Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-07
HARD TO GET AT.
THE EIREMEN HAD A TOUGH JOB ASSIGNED
TENN LAST NIGHT.
The Home Of Mrs. Bridget JunkiuS, on EOf Street.
Practically DsStrOysd-A Fig Blaze at
ManningtOn-Alarm YsSter-
day Afternoon.

About half-past nine o'clock last
night fire broke out In the double
two-story frame building at the south
west corner of Eoff street and Market
alley, owned by Mrs. Bridget Junkins,
mother of Robert Junkins, the we'll
known night Waterman, and occupied
by her In the south half, and by David
Thomas, colored, in the northern por-
ton. The fire originated in Mrs. Jun
klns' side OF the building, down stairs,
in a manner which could not be satisfac-
torily explained last night, and by the
time the inmates had gotten out and
the alarm had been sent in, the flames
had obtained a fine start.
When the firemen got to the vicinity
they found a hard job cut out 10 them.
The building is situated on very high
ground, at just about the level OF the
city reservoir, and as the grades OF the
streets and alleys 10 the neighborhood
are very steep. Market alley being al
most at an angle of forty-fye degrees,
AMI only mounted by pedestrians by
steps, it was very difficult to bring the
hose to bear. The Niagara was sta
toned at the corner Of Eotf and Twelfth
streets, two squares away, the Vigilant
at Chapline and Eleventh streets, and
the Atlantic at Chapline and Market
alley, but in the attempt to get the hose
to the scene of the fire the horses
stalled with the reels and wagons,
and the lines had to be car
ried long distances by the men. in
several instances. About four thousand
feet of hose had to be laid, over most
difficult ground, and it necessarily took
a good deal of time. Meanwhile the
chemical got up Morrow street to the
intersection of Market alley, and
brought its two streams to play, but
with but little effect, although they did
some good In checking the spread OF
the fire to the brick building adjoining
on the south, owned by Mrs. Eliza
Barr and occupied by Mrs. Cooper.
When'the first hose stream was brought
to bear, the water merely ran from the
nozzle in a stream about as thick as
ones finger, and although water was
laboriously rarr'a3 In buckets by a
number nt men, the flames continued to
sprp.. lor some time, until both sides
u the Junkins building were involved,
and the adjoining property was threat
ened.
When the fire was first discovered,
the inmates Of the dwelling were In
bed, or were in the act OF going, and
Dave Thomas and his family made their
escape with but little clothing, saving
none of their effects worth mentioning.
For a time, indeed, it was thought that
child-a little boy-a member OF the
Thomas family, had been suffocated,
but the youngster was gotten out all
right. A female relative Of the family
was much excited about the child, how
ever, and filled the air with her screams
while the firemen were at work.
Although an old house the building
burned very slowly, and the firemen got
the engines to work in time to save the
outside shell, although both the house
and its contents were completely ruined.
The loss will probably reach eighteen
hundred or two thousand dollars, OF
which twelve hundred or so would be
upon the building. Mrs. JunEins car
ried insurance, but the policy was de-
stroyed, and she could not remember
either the name Of the company or the
amount. 1t was Wheeling company,
however.
An immense crowd Of people was at:
tracted to the scene, and quite mum
Der Of them got ducking.