The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-07
YESTERDAY AMERNOONs EIRE.
Col, j, Wise SOrtoa's valuable Books and
pnnar. Un,lIy, DamnYa6

Col. J, Wise Aorton's Valuable Books and
Papers Badly damaged,
The alarm Of Gre sounded from station
10, the Yigllant engine house, about half
past o'clock yesterday afternoon, was
occasioned by blake in the small two
story brick residence No, 500 Main street,
occupied by Col, j. Wise Norton and
family. The fire started in and was
confined 10 small back room ON the
second floor used by Colonel Norton as
his office. This room was fitted up on
all sides with shelves and cases
which were packed full Of
valuable books and papers Of incalCula-
bic value 10 their.owneF, representing as
theydid, years OF research and toll, and
forming library OF reference as to land
titles aud surveys OF lands in this State
such asst is believed no other person In
the country possesses, These books and
papers were all badly scorched and were
further damaged by the water that was
thrown on them. Some OF the papers
were entirely destroyed and all were
more or less damaged,
The story as TO the start OF the fire Is
that Mrs. Norton and her daughter were
at work in this room making q quilt,
and that the daughter steppedpp to the
natural gas fire burning In the CRATE with
roll OF cotton batting In her hands for
the purpose Of drying, or warming II,
preparatory 10 using II In the quilt, AS
she held the roll up in front OF the crate
the cotton in some unexplainable
manner caught fire and blazed
up In way that seemed to oil the room
with fame, Mrs, Norton and her daugh-
ter, frightened half out OF their senses,
ran screamingout Of the room and house.
This Is the story told as TO the origin Of
the fire, Both Mrs. Norton and her
daughter were very much excited over
the affair aud were unable TO tell any
connected story,
When the french arrived and opened
the door OF the room, which the ladies
had fortunately closed when they ran
out, they found the books and papers In
the cases on all four sides OF the room
In a blaze. An effort was made To
quench the fire with the chemical ex-
tinguishers, but II had too great a start
and a hose stream had TO be usen, The
house, which Is the property Of Mr.,
Jacob Wise, was only slightly scorched,
and what little damage was done Is fully
covered by insurance.
1t was not learned whether Colonel
Norton had his books and papers In.
Sured. He Ia at present absent from The
city and Is believed to have been In Ad,
olson, Webster county, this State, yes
terday. Colonel Norton is the secretary
and treasurer OF the West Virginia Land
Title and Real Estate Bureau, and hit
duties 10 that connection make il neCes
sary for him to spend much Of his time In
the interior. His booksand papers which
were 80 badly damaged yesterday EN-
brace abstracts Of nearly every title ever
recorded, and copies OF nearly every sur
yey made, In connection with the vast
tracts OF coal and timber lands In this
state-the wildcat lands as thOy are
sometimes called. About one year ago
the Webster county court house, with
oil the records, was destroyed by fire.
Colonel Norton happened, however, To
haye made copies Of nearly all the
land Transactions and surveys on
record in tho county clerks office
and was in position TO make good
Webster county's loss, Whether the
Webster county papers were among
those damaged yesterday Mrs. Norton
was unable 10 state. The collection was
rare and valuable one, and the damage
they sustained yesterday will be 3
source Of no Uncomfortable loss and no
end Of trouble and inconvenience to
their owner. Colonel Norton's many
friends here and throughout the State
will be sorry to learn ofhis loss.