The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-08
TIE FIRE AT ITS HEIGHT.

even be conjccturcd, and so much OF 4
start had it obtained before it was OBJ
served that it was hard work to prevent
the spread OF the fire to other build
lngs, and TO 4 V that one was simply
out OF the question.
DOOMED FROM TIE FIRST.
An-aiarm was rung in from box IS, at
the corner OF Market and South streets,
and the department responded with
promptness. AT that time the fire had
evidently been burning for quite 4
while, and the densest clouds OF smoke
Imaginable were rising into the air,
showing that the hay, straw and other
lnilainmable material with which the
building was well filled was shoulder
ing. II was not longtill thctlames burst
through the roof with great fiercencss,
the slate roof having tended to keep
them in until they had gained such
Roadway that when they did make
their way through the fire mounted
high toward the clouds. 1t was Il diff
cult fire to get ut, the heat being already
intense and the blaze issuing from both
front and back, as we'll rs through the
entire surface OF tho roof. The iircmen
did some fine work, and showed COM
mcndablc nerve. going into any exposed
position where there was 4 chance Of
working advanta@eously, and it was
under control in Il surprisingly short
time after the first stream was on, con
slderlng the start it had.
HOW TIE BLAZE STARTED.
What caused the blazo is n mystery.
About 5 o'clock Mr.. Kimberly was down
stairs in the office when his niece, Mrs.
Davis, came down, very much excited,
and said: "Uh, uncle, the hay is all on
ire"
Mr.. Kimberly ran upstairs and OPEN
ell the door which led from the room in
which Mrs. Davis had been to the long
spatio back OF it, where the hay was
stored. BY this time the hay was blaz-
ing almost to the ceiling, and the air
which entered whan the door was open
ed caused it to blaze up higher. Mr..
Kimberly Immediately shut tho door
and shouted down TO the book-keeper to
lock the books in the safe and 90
and ring in n alarm. He did so, and
aiterward had the presence OF mind to
20 back and save the books, insurance
policies and other articles Of valuv in
the safe.
When the alarm was raised Mrs. KIM
berry was down in the cellar milking
the cows. They had two very fine Jcr-
scy cows, and these we're saved. There
were also 4 great many chickens in the
cellar, and OF these many were burned
10 death, while some came out safe and
others got out alive. but badly scorchcd.
HARD WORK NECESSARY.
For a long time after the department
got on the scene-that is, a long time as
fires 90, though it was really not SO very
long-it was Il matter OF doubt among
those who Looked on whether the fire
could be checked before it reached the
creek on Market street and Main street
on South. The intense heat made BY
the burning hay and straw, and the
large amount OF it which was burning
made the fire dangerous in the extreme
to The adjoining property, most OF the
houses being oil very inilammablc ma
'erial. The flames soon leaped out from
every side, and Us darkness came on the
spectacle presented by the burning
building from the two bridges across
creek was brilliant and impressive. The
scene from the Market street side was
not so brilliant, hut more suggestive OF
danger, the sparks and pieces of burn
matcria! flying in 4 constant shower
across that street, and up Seventeenth
Tor some distance. Much OF the flying
lire tell upon the roof OF Fishers ioun-
dry and the St. John church, but the
latter was protected by tho steepness OF
ihe slate roof, and on the former n large
force OF the employees OF the foundry
were at work constantly as long rs the
rain OF fire continued.
II PROPERTY DuRNEp
The building burned was forty feet
front on South street and extended
through OF even width to the bank OF
the creek, the waters OF which we're
lighted up with great brilliancc during
me fire. The building had two. stories
&ad an attic, in which much stock was
stored. The lower floor was used as a
store aud delivery room, while in The
second the two families resided. There