The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-04
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
G. Mondel 81 Co.'s Furniture Store
the Scene of a bad Blaze.
THREE ESTABLISHMENTS SUFFER
From the Water and Smoke more
than by the Flames--HeroIc Work
by the Fircmen--Thc Blaze Gotten
under Control in Remarkably Good
Time, all Things cOnsidered-Loss
and Insurance.

The most serious fire Wheeling has
experienced for long time occurred
yesterday afternoon, breaking out
about 3 o'clock, in the third story OF
Mendel * Co.'s furniture establishment.
Two boxes were pulled, Al and ~,
which caused some confusion. In a
few minutes a dense mass of people
filed Main street in front of the place,
and tho people were kept outside the
fire lines with difficulty.
The fire was seen by Officer Pat
scallY, who lives near, and he rang in
an alarm from box IL. About the same
time somebody else pulled box AZ. Be-
fore this Martin Thornton, proprietor
OF the Hotel Brunswick, and several
boarders had seen the blaze from the
rear windows, and telephone call was
sent to the Chemical engine house.
The department responded very
promptly, but grave difficulty was en-
countered in running ladders up to the
building, oD account OF the wires in
the way. Ladders long enough to give
the best access could not be used for
this reason, and with the shorter lad
ders it was extremely difficult to get
hose 10 the windows where the fire
ragged.
Two lines from the Niagara and
Wheeling engines were run through
Bachman & Sons produce store from
Market street, and good service done
there. On the Main street side the
Nigilant and Atlantic substitute engine
worked under the difficulties described.
At length John Ritter. OF the Atlantic,
broke out window and entered the
house, where the smoke was sitting and
the blaze beginning to rage tiercely. A
great shout went up from the assem-
bIed multitude when he made his
heroic entrance. Soon John Shaugh-
messy, OF the Chemical, followed, and
the two fought the flames at close
quarters, while the crowd expected
momentarily to see them drop dead
from sufocation.
The blaze was finally gotten under
control, and Babcock extinguisher
put out the last remaining vestiges OF
the blaze
The origin is not known. Some
people guessed that it was due to spont-
aneous combustion from the heating
of iermenting green husks. There was
also report that gas pipe had parted
and the escaping gas had ignited.
The fire originated in the upholster-
ing department. where husks, hair,
excelsior" material composed OF fine
wooden shavings, and other inflamma-
bic materials were packed in large
quantities, which made the fire the
more stubborn and the quick control OF
it the more marvellous
There was a rumor that two women
had been smothered by the smoke.
This was not correct. A story that
fireman was missing was also I'M
founded.
The dense smoke permeated every
part of the two upper stories OF the
building, while the water ran down, and
there was not a part of tho building
which did not receive more or less
damage by the water.
Adjoining on the owerhoorJ j. Reisen-
STEMS five and ten cent store suffered
more or less damage by the water, and
the Adams Express Company's office
was drenched, and many valuable pack
ages ruined.
The Adams Express people could not
estimate their loss. The agent at once
secured Shook & Co.'s old stand and
moved into it, where the Office will be
ready for business this morning.
Mr.. Reisenstein was i'll in bed when
the fire occurred. One of his assistants
told reporter he could not guess at
the loss OH the stock. The cellar, full
OF fine goods, was flooded, and many
albums and other costly goods were
ruined upstairs. Mr.. Reisenstein had
insurance OH his stock as follows:
In Emshcmer's agency
gnnttIsh ITntnn aud National 4 hn1