Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-06
A Serious Fire at the SchmulbaCh
Brewery this Morning.
THE LOSS ABOUT $4,000
The Blaze First Seen in the Up
per Portion Of the Building,
Where It Had a Good Start.
Rescuing the Live Stock and
Wagons-All the Surrounding
Property Saved from the
Flames, But Damaged by Fall
ing Walls.

upper portion Of the large stables OF the
Schmulbach Brewing Company, and the
entire structure was speedily reduced
to ruins.
The loss is estimated atabout twenty
five thousand dollars, we'll insured, but
Just what the amount is, or In what
companies. could not be ascertained
this morning.
The origin OF the fire is involved In
mystery. 1t may be that it was spon-
taneous combustion among thG hay, or
it NAV be another effort of the incen-
diaries who operated so extensively In
the lower wards last week. This latter
view was strongly held by many people
early at the scene of the & re, and 1t may
be correct.
When the fire was first seen 1t was
burning fercely in the northwest corner
Of the building, In the extreme upper
portion, and this locality is the only
thing which throws much doubt
upon the incendiary theory, as
IL is somewhat improbable that
any outsider would have made
his way to that remote portion OF the
building to start blaze. All opinions
on the subject, however, are the III crest
conjecture, and 1t is likely that the
real cause OF the fire will never be bet
ter known at this writing.
The fire was seen almost simultane-
ously by several persons, and ohcer
Rohrl, who was on duty In that portion
of the city, pulled box g. Almost at
the same moment box 90, at the Hobbs
glass works, was pulled, ana the
result was great confusion
In the striking OF the alarm
on the CITY Hall bell, the best which
could be made out Of the alarm being
Gs and 7s. There are no such boxes In
the city, and people remote from the
fire had much trouble In ascertaining
Just where II was.
AS soon as Chief Haley arrived on the
scene-and he got there in very short
time-a second alarm was ruDg 10, ana
the entire department responded TO the
call. The firemen attacked the fire In
front. flank and rear, and by good
work, although handicapped by shcrt
supply OF water, the four engines being
at work on small mains, the hre was
confined to the stable building, and
none OF the surrounding property was
even damaged by the flames. although
one or two house were shattered 10
some extent by falling walls.
In moment or two after the fire was
first discovered Joe Robinson, Jonas
Butterfield, Burr Nixon and a man
named Tape, with two or three others
whose names could not be ascertained,
made their way into the stable from Nc
Colloch street, and set about rescuing ths
horses and mules, OF which there were
forty head la the stable. AS Is usual
upon such occasions, the live stock was
hard TO manage, and the men worked
at the risk Of their lives, and amid show
ers of falling sparks and fragments OF
blazing timbers, getting the horses and
mules out Of the stalls and whipping them
ont of the stables. Some driven out
would run in again. and all being fran
tic with fear, there was considerable
danger to the men OF being trampled
down by the frightened animals. One
male, put out OF the stable twice, ran
around the rear way and attempted 10
get back into the stable by way OF
stairway nsed by the men. lie was
most obstinate brute and had to be
yapled out by main strength.
While this was going on, other men
laid hold OF the vehicles, and Mr..
Schmubauh's private carriages and
most OF the brewery wagons were
rescued and run down the streets
70 places of safety. Two or three
wagons, however, are thought 70 have
been burned, and from the best In
formation obtainable this morning, two
horses and three mules we're also
burned. When the uptown portion OF
the department was on its way TO the
fire mules and horses were met running
about the streets as far north as twenty
fifth street, but they were later gather
ed up as we'll as possible
The surrounding Buildings, with one
exception dwelling houses, were IN very
great jeopardy for nearly an hour, but
Jbe fremen succeeded in savinz them
all. so far as danger by the flames was
concerned. The dwelling nearest the
fire was on the north, and was occupied
by Jonas Butterheld. A number
Of citizens, led by EI-Police-
| man John Shorts, rescued the house
hold goods In good shape and carried
them TO place Of safety. On the east,
across McCulloch street, was double
frame residence, owned by <. Z. Zoeck-
Ter. This was smoking az times,
but was we'll wet down and escaped
damage. On the northwest were
residences occupied by Mrs. Knapp and
Louis Stroble. and they were esteemed
70 be In danger, and the furnitore, ETC.,
was All carried out by volunteers.
These buildings were saved intact,
however, but the outhouses attached 70
them In the rear, and next the stable,
were demolished by falling walis,as vas
a oortlon OF the roof OF the Butter
| Acid residence The north wall fell
at 1885 q. u, the upper portion
Of the west wall at 1:05, and the south
vail a few minutes later. The police,
nnder the charge OF Lieut.. Gaus, and
the hremen kept close watch on these
walls. and no one was injured By their
fall.
The FIRE was famed by a stif wind
from the southwest, and the dense
showers Of sparks and burning brands
were carried directly over the
main portion OF the brewery. and
here were grave fears for 9
t'me taat the immense structure would
4 esteh FIRE. Men were sent tp on the