Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-02

Higgins Hotel that resulted 10 QUO "a
the most terrific cOndagrations that mas
ever visited this city.
A brisk wind was blowing and there
was an awful loss OF life and prop
ertY.
The FIRE spread to the B., R. & P. de-
not. telegraph office and freight house
So rapidly did the fire spread that there
was no hope OF saving the hotel or the
depot when the fremen arrived.
Every company 10 the city responded
10 the alarm aud the iiremen WORKED
like beavers. many times riSking thelr
lives i'm their efforts 20 assist the help-
less inmates OF the house.
The IRE had apparently originated IN
the centre Of the building, shutting on
escape by way Of the stairs. The flames
had communicated % the edge OF the
building, also q frame structure, locat-
ed on the opposite side OF the creek oc-
cupied by Grocer Leroy, j. A. Waldo
and Others, snd the fremen were order
-ed across the bridge by Chief Ropp.
The heat was intense, almost blister
ing the flesh as the hOsemen attempted
tbe crossing. Some VINO had volunteer
ed their assistance dropped behind, IN
able 10 face the furnace, but the depart
ment BOYS pressed on and crossed the
bridge, and soon had q stream upon the
burning buildings.
While this was going on, woman
appeared az one Of she windows on toe
second floor, and threw her baby into
the creek below.
Instantly an unknown man jumped
into the water on the opposite side aud
daring the terrific heat saved the little
one.
While the man was in the act Of res
cufng the child, another babe was
thrown by It's terrified mother from
window into the water. The man made
heroic eforI 20 save this infant slso'
but 10 was impossible, and the little one
disappeared.
ne Higgins Hotel was long, mar
row wooden structure, bu!lt on the bank
az the creek, directly across the track
from the b., r. q Il. depot, aud imme-
dlately below the Main street bridge.
In was a home for the railroad men.
j. was almost impossible 20 tell Just
who was In the house, as railroad men
are coming aud going az all hours.
There were about 100 persons sleeping
in the different apartments.
shortly after 4 o'clock Higgins was
aroused by an alarm of fire, 20 ind him
self and vile hemmed In by the names
Am avenues OF escape except one were
cut Off. The only thing left for them
IN do was 20 lump from the window.
Mr.. Higgins jumped first and was fol-
lowed bv his wife. He escaped without
injury. but Mrs. Higgins sustained a
fracture of the leg and internal inju-
ries.
She was taken to the Riddle House
and tepderly cared for. The first inti-
nation Of FIRE some OF tue inmates
had was when man rushed through
the Railways kicking az the doors and
Men. women and children, some half
dressed. others in their night clothes
and many carrying their wearing ap-
Darel IN their arms, rushed from their
sleeping rooms, only 70 ind the halls
filed with fire and smoke.
"Jump from the windows" was the
erv 10 the bewildered ones. Jump and
save yourselves!'
Professor Neumetire, OF JamisOn's
orchestra, was among those who leaped
from the building aud was injured. De
had both legs broken aud was Injured
internallv. He was removed 20 the
city hospital where be is being cared
for J. w. OsbOurne, who also made
tba lean. had both OF his legso broken
and was removed TO the hospital.
Hundreds of people crowded the
streets and interiered with the hremen.
The police were so few they were una
ME 10 prevent plundering. The flames
had communicated with the building
occppled by detective McCreay, the
telegraph operators and freight clerks.
II was also consumed. Next the freight
house caught fire. Showers Of sparks
filed the air.
When the fire was under control a
search was make IN the ruins OF the no.
tal FOR the bodies. Many had escaped,
but it was known that some had perish
cd in the flames. Considerable time
was lost in clearing away the debris,
which was dumped into the creek and
carried away.
The smell Of burning flesh was sicken-
ing. AT $50 o'clock the FIRST body was
found under the big iron safe. lt is
spDposed the safe stood upon its foun-
dations until the foor burned through
ard then it fell upon the lifelesS BODY,
which was identified as FrSnk HaviI,
bv railroad passes that were, found.
About twenty minutes later q second
body was found. II was terribly
charred and was q horrible looking
sight as it was drawn from the smoking
emberS.
This body Is supposed TO be the re-
mains OF a man named Parks, who was
employed as a machinist az the b, r. &
p. shops.
Some time afterwsrd Fireman Tracy
Rider was wading In the creek search
ing for the dead, when he stepped upon
something that made him Shuddef With
a potatce fork. which ne carried for the
purpose, he lifted the charred and IN
recognizable form OF a man To view.
The legs and arms and head were gone.
Following are the names OF tie dead:
PARKS, engineer Of the B., r. & p.
shops.
f. HAvLIN, identified BY pasees on
the Philadelphia and Rrie RailrQ hd.
UNKNOWN WOMAN.
THOMAS CULLEN, a painter.
A CHILD Of Mrs. E. Tucker.
In addition 70 the above an infant
child oi MrA Weaver Is mlssiH