Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-10
SWEPT BY FLAME.
A DISASTROUS FIRE AT FULTON LAST
NIGHT.
The Old List Packing House Now Owned By T.
Schsnek & Sons Dssiroyed-A Loss Of
Between $4,000 and S70OO-Fremsn
Battle Against Odds

About II o'clock last night people
here in Wheeling were somewhat
startled by the rudy glow in the
eastern heavens, which soon deepened
into a fiery red. II soon became appar-
ent that q eonaagration Of considerable
size was raging n the town OF Fulton,
and this soon became more certain a
moment later when the authorities
wired TO Wheeling for assistance.
The Atlantic engine responded aud
was scarcely seven minutes making the
run out across the peninsular. Lieut..
Terrell, of the police force, along with
Officers Lukens and Donovan, also ae-
companied the fremen, and did excel
lent duty.
The Ere was located in what is COM
monty known as the old List packing
house, formerly owned by List, Daven-
port and Parks, but for the last four
wears owned by the well known butch
ers +. Schenk & Son. The buildings
are located on Centre street and near
the bank of the creek. The flames were
first discovered about half-part ten
o'clock, and they originated In the
south end Of the abattOir building. As
soon as the fire was discovered by the
nefQhbors the alarm was quickly given
and the only FIRE company in the
town. the United, No. !, quickly re-
sDonded. AS the machine is a hand
engine, the fire had gained considerable
Roadway before the water was thrown.
A hole was cut 10 the ice IN the creek,
and from here the water was thrown.
Finding that one stream was pOwerleSS
TO stay the raging flames, and fearing
lest the cOnflagratiOn would be wide
spread, word was wired to Wheel
ing for help. When the Allan
tic arrived she was stationed
At the junction Of Paper Mill Lane and
Centre street, where was a reservoir,
ard by running a long line OF hose TO
the building, succeeding in doing great
work. Just before the Atlantic arrived
the buildings were one mass or lame
shooting high into the air, but as soon
as the second stream was placed on the
building the fire subsidized in an incred-
IDLY short space Of time, and at quarter
past twelve the fire was practically IN
der control.
How the fire originated could not be
learned. IL is supposed 70 have caught
around the boilers, but just how IL
originated everyone was at loss to I'M
derstand, although IL is not generally
believed the fire was incendlary. The
engineer Andrew Kirk, who by the way
has been the only person at work
around the buildings for some time,
stated that he left the building at ten
minutes after six, and by the careful
way in which he left everything he saw
no possibility Of fire, and could IN no
way account for the origin.
There were two buildings, burned,
both were brick, and both were two
stories high. The building known as
the abattOir was about 2OOx3O feet, and
the fertilizer and stock-roOm about
15Ox6O feet. The two buildings have
been owned by +. Schenk 81 Sons for
about four years, but have never been
very extensively operated, as some i'm
movements aud alterations have long
been contemplated.
Fortunately the buildings that were
burned were located some little distance
from Schenks main buildings, and no
harm to the other property accrued.
The main buildings OF f. Schenk & Son
are located In the western part or Full
ton. A building that was located IN
comfortably near the fire was that OF
Henry Rolf, used as a large store house
for grain and hides. 1t caught fire on
one end once or twice, but was soon
extinguished. Water was continually
poured over this building TO prevent II
from catching. Michael Frismuth, the
barber whO'lives contiguous TO the blaze
naturally got somewhat alarmed, and
quite a number Of his personal effects
were carried from the house, fearing
every moment that the flames
would engulf the home. They were
soon carried back, however, as
soon as il was seen the fire was under
control. Two streams Of water in
raging fire, such as prevailed for quite
awhile, had little effect, and had the
buildings been Of frame, they would
have been powerless with the wind that
was blowing last night, and the
big start the flames got Near
ly the whole town Of Fulton
turned out to see the fire, and many
lent willing hand. Women and chill
dren mufled Up In shawls and blankets
stood around in the deep snow watch
ing the fire which in its height was
beautiful one, va particularly so,
when viewed from the Wheeling hill
enroute TO Fulton.
One Of the sons, q member OF the hrm
OF +. Schenk & Sons, said last night
At he would hardly be able to esti-
mate the loss. One thing he knew pos
1itively. however, tbat the machinery
In the building cost Si,OO0, and the loss
was probably between Sc, 600 aud Sc, 900.
4 He did not know jusl what the inSur-
. ance was, aud It was( impossible to see
4 the other members N the firm at that
hour. IL was Learned ,hst the Ansur-
ance, IL any, was very light.