Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-28
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
ON tbs S0UTH SIDE AT an EARLY HOUR
THIS MORNING.
The Loss No. Heavy in Dollars aud Cents, But a
Number Of Persons Will Be Home.
less-HOrsss Burned.

| About one O'CLOCK THIS morning an
alarm of fire was turned in from box fl,
at the Hook and Ladder house, on
Twenty-frst street, aud second alarm,
which followed within few minutes,
brought out the entire department.
The fire was easily located by the
bright blaze, which could bs plainly
seen several blocks distant. When the
department arrived the one-story frame
shanties on the creek bank, west OF
Market street, were in flames, and 1t
was apparent. from the nature OF the
buildings. that they could not be saved
| from destruction. The fire started In
the rag warehouse Of Melt Martin, and
was not discovered until the building
was mass Uf flames.
Adjoining the workhouse on the west
were several buildings OF the same
frail character occupied by Peter Sole,
his wife, and family OF five children,
Thomas BellvilIe, wife and three chill
drsn, and Chss. Watkins sHd Lafe Mar
tin. The FIRE was discovered by Mrs.
Cole, who ina mediately gave the
alarm, and awose ali the persons men
toned above, the rooms being divided
By the partitions. All were out OF bed
in an instant. The flames by this time
were in the living rooms, aud without
awaiting TO put on their clothes, the
men gathered up the children, and had
to break down partitions Ia more than
one case, TO escape with their lives
The flames spread in both directions.
Reaching out toward Market street
they soon ignited the framework on
the one-story store rooms occupied by
Bachmann Bros, cigar makers, and >.
w. Ferret, agent for Wanamaker "
Brown. Mr.. Ferret aud snail boy
were sleeping in small adjoining
room. Mr.. Ferret was awakened By
the noise OF burning timber and the In
tense heat, and had barely time to
clothe himself and secure his books be-
fore the flames had entered the room.
Owing TO the slippery condition OF
the streets IL was difficult for the en-
g!nes 10 get TO tho fire, and equally diff
ficult for the men TO handle the hose.
Nevertheless the firemen worked hero
icallY. Within twenty minutes from
the time the alarm was turned in all the
frame shanties and the store rooms
on Market street were doomed
and the fremen directed their efforts
efforts toward saving adjoining prop
erty. The store rooms OF DieZ, the
florist, aud other buildings on the other
side Of the strest, were scorched by the
flames, and the awnings on two build.
ings became ignited, but were promptly
extingushed.
The large brick building. formerly
the planning mill Of j. A. Holiday Il
Son, caught fire 10 the rear and but for
the efforts OF the department would
have been entirely destroyed. As 1t was
the roof and rear part OF the building
were burned, and the loss will be heavy.
In about half an hour the flames
were under control, but in that time a
number OF persons were rendered home
less, seven horses were burned, and
seven or eight buildings destroyed. The
loss in dollars and cents will not be
heavy.
The old planning mill property was
occupied by number OF tenants. The
first floor, on the corner OF Market and
Twentieth streets, was used as 3 livery
and sale stable, by c. 5. Bradford.
There were several horses in
the stable, and Mr.. VIM. LAUGH
lin and the police officers who rescued
them, are entitled TO praise. They
forced their way into the building from
Twentieth street, succeeded in break
ing holes through the partition, and
leading the animals to safety, while the
flames were crawling toward them.
There were also i've buggies, asurrey
and several sets Of harness in the build
ing, all Of which are badly damaged, If
not entirely destroyed.
In the second story Richard Ryan
conducted an uph olstering establish
lishment. HIS stock Of tools will be a
total loss. West OF Ryan's place was
j. W. Roberts disinfectant establish
ment, the contents of which were to-
tally destroyed.
Mr.. Martins warehouse and contents
were totally destroyed, with five horses
belonging to Martin, Watkins and En-
glehart. Barlow q Carroll, Wholesale
produce merchants, had two horses and
two sets OF harness In stable west OF
the Martin place, which also were
burned.
The property which was destroyed,
was purchased some years ago by the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
and has since been devoted to various
uses. The loss will fall heaviest on tho
company, and will reach several thous-
and dollars. The shanties which were
DESTROYED were worth practically, moth
ing. and have long been an eye-sore in
that section OF the city. Owing to the
lateness OF the hour, the loss Of the
tenants OF the B. 81 o. Company could
not be Appropriated, as it was impossi-
Bile 10 ascertain the amount OF damage
done.
The loss will fall heavily upon the
families mentioned above, who were
driven out by the flames. All they pos
sessed was in the shanties in which they
lived. They did not even save enough
clothing TO decently cover themselves.
During the fire they were huddIe about
the stove in the Hook aud Ladder
house, and presented truly pitlfnl APP
pearance. The two women had only
their night clothes on and one man was
bsrefooted. while all OF the children