Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-02
A SERIOUS BLAZE.
FIRE DESTROYS THE EASTERN TERMINUS OF
rHe BIN GROVE ROAD
A Motor and Four Cars, 'bs Car Shed and a
rwO-St9ry Dwelling 60 Ug u
Smoke-LoSs Ablut
$4,000.

About ten minutes after four o'clock
Yesterday morning fire was discovered
Slazing furiouSly in the car building OF
the Wheeling and Elm Grove Railroad
Company. at Elm Grove, and before five
O'Clock, the building, together with a
TWO story double dwelling adjoining,
one motor and four cars, had been total
ly destroyed, and several other cars and
some adjoining property badly damaged.
The fire was first discovered by Night
Waterman Helfenbine, who was quar-
tered in one Of the closed ears on the
siding, To protect himself from the cold
the thermometer being al zero. Inc
Waterman at once gave the alarm. aud
aided by citizens attracted TO the scene
made an attempt 10 save some OF the
contents OF the building by running the
ears out. but the task was found lmpoS-
sible. and. as the fire became iercer, at
tention was turned TO saving property
i'm the vicinity. just west OF, and al
most adjoining the depot building. was q
two-storv double frame building be-
longing to the company. II
was occupied Oh Que side oy
Mr.. NickerSon and on the other by a
family whose name no one could rccol-
lect Yesterday. This building speedily
caught fire from the burning station
building, and before the suddenly
aroused occupants. assisted by outside
| help. could remove much OF the con
tents. was ablaze on all sides, and was a
total loss. East OF the depot and be-
tween il and the b. Il O. track stood
! the Bedilllon house, and this was also
| threatened with destruction, the ir'
breaking the windows and badly
scorching the wood work, but the
efforts OF the people prevented the de-
struction of the property. All the cou-
tents Of this building were removed, u
the expectation that it would be burned
Standing on the side track at the
station platform was a train OF three
cars. and they were seriously ScorcheC
by the heat, one, closest TO the station
building, being badly damaged. The
motor and four summer cars stored III
the station building We're totally de
stroyed a. to woodwork, and the other
property OF the company was all NOR,
or less damaged. The extremely cold
weather, coupled with the entire aO
sence of lire eXtinguiShing apparatus
made any effort in the direction OF stay
ing the progress OF the lire almost use
less. and had It not been for the fac
that the station building had iron-claC
walls and tin roof the loss might nave
been much more extensive.
The origin OF the fire is Shr0uded IN
mystery. Nightwatchmau Helfenbine
said when he first saw the blaze, 10 wa
Springlng up around the motor in th'
building, and had already gained a good
headway. II may have originated frOu
spontaneous combustion in some oil!
waste, or from some chance Sparb
blown against inilammable woodwork
But this is all conjecture.
The loss Of the Company Is estimated b.
Superintendent Gillelen at about $1,000
divided between the dwelling house, TIN
station building, and the cars and mo
tor. The outside loss will probably foo
Iup another thousand. The Railroad
Company had an insurance OF $1,000 OF
its buildings, in the German Company
and some additional Insurance on Tn
rolling stock, but the amount Of thi
could not be given last evening, eithe
by the representatives OF the Railroad
Company nor by Mr.. Reister.
Mr.. Anton Reymanu said last nigh
the burned buildings would be rebuilt
and the rolling stock destroyed re
placed. The building used as Il depo
and for car storage would be replaced
in about its original shape, as II full!
answered the requirements Of the com
pany.
As soon as possible after The diScog
lery OF the fire word was telephoued il
to the cQmpqny's Offices in this city
aud Superintendent uillelen had mo
tor fired up and went out. accompanied
by Lieutenant Frohmo OF the police
force, but they only found blazing ruin
to engage their attention.