The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-29
The POTTERY BURNED
Up at Tiltonville at an Early Hour
on Sunday Morning.
YERYSEVERE BLOW TOlTSOWNER.
The Origin of the Flames Unkuowa,
The Loss about $40, 900, with Only
$4,000 lnsuranoe-It was Manu-.
featuring Sanitary White Ware aud
had just begun to be Prosperous.

News was received in Wheeling yes
teEday that the Western sanitary pot.
terry, operated by John Rowe, at Tilton-
vile, up the river, had burned to the
ground.
Inquiry developed that the flames
were first noticed between four ind five
o'clock yesterday morning, and they
had already gained such Roadway that
although the citizens OF the village
worked herOically, absolutely nothing
could ba done to save the burning
bulldings, which were mainly Of wood,
The flames broke out first, apparent
ly, in the gloss kiln shed. A very
dense smoke was caused by the straw
and other packing material stored in 1t,
and this served also to add to the In
tlammability OF the structure. The
heat was so intense that it was almost
impossible to approach the fire when it
was fairly under way, and nothing was
saved except few minor articles oil
small value.
The new kiln department, OF brick,
bnt lately completed, escaped with com.
paFatively little damage. The kilns are
both standing, full OF ware Whether
this is injured could not be told yester-
day, as the kilns had not cooled oifsut.
ticiently to allow them to be opened.
All the designs, molds, machinery,
blocks, cases, furniture and fixtures,
completed or partially completed wares
and raw material were lost, 60 far US
could be ascerIained.
Mr.. John Rowe, the owner, estimated
his loss as close on $4,000. while the
insurance on the plant and contents
was only $4,000. This was placed by
d. G. Morgan, Of this city, about equal.
ly in his own aud Joseph Emsheimer's
agencies.
The pottery was bought several years
ago by Wheeling company, and oper-
ated for awhile under its auspices, but
did not succeed financially, and the
plant was sold. Il was boughy in by
some Of tho former stockholders, ,Nnd a
new company organized, of which Q. w.
Seabright is the president This com.
pany several months ago sold itto Mr..
Rowe, but the purchase money has not
yet been paid. Mr.. Rowe is an expert
potter, and came from East Liverpool.
His main capital was his experience.
enterprise and industry, and no was
building up very successful business
when this calamity befell him. He
made sanitary ware which was in great
demand at profitable prices.
tits doubtful II the pottery will over
be rebuilt, as the owners long ago rec
ognized the mistake OF locating such an
industry in village like Tiltonville.
Had II been built in Wheeling the prop
erty could probably have been saved
yesterday. Besides this, the advan-
tages Of shipping facilities, the presence
OF buyers attracted by numerous other
industries and other advantages are re-
allied by their absence at Tiltonville.
Mr.. Rowe has the sympathy Of all in
his misfortune. The people Of tho
place certainly did noble work in their
efforts to save at least part of his
property.
About fifty skilled workmen arc
thrown out OF employment The origin
Of the fire is not known.