Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-12
4 DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
MARTINS FERRY VISITED WITH $4,000
BLAZE LAST NIGHT.
Tie Electric Light Plant Takes Fire, and in Hal
an hour is Mass Of Ruins
The Insurance

with one OF the most ueSJIuCGIHe AA09
which have happened in that city for
number of years. The electric light
plant. furnishing illumination for many
business houses, and power for the Isl
and and Martins Ferry extension OF the
electric motor line, was burned TO the
ground, entaiing a loss Of about
50, 900.
The crew Of the Wheeling Bridge and
Terminal train, which leaves this city
al $3.50 o'clock, while passing along the
trestle work az the west end OF the
Union bridge, discovered flames issuing
from the front of the electric light
plant. The engineer Immediately gave
the alarm by blowing the whistle OF the
engine, arOusing the whole neighbor-
hood In short time large crowd
gathered on the scene of the blaze.
Other bells started ringing, and an alarm
was turned in from box 80. The depart
ment responded promptly, the Third
Ward Company being first TO reach the
fire, the Second Ward and Hook and
Ladder companies following few MIN
utes behind.
The fire had already gained great
head way, and flames were Issuing from
all parts Of the building. Everything
about the plant being of an intiammable
nature, it burned rapidly. Two streams
of water were soon playing upon the
| blaze, and the fremen worked like
heroes, but to no avail. The structure
was doomed. in about half an hour
from the time the blaze was discovered
| the building was mass OF ruins.
The origin of the fire is mystery.
| Superintendent Hayes was the only man
in the building at the time, be having
relieved the fireman, James Ralston,
who was out OF the city. Mr.. Hayes
was in the office when he heard the
blowing Of the whistle of the Terminal
train, and that was the first intimatlon
he had that the building was on ire.
When he discovered that fact he was
almost surrounded by flames. The
plant was not working at the time,
having broken down a few days ago,
since which time the equipment has
been undergoing the necessary repairs
10 place il in shape for resumlng opera
tiOns.
The plant was located Just west OF
the Belmont Brewery, on Fourth street,
north Of Jefferson. 1t was single story
frame structure. The dimensions were
about 25x6O feet. For some time after
the plant started in operation u furn-
ished street lights for the corporation
OF Martins Ferry. The contract was
afterward taken from it, since which
time it furnished lights FOR private con-
sinners. Since the completion OF the
Ftnaville and Martins Ferry extension
of the electric motor line, the plant mas
been furnished power for that part OF
the line, west of the cast end OF the new
Island bridge. Since the accident few
DAYS ago, the line has been receiving
its power from tho Wheeling power
house, at Thirty-eight street. The plant
has had bad luck in the way OF acct
dents, etc, ever since 1t was put IN oper-
alton. IL was built few years ago by
the Martins Ferry Construction Com
pany, at cost Of about $1,000 Since
then improvements and additions TO its
equipment have been made, making its
present cost about s., coo more than that
sum.
The fire department was handicapped
somewhat in fighting the flames by the
bursting OF a number Of sections OF
hose. At the last meeting OF the Mar
tins Ferry Council the Department
called its attention to the fact that the
hose was not in proper condition, and
last nights blaze will probably serve 10
more forciby impress this fact.
The insurance upon the building and
stock, as furnished by the Anderson
agency, of this city, was $1,000. From
another source it is claimed that il will
not exceed Sl3, 900. OF this sum $4,000
is placed in local companies and the re-
mainder in foreign companies, among
which are the following:
Scottish - ~
German American. OF Pittshurg ........... LOU
rio A ssoriatiou Of philadel uhia......... Lon