contents in its original condition,
save some valuable old law books, many
OF which can not he duplicated.
The building was generally known ~ the
McIain property. The north half WAS
owned 10y Mrs Ray, of Pittsburg, and the
south halt by Mrs. McEiwaine, formerly
Of Wheeling. The ugent iur the property
is Mr.. Walter RinehArt, who could not he
seen last night, although dlligent search
WAS made tor him. The northern hall at
the building was occupied OH the first floor
hv William Demas. His loss will consist
principally OF articles damaged i'll handling
and by water running in on him. The
second and third floors on this side were
occupied BY Mrs. Cook, whose property
was left IN n generally mussed mp condI-
ton Much Of her household property
was carried out of the house by number
OF volunteer lirrmen, headed by Will Me
Nubh 70 these gentlemen the thanks 81
Mrs Cook are due for services rendered.
the insurance on this property had Just
expired.
The lower floor of the south half OF the
building was vacant. The second ilnor
was o,rnpied hy the law Grm of D1rener
X Elson. and was fitted up IN first class
style The IRE did not touch tins portion
at tn" premises, and nothing was disturbed
IN the rooms io. the first hall hour. Cap.
tain Doyvurr was engaged IN the tIlal "i a
case before Justi,r Iillr>py when the alarm
MAS sent in, bat not knowing wherr the
ire WIS he went on with his addIrss To
the Court At last hC "iummtd l"
the fact that there was good deal
of excitement in the street, he looked "u'.
The further hearing of the case VS. at one"
Adjourned. amt the Captain went To look
after his threatened property. ~ the
water began IN pour down th" walls and
drop from the ceiling in torrents, 1t "ai tie
,.id,.d tD remove the valuable lew library
pictures aud other personal properly OF
The firm to- place OF safety, ana about
two dozen friends OF the legal gentlemen,
embracing reporters, policemen, lawyers,
and spectators generally, went to "oIk,
and in ten minutes the rooms were stripped
al All hat the heavy hook cases, the stun
b..ing taken to the lHw Office Of Col. Ar
nett ia the basement at the Court House
The third floor Of this half of the bulldog
was occupied partly by Nh. Edgar
Ba,d as 4 law office, and part
" as u place Of residence by
Mr.. Nres and wife. The belongings Of
these people were very badly damaged,
and the luss will be- considerable In the
garret Captain Doyrner had II large lot OF
valuable law books. some ot the English
reports going Us mr back ns l10 Thrs"
are doubtless hopeIrssly ruined The firm
had m insurance of ~ 900 on their library
in the J. Y. l.. Rodgers agency.
The insurance on the building could not
be definitely n,gcrtajurd last night, but
will much more than cover the lu2s.
The lire attracted q tremendous crowd oi
people. all the open space about the Public
building. and far up ,,nd down Chap'lnc
street aud out Fifteenth street, h,iug black
with people.
Ina the absence Of Chief Dnuuiug, who Is
sick, Fire Commissioner John iIrimHn,
ST., took charge Of the department.
The Verdict Unanimous.
81. Id