Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-25
DISASTROUS BLAZE
HOBBS GLASS WORKS PARTIALLY DESTROYED
BY FIRE
From Twenty to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
Worth of Property Eaten Up by the Flames
How the Fire Calght-lnei-
dents Of the Blaze


this year took place last night, the re-
lentless flames selecting as their vlctlm
the well known Industrial establishment
on the South Side known as the HOODS
glass works The first alarm that was
turned in was followed soon by second,
and those familiar with the signal OF
distress soon knew that the firm was one
of considerable proportion. 1t meant
general turnout of the whole fire depart
ment. and there was a live commo-
ton in all parts of the city, and eSpec-
| iallv did excitement and confusion run
high in the vicinity of the blaze.
The fire gained rapid Roadway, and
the lurid flames lit up to the sky TO such
an extent that it could be seen for
miles, and throngs OF people wended
their way TO the conlagration.
The Hobbs Glass Works are located
in the Eighth ward, on the line OF the
b. & O. road. between Thirty-sixth and
Thirty-seventh streets. The fire was
confined to the long two-story building
directly i'm the rear of the main factory,
| i'm which building were the engraving,
cutting, etching, decorating ana
mixing departments, and also the
straw shed and cement room. The
blaze originated in the etching depart
ment in the north end OF this rear Dulld-
| ing: and is believed to have caught from
the natural gas which was turned down
| low when the department closed at SIX
O'Clock. There was only light pres
sure of gas on at the time the building
closed for the night, and the valves had
been tmned on in full. Later
in the evening it is believ-
| cd the pressure of the gas
increased. and the flames growing cor
respondingly larger had come in contact
with the woodwork and ignited the
same. The fire was first discovered
about eight o'clock by Abner Drum, the
night engineer, who Immediately
turned i'm the alarm and notified the
people generally in the neighborhood.
buckets and receptaceS of all kinds
were procured and hand brigade was
soon vigorously at work, but the
water could not be procured
fast enough and the fire had
gained too great Roadway TO
render their efforts of any account.
The Eighth Ward Engine Co. was the
first to respond arriving on the scene
almost as soon as the alarm was turned
| i'm. Other companies quickly followed,
and soon there were several streams OF
water being poured upon the building
which by this time was well wrapt in
flames. The fire gained remarkable
Roadway, and continued 10 spread so
rapidly that trequired the utmost efforts
of the firemen to keep the blaze within
bonds and save the adjoining property.
The flames shot high in air, and with
volume and force that was wicked TO
witness. At one time Il complete wreck
of the entire plant seemed imminent.
Chief Cunning was i'm the midst of the
enclosure. and was constantly directing
and planning the work of rescue, and
with marked effect Mr.. ii. +. Waddell,
the secretary and general manager of
the establishment, was soon on the
ground and took an active part in di-
rccting the labOrS of the men. John
II. Hobbs. president of the company,
was also on the scene, he having been
notified shortly after the alarm. while
ne was sitting quietly with his wife in
! his apartments at the Windsor. Mr..
| Howard HaZlctt and others interested
| i'm the works were present, all aiding 10
and directing i'm the efforts TO eXtin-
ruiSh the blaze. Such was the force of
the fire that 10 was some time before
any appreciablc wane of the blaze could
be descerned, but the fire laddieS kept at
fl. attacked the flames from all sides,
and worked like TrojanS. In less than
an hour the fire was under control, and
bv ten o'clock had reached a stage where
it was only question of Smotherng
few tongues of flames here and there.
As the fire stretched over considerable
territory. lest there might be fresh
breaking out of the blaze. the fire de-
partment continued to work on the ru-
ms until midnight.
The principal departments destroyed
were the cutting rooms, the etching ana
the decorating rooms, the engraving
rooms being saved so far as the contour
of the building was concerned, yet much
of the material within was total loss.
Bv strenuous efforts what was known
as the mixing or soda room was saved
entire. With the centre of the building
the flames made sad havoc, the walls
falling in, and altogether Il scene OF
complete ruin. While the fire devoured
considerable of the property. such de-
partmentS were burned as will not ma
terally effect the running of the main
factory and the other departments.
Many valuable machines were de-
strovcd i'm the burned part, and
considerable stock i'm various stages
of finishing, but work will continue TO
be turned out in the main factory, and
temporary buildings erected for the car
rving ON of the work i'm the departments
burned out. Back of the cutting de
partment was "a small carpenter shop
and also a lead room, in which were ali
the fine cutting stones, both OF these
departments being consumed. The fire
will throw from 30 TO 60 persons tempo
rarily out of employment. until the de-
partments are rebuilt, which will be
done Immediately. as Mr.. Hobbs in
formed reporter last evening. The
loss is estimated at between 100000 and
So. 900. The building was partially in
Sured, but with what companies we
were unable to ascertain last evening,
although it is understood that the
Franklin Insurance Co., of this city,
had the placing of the insurance.
NOTES OF TIE FIRE.
A man by the name of Murrin was re-
lieved of a silver watch while standing
i'm the crowd.
James Watson received injuries from
a falling board which may prove quite
serious. His right eye is badly cut.
a workman by the name of James
Havern fell through the roof and was
badly cut. He, was attended by DR..
ESkey.
Mrs. Edward MarSchner, soon after
the alarm, started to run TO the fire,
and tainted near the railroad crossing,
and had TO be taken home.
10. Addison, member of the Du-
queSne Fire Company No. 1, of Bellaire,
happened to be at the fire assisting, and
he fell through the roof and cut his left
arm quite seriously.