Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-11-23
DISASTROUS FIRE.
THE PLANT OF THE BELLAlRE STAMPING
WORKS NEARLY DESTROYED,

WORKS NEARLY DESTROYED,
Involving Loss Which May Reach 100000
Over 100000 of InSurancs-The Works Will
Likely Be Rebuilt.
Just about half-past six o'clock last even
ing a fire broke out in the plant OF the
Bellaire Stamping Works, at Bellalre, and
in the succeeding hour property to the
amount of nearly or quite one hundred
thousand dollars was destroyed, and three
hundred men were thereby thrown out OF
employment. The fire was plainly seen in
this city, and attracted a great deal of at
tention, and there were rumOrs afioat that
not only the plant of the Stamping Com
pany had been destroyed, but that the
property of the Belmont Glass Company had
shared the same fate. Fortunately, this
latter report was untrue, although the
glass works buildings We're saved with
great difficulty. The origin of the fire
cOulu uOJ Dc uCu HllClN dSNOl ttIHNu A"oe
evening. but il is generally ascribed 10
natural gas. which was left burning when
the works stopped at 1 p. IN. There was a
Waterman on the premises, but he was en-
gagged in working about the boilers at the
time, and so rapid was the spread of the
fire, that any attempt by him to check
it was fruitless from the first, and by the
time the firemen had arrived on the ground
there was no hope whatever of saving the
building in which the fire originated, and
all efforts were directed to adjoining prop
erty.
The plant of the Stamping Company, Of
which corporation Mr.. John T. Mercer is
president, and in which j. y. Tallman,
*. O. Mellott, Col David Rankin and Mr..
William Simerell are largely Interested is
located upon rather high ground, adjoining
the Belmont glass works. The Company
was organized a number OF years ago, and
has been very successful from the first.
The first building erected was frame,
two stories high, and about 4OxiO feet in
dimensions, and later this building was
covered with an iron roof and corrugated
iron walls. Later another building of
brick. 40Xl0O feet in size, and two stories
high was erected, and later third story,
of frame. was added to this building.
The business of the Company con-
tinuing to increase, the Company erected a
large warehouse, Just across the road from
the other buildings, and IA few days ago the
Company purchased an additional piece of
ground from the Belmont Glass Company,
upon which il was intended to further en-
large the plant. The buildings were filed
with much valuable machinery and stock in
process of manufacture, Will the ware
house contained a large amount of the fin
ished product.
Last evenings fire originated in the
japanning department, on the first floor of
the two-story building, and in surpris-
inglv short time the entire building was a
mass of fire The fire department respond
ed quickly, as did almost the entire popula-
ton of the town. and the fire was fought
stubbOrmly. From the situation of the
plant. on high ground, the firemen We're
somewhat handicapped. and soon directed
the water upon the adjoining buildings be-
longing TO the Stamping Company upon
the property of the Belmont Glass Com
pany, and upon l50-barrel Oil tank,
situate not far distant.
Despite all efforts, however the fire
spread to the three story building of the
Stamping Company, the top story, of frame,
first igniting, and in Il short time ii became
apparent that the entire building must go
The firemen, by a great effort, succeeded
in saving a portion of the first floor, but
the remainder of the building was Quilted,
and the machinery, stock, etc, destroyed.
The warehouse was saved intact. as was
also the property of the Belmont Glass
Company, but the escape of the latter was
narrow
The building in which the fire originated
was given over to anticipating, silver
plating, japanning, etc, and also contained
the Company's machine shop. 1t was filled
from TOP 10 bottom with machinery, much
of it of very expensive nature. In the
brick building, which was only separated
from the frame by narrow alley, the main
operations of the Company were conducted,
and the first and second stories
were fun of machinery. The top
floor of this building was given over to
the making of lanterns. The output of the
works consisted of fancy lanterns and
lamps. stamped ware of all kinds, enam-
melted ware. and various things of that
sort During the past year the Company
has expended large amount of money
estimated at as high as $50, 0O0-in expert
menting with granite ware, and a very
valuable process is believed TO have been
discovered and perfected. The Company
was very prosperous concern, and for
that reason, there is u general expectation
that the ruins will be cleared away prompt
", and larger buildings erected.
As has been said. the loss was estimated
last night at from $4,000 to 100000 The
insurance is SIT, 800. as follo&s:-
Through the Husbands X Inskeep