The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-15
STEUBENVILLE'S GREAT DANGER
Was warded OF Only by the
veering of the Wind,
AID ASKED FROM WHEELING
Tho Most Disastrous Fire in tho
History OF steubenVille Visits that
City Yesterday Afternoon, with
Another Smaller Ono Ut Night
Over Twenty Houses Destroyed, In-
yolying Loss Of Between $4,000
aud $4,000,


steubenyille, Ohio, Wheeling's sister
city. escaped terrible couaagration
yesterday afternoon by very narrow
margin, but such as it was, in extent
and completeness, 1t ranks as one OF
the most destructive fires in its history.
one.hali square, bounded by Fourth,
Adams, Court and Market Streets was
swept away, the buildings and contents
completely consumed. leaving blank
waste OF destruction as testimony ofthe
tierceness OF the flames.
At one time the safety OF a'large por-
ton OF the city, largely Of inlamable
material, was in imineut danger, owing
to the start the flames got on the fire
department, and the direction OF the
wind. 1t was only the veering OF the
pretty still breeze that was blowing ut
the time that prevented such q c0tas-
trophe. Twenty houses were destroyed,
involving loss OF $4,000 or $4,000.
The rapidity OF the fire prevented the
merchants and householders from saw
ing anyoither stockor property, except
in fow cases. The fire started at 2:S0
o'clock D. IN, and ut 8 o'clock such were
the ienrs OF the Steubenville authorities
that Wheeling was teegraphed to for
aid, and an engine and truck was sent
up on special train. BY the timo the
engine arrived it was not needed, as tho
flames were then under control.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The fire started in the rear OF B. N,
Lindsey's livery stable. Tho proprie-
tor was making some hoot oil, in which
turpentinc was used. Tho turpentino
caught fro in some manner, and it did
not takelong for the flames to commun-
icate to the hay, and in an incredibly
short time the whole structure was q
seething mass OF fire. The building
was three-story brick building, part
OF which was used for livery purposes,
and tho remainder by the Atlantic Tea
Company, and Shaw Il Ford, plumbers,
and Fishers grocery. Mr.. Lindsey
had only recently expended $4,000 in
erecting additions to the rear OF the
building. At this timea strong breeze
was blowing from the south, and soon
Walter Haler's saloon, next door, was
on fire, its destruction being made COM
plete by the north wall OF the Lindsey
building falling on the roof and crush
ing it in.
Here was the point that seeming
great disaster confronted the city, and
the citizens were appalled, at the sight;
for between the big McConville hotel
and the Lindsey property stood moth
ing but the most imllammable material.
It was at this juncture that the city
authorities decided to telegraph to
Wheeling for aid, which appeal was so
quickly responded to. But the winds
shifted, and doom that appeared GER
tain was averted.
DOWN FoURTH STREET.
Tho large Falk & o'Neal building,
occupied by that firm as q bakery, ice
cream saloon and living apartments,
south of Lindsey's, was the next struc-
ture that fell before the flames, which
were increased in vigor and flerceness
by the burning Of the light outbuildings
in tho rear, which were the property OF
Lewis Anderson, r. W. Caldwell, T. Ii.
Rahder, Huffman 4 Broadly, DR.. LAUGH
lin and the brick stable OF the Keaggy
hotel, from which the contents had
been removed. Also a two-story dwell
ing occupied by Mrs. Patterson and
Grant Stout.
On Fourth street Immediately south
OF the Falk property was the residence
of MIR. Schilling, one-story frame.
This was soon Quilted and destroyed.
Next was the residence Of DR.. U. H. Nc
Lane, and the property owned by jacob
Chapman and occupied by VIM. Swear.
ingen as u butcher shop, W. Il. Allison,
Meyer Ievison and Mr.. Chapman as Il
residence.
AN OLD NEWSPAPER MANS LOSS.
In this block was the establishment
Of the Ohio Press, owned by Mr.. W, R.
Allison. His place was completely
wiped out, and expressions OF sym.
pathy with him on his loss were heard
on all sidea, Mr.. Allison Ia now walk
ing in the sunset OF his life, and Que OF
the best known newspaper men in the
Ohio Valley. This misfortune at his
time OF life falls with moro crushing
force than II would when young man.
II. o. Schaeter's music store, adjacent
to this block was soon destroyed, fol.
lowed by the store aud dwelling OF L.
v. Brandenburg, and the branch store
OF u. b. Potts, OF Wheeling, and Miss
Humble's millinery store.
The fire then cat into tho handsome
block Of buildings fronting on Adams
street. Deputy Treasurer Cables house
was soon wreck with all its contents.
Then followed the dwellings OF tho
Misses Paxton and Robert Davidson,
aud here is where tho flames wore
stopped, after three hours fendish
reYel.
HOUSES sLlaHTLY scoRcnED.
The heat from tho fro was most in.
tense, and tue steubonvillo ilremeu DO.
serve the greatest praise for sticking
10 maniully to their work. Several
simos the flames leapod across Fourth
street, and the corniCes and roofs on tho
woet side were several times RblaEe,
which were oxlinRuished by volunteers.
Stewards music store caught tho worst
OF II, the glass front being brokun,
Among tho othoes who suffered weFs
SorggoH marble shop; Hugh Robin.
CONS grocery; Rubo'B variety store;
Mexico (, Porter'g butcher shop, and
tic block occupied by the Myers and
shannon ialnilea
The scene Of devastation was heart.
sickonlng, aud aa the reporter passel
through tho crowds In the vicinity OF