Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-06
A PITTSBURG BLAZE
YRMALR COLLEGE AND CHRIST n. Z CHURCH
DESTROYED.
Together With Large Mercantile establishments,
Involving Loss Of Over Thres-Qusrtsrs Of a
MilliOn-The Seminary Girls for Time
Bswildered the Nremen-
The Losses.

PITTsBURG, PA, May 5.-A fire that
broke out in this city about IL o'clock
tonight proved to be one OF the most
dangerous and stubborn the city depart
ment ever encountered. The first blaze
was discovered in the lower floor of the
great Arbuckle building on Seventh
street, near DuqueSne street, which is oc-
cupied by the grocers supply and storage
and the seven story edifice, 100 feet
wide and several hundred deep. was
soon mass of flame from roof TO cell
lar. The heat was so intense the fire.
men found it impossible to reach the
building with water, and in short
while the adjoining buildings were
ablaze and the entire square was men
aced.
A light wind blowing at the time,
swept the fire across to the Pittsburg
Female College building, where a lively
scene was presented, as the several
score OF lady students skurried about
amid a shower of sparks, attempting to
save their belongings, no doubt, but
only bewildering the firemen. The young
lady 'boarders were finally gathered by
convenient chaperone, and taken
to hotel. They had left the building
only in time, as the fire began eating
from the roof and soon completely
burned the handsome interior of the
large building. Then the high walls
OF the Arbuckle building began falling,
and the mass Of flames, driven by the
wind, caught the steeple of the Christ
M. E. Church, on Penn avenue, which
blazed like beacon towering far above
the weak streams of water directed to-
wards it. As with the other buildings,
once caught the best department in this
section could not save them, and the
church shared the fate of the other
buildings.
A perfect maze Of wires run along
both Seventh and Penn avenue and the
church steeple which was perfect
blaze Of light, cast down the electric
sparks, added new terror TO crashing
walls on every side.
At this hour Il a. m the fremen are
still working hard, and it is believed
the flames are under control though
nearby business blocks were thought
lost at one time.
The losses as near as can be arrived
at tonight, are: Arbuckle building,
occupied by the Grocer's Supply and
Storage Co., S75, 1000, insured Joseph
Vogley & Co., Storage Co., loss on stock,
$40, 900. covered by insurance. Other
conSignments and goods in storage
building, 100000; Pttsburg Egg Co.,
$4,000, insured; Beilstein, Spang-
Ter & Co., produce dealers,
S25, ,OOO HGveler & Co., pork
packers, S15O,OOO, covered by in
surance; Pittsburg Female College,
$50, 900, insurance S25, 900; Christ M. E.
Church, 1000, insurance, $4,000; W..
Z. Bown & Co., two stores coffee and
peanut roasters; Henry McGallery ware
rooms: Board of Health Offices; H.
Reubesamen, tailor.
The losses are so widely distributed
it Is impossible to secure them precise
ly, but will certainly reach $3.50, 1000.
At 1:30 a. m. the fire caught up row
Of tenement houses on Seventh street.
The other buildings being completely
wrecked, the department turned their
entire attention to preventing further
spread, and at this hour 1t Is thought
the tenements and surrounding build
ings will be saved.