The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-02
On Hxhibition opposite the City
Building.
A STORE ROOM SOON DESTROYED.
A sky Rocket Ignitos and Sets Several
Hundred Dollars worth OF Fire
Works on.--A Lively Scene and n
Big Crowded. Fine Display of Fire
Works.

The display OF fire works was the hand
soonest seen in the city for long time,
but, as spectator remarked: at would
have been much prettior if it had hap
pened after dark"
Mr.. Moore had laid in large supply
Of fire works for the Fourth of July,
about $500 worth being stacked up in
his store. His counter was covered
with Roman candles and fire crackers,
and the south side OF the store was
lined with rockets OF all sizes and kinds.
1t had already been remarked by sever
nj customers that FIRE could easily be
started by some one lighting cigar
and accidentally throwing match in
almost any part OF the store, which was
filled with fireworks. The fire doesn't
seem to have started in that way, how
ever, but lust what caused the conhagra-
ton nobody can tell.
Clyde Moore had gone to Schulz's
confectionery to purchase a fresh sup
ply Of fireworks, and left his brother,
Henry, in charge Of the store. All that
Henry knows Is told in a few words.
He says he was standing in the store
talking to some one on the pavement,
no one else being in the house, when u
rocket suddenly whizzed close by his
ear, and struck the soldiers monument
across the street. He stood not upon
the order OF his going, but rushed from
the store in the direction the rocket had
gone. His flight was accompanied by
the sound OF fire crackers, rockets,
mines, Roman candles and all sorts Of
fire works. Arrived at the other side
OF the street he turned and looked on.
BRILLIANT DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS.
Spectators say that the sight was in
describably beautiful. The four hun
bred dollars worth OF fireworks were
shot of in very few minutes, and as tho
crowd began to gather, every now and
then stampede would follow the des-
Cending OF a rocket in its midst.
Roman candles sent their balls OF
various hued fire into the street and
lively ducking, jumping and scramb-
ling was necessary to keep out of their
way. The windows Of the store raincd
sparks and balls Of fire, rockets burst
and the incessant rattle Of the small
and thunder of the giant tirecrackers
soon drew an immense crowd to the
scene.
Underneath Clerk Hooks office in
the county end OF the public building,
fully square away, were several attor-
neys and clerks. They described the
sound Of the fire works, reverberating
in the vault, as something terrific, and
thinking the building was falling down,
they all rushed upstairs.
As soon as the fire commenced rush
was made for the nearest fire alarm box,
but as there was none closer than the
Atlantic engine house, valuable time
was lost in running the two squares to
notify the fire engine company. The
boys hustled over as fast as they could,
and REINFORCED by the chemical engine
soon had the fire out. The one story
frame building was completely Quilted,
not shelf remained, not an article, ex-
Cept few punches OF bananas, that was
not consumed. Mr. Henry's Office
next door wasalso Quilted, and the frame
practically destroyed. 1t was just
about as desolate q scene as one could
we'll see. The entire interior was
charred black. On the floor lay solid
mass OF lemons, oranges and bananas
and cinders, while in little back room
lay numberless punches OF bananas,
roasted rich brown. Only few hours
before Mr.. Moore had purchased hun
drod dollars worth Of the fruit, and had
stacked and hung it up in his store to
ripen. Every bit OF it was ruined.
Fully 1000 people were gathered on
Sixteenth and Chapline streets and
about 200 boys were con2regated in the
immediate vicinity Of the store. A few
boxes Of plums and peaches contained
an occasional sound fruit, and lively
scram0les ensued. white and colored
children tumblinS over each other in
their efforts to get share. The police
had their hands full keeping back the
crowd.
ONLY PARTIALLY INSURED.
Though the proprietor was unable to
state the exact amount OF his loss, it
was estimated that the little store con-
toiaed fully $500 worth Of stock, in
fruits, candies, cigdrs, tobNcco and fire
'Ns' Va WIS tuCEd woo ull 4uSuItLLlCG
OF only $500, insured by Senator En-.
she!mer in the Scottish Union and
National Insurance Company The one.
story frame occupied by Hardy Henry
was insured for $500.
The barber shop in theirear is occu.
pied by George Wise, and as soon rs the
shooting commenced tho proprietor be-
gan to clean out his shop. The latter
was not injured, however, and when
back. -
On the eve Of the last Fourth of July
tlre consumed the barber shop in the
rear OF the store, and Moore nrrrowly
escaped being burned out then. Losing
MS entire stock OF fire works this year
almost on the eve Of the Fourth makes
ms luck particularly deplnrabIe. As
soon Us the insurance has been settled
me store will be rebuilt and business
continued at the old stand.
\, As soon rs the fre was over, the two
Moore brothers, assisted by policemen
ana one or two friends, began to delve
IN the embers for tho remains of tho
money that had been in the drawer.
Nhen the fro broke ont the till con.
Inned Sl5 in bills, $40 in silver and
ABOUT s. in change All that could be
FOUND afterwards was about $40 in sill.
.er and few coppets. 1t was amusing
20 sec the alacrity with which some
young boys wanted to assist in recover.