Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-01
BELLAIRE'S BAD LUCK.
YHE UNION WINDOW GLASS WORKS CON
PLslELY DESTROYED,
Throwing One Huslrsd and Fifty Men Out Of Em-
plOYmeni, and Causing Loss Of Over
Forty Thousand Dollars.
One Nan Burned.
Bellaire is in bad luck again.

| DeidiIe Is III Uhu luCh dkdiu.
What with the competition of the ma
tural gas towns of the interior of Ohio.
the lack of gas in their own town, and a
bad run of fires in manufacturing estab-
lishments. she is having very unenvia-
BILE experience, and is entitled to the
sympathy of all more favored communi-
| ties.
Last night another stroke of misfor-
tune came.
The large manufacturing establish
ment of the Union Window Glass Com
pany, in the lower end of the Fifth
ward, caught fire, in some manner not
we'll explained as yet, and in the space
of about an hour the plant was mass
Of blazing embers, entailing loss Of
from $4,000 to S45, 900. and throwing
about one hundred and twenty-five men
out of employment In addition to the
plant, etc., ten thousand boxes of finish
ed product were consumed. The insur-
ance will be in the neighborhood OF
$4,000.
The fire was first noticed in the pot
room, and is supposed to have caught
from natural gas, in some way. The
building was of frame, surmounted
with big wooden ventilator, and this
made a draught for the fire, which
spread with great rapidity among the
very dry timbers of which the edifce
was constructed. The firemen were on
hand promptly, and worked hard, but
their efforts were unavailing, and the
| flames soon spread to the warehouse,
next adjoining on the north, while the
warehouse of the nail works, on the
south, was threatened, but was saved.
The factory building, containing ten
thousand boxes Of glass, was soon
mass of fire, and from this build
ing the flames leaped on to the
north to the building contain
ing the office, cutting department,
etc. This structure soon shared the
fate of the other buildings. For time
it was feared that the buildings OF the
Crystal Glass Company, on the north OF
the Office building, would go, but when
this works was burned, some time ago,
the buildings were reconstructed OF
iron, and the fire could gain no foot
hold The old nail works factory build
ing, east of the railroad track, was also
threatened, but was saved.
A sad feature Of the fire was the
loss of life. While the fire was raging
in the factory building, number of
workmen and others were in the
place, and portion of the
floor giving way, three men,
named George Jones, Daniel McClelland
and George Stewart, fell through into
the basement. For long time it was
thought they had been certainly killed
or burned to death, but at half-past
ten it was supposed that they had got
ten out alive, although no one could be
found who had seen them.
Later it was definitely ascertained
that Jones and McClelland were safe,
largely through the efforts OF Walter
Campbell, Captain of Hose Company
No. 5, and John Ellison, Of the same
company, but no tidings could be OBJ
tanned of Stewart, and he was given up
as lost. About midnight this was def
ntely settled, and by one o'clock this
morning his remains were found
and removed from the ruins. His body
was burned to crisp, and his heart
protruded from his breast. His watch
was found behind him, still moving. He
was brother of Secretary Stewart OF
the Bellaire Stamping Company, and
well known citizen. In attempting the
rescue of the imperiled men, Walter
Campbell was hurt. Both Campbell
and Ellison, as we'll as several others,
whose namescould not be obtained, did
great work, and are entitled to much
praise.
Secretary B. j. Smith, OF the CON-
pany went to Columbus, yesterday
morning, and those seeking exact data
regarding the works were somewhat
handicapped, last night, but from what
could be ascertained, 1t is improbable
that the buildings will be replaced. At
least, that was the general opinion In
Bellaire, last night. The competition
of the natural gas towns, above referred
to, and the general dropping condition
of the window glass business Of late,
have conspired to make the business an
improbable one in Bellaire, and taking
these things into consideration, there
was no little GespOnuenCy III VIC place
as the citizens watched the big build
ings go up in smoke.
The unlucky plant was located right
along the Cleveland and Pittsburg rail-
road track, in the lower part OF the
Fifth ward, almost opposite the Ben
wood Ferry. The factory building,
where the fire originated, was about
sixty feet square, and the warehouse,
adjoining on the north, was about 40x
100 feet, with its end to the track.
Next north of this was the Office build
ing, which was about 25x100 feet, the
end of this building also being turned
toward the east. North Of this again
was the Crystal works, and across the
railroad track, in the direction of the
river, was the old nail factory building.
The fire attracted the attention of
many hundred people in this city, and
particularly in the southern portion of
the town, and as is usual, in such out of
town fires good many alarming and
exaggerated rumors were in circulation.
-<Dr-----