Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-01
A NERVY BLAZE.
1T ATTACKS THE FIRE LADIES IN THEIR
OWN QUARTERS.
Ths Vigilant Engine House Badly Damaged Yes
terday Afternoon Buildings Burned
Across the River.

At twenty minutes past four o'clock
Yesterday afternoon fire was discovered
in the hay loft of the Vigilant engine
house, on Main street, just north OF
Seventh, and while the tiromen ran out
their apparatus and started the fire
under the engine, an alarm was sent in
from box fifteen. When the chemical,
the first of the department to respond,
arrived on the scene, smoke was burst
ing from the tower on the front of the
building, and it was evident that the
fire. which the men stationed at the
building, aided by others in the vicinity,
had attempted TO check, had made con-
siderable Roadway. The chemical men
laid their hose around on the north side
of the building, and attacked the fire
under the roof, succeeding in holding it
check until the arrival of the Atlantic
and the Island reel and nook and ladder
truck. This portion OF the department,
with the Vigiant, settled down to work
promptly, but the mass of hay and other
stuff in the loft of the building was
thoroughly on fire, and being partially
protected by tin roof, the torrents of
water thrown had little effect. For
half an hour the tower on the front of
the building belched forth smoke like a
gigantic furnace stack, and resisted all
efforts on the part of the department,
and it was not until after five o'clock,
after nearly an hours hard work with
five streams Of water, that the fire was
under control. The Niagara and Eighth
ward companies arrived just before five
o'clock, but were not called into active
service. The horses were terribly over
heated by the long run from the lower
end of town, even after they mad halted
at the creek, and the reel teams had TO
be walked up and down street until they
had cooled down little. On the way
up one Of the horses belonging TO the
Niagara reel, fell and was dragged quite
distance, but no damage was done.
In turning the corner OF Tenth street
the hook and ladder struck the letter
box at Logan'S corner, smashing it into
atoms. There was good deal of criti-
ciSm by citizens at what was termed
reckless driving, and at the work at the
fire.
The origin Of the fire, which inflicted
a loss of about 81, 200 on the city, is
wrapped in mystery. The iiremen at
the house attribute the blaze to sparks
from neighboring kitchen chimneyS,
flying in at an open window and ignit-
ing the hay, while others think the
blaze originated through spontaneous
combustion among the hay. The Fire
Committee was on the point Of commence
ing the annual repairs and alterations
at this building, but now all estimates
and plans regarding it will have to be re-
yiSed, and it is possible the Committee
will recommend the virtual rebuilding Of
the house, as it is very old and not ut all
adequate to the present needs Of the de-
partment. For lack of room the hay
and feed for the horses had TO be stored
in the space between the ceiling of the
second story and the roof-a bad place
at all times, and there we're many in
convenienceS which the Committee has
been long considering. The Committee
will meet to consider the situation this
evening.