The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-02

Shortly before one o'clock this morn
ing fire broke out in McarS's barrel fac
tory in Martins Ferry. In a short
time the fire spread beyond control, and
though the fire department wasprompt-
lyiat the scene, it was unable to render
much assistance, owing to tho in
llammable nature oil the building and
the materials it contained. The flames
lighted the sky for great distance.
All Martins Ferry turned out On massc
to witness tho contlagration.
WHERE IT STARTED.
The fire was visible from Market
street as far down rs Sixteenth in this
city at l o'clock or earlier. Many people
who saw it thought it was one OF tho
blast furnaces making q cast. 1t was
over an hour later before the character
OF the blaze could be learned.
1t is supposed tho blaze originated in
tho warehouse, but what started it
could not even be conjectured. By 2:lj
every part OF the factory was in flames.
The main factory is 4 large and sub
stantial brick building, about which a
number OF smaller frame structures
have been built from time to
time. Across tho road was an
immense warehouse and office, and
this also quickly caught fire. East OF
this the c., ". * W. railroad runs on 4
high trestlc, and this caught fire and
was consumed. West the G. & p road
also has Il trostlc, which must in all
probabilitygo.
HOUSES IGSITED.
West OF tho C. & z. track wero two
frame houses owned byS. &. Williams,
one large two-story aud the other n
small onc-story house. Mrs. Williams
died yesterday andhcr corpse was lying
in the house. The houses both caught,
and Mrs. Williams's body was removed,
although it was thought the flames
could be extinGuished before the
houses were entirely destroyed.
Difficulty was encountered in getting
water to these houses >at first, which
lett the department, an excellent one,
although all volunteers, powerlcss to
dc anything.
The Martins Ferry Kcg, Barrel and
Box factory was one OF the most ex-
tensivc anywhere. and was fitted up
completely with the finest and latest
machinery. The warehouse was packed
with finished goods. The loss will
probably reach$l00,000. Owing to the
excitement which prevailed this morn
ing nothing could be learned in regard
to the insurance The burning OF the
trestles and other houses will add mate
rally to the loss.
The works employed about 1S5
hands. 1t will doubtless be rebuilt, rs
the owners are wealthy and the bust
ness profitable.
LOSS AND INSURANCE.
There were $4,000 kegs in tho big
warehouse. The material manufactured
was worth $4,000, and the unmanu-
factured stock $4,000 or $4,000.
The machinery was worth S2O,-
600, and the buildings $4,000 at
least. Onc-third OF the machinery was
used in this factory exclusively, Mr..
Mears having the sole right to the
patent.
The horses were gotten out OF the
stables and thctWilliams houses were
saved with small damage.
The property is said to have been
fullyinsured, ,.as well rs all tho material
and finishedproduct. the insurance all
being placed by William Lupton's
agency, at Martins Ferry.
There was 4 mistake made in turning
in the electrical alarm, this system
being new in Martins Ferry, and tho
iircmcn did not know where to 90, so
that there was q good start gained by
the fire before any efloctiYe combat was
made against it.
At 3 o'clock this morning the whole
northern sky was blaze OF red light as
seen from Wheeling. 1t has been a
long time since sobright blaze has
been secn,inthc vicinity.
1t isundcrstood thutsoveral Wheeling
insurance companies had small policies
on the buildings.
Il