Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-11
WHEELING, WVA- TUESDAY MORNING. JUNE II, 1895.

B. & o. platform, looking due north
through the business part of the town
and on through what is known as
"StringtOwn, up the little valley which
runs down toward the b. & O. "Y, ,"
not house was left save two or three
frame stores on the east side of the
"l, which were miraculOusly preserv-
ed. From this "Y" towards the west,
along the main business street Of the
town. which runs parallel with the
railroad, not a house is left, the whole
territory being burned over clear and
clean. Here and there a jet of nat
ural gas blaZed from a fractured pipe
among the ruins, but the woodwork of
the structures was consumed to the
last splinter, and it was a general sub
ject of remark among the spectators
that seldom or never had they looked
upon SO clear a sweep.
AS day broke little knots Of worn ou3
men. women and children could be
seen dotted about the contiguous hill
sides. interspersed with piles of house
hold furniture. rescued with difficulty
from the flames. The sight vas a
most dismal and disheartening one.
hut even in the face Of such total ruin
there were few tears and
LITTLE APPARENT DISCOURAGE
MENr
.We have lost everything but our
nerves said one business man, as De
glanced over the site where his store
had stood O. few hours before. "the OnlN
ching & know t0 do is to pitch I'm and
rebuild the town. better than ever.
This appeared t0 De the general .senu-
ment. and before the day was three
hours old men had been set 70 work
clearing mp the rubbish.
The influx of people from the sur
rounding county was great. and all
during the day the farmers Of the vicin-
ity, and strangers from as far east as
Fairmont and west from as far as this
city. came in on every train, anxious
TO see the ruins Of the once prosperous
community. sympathy and encour-
agement were upon every tongue, and
nobody. no matter how great his indi-
vidual loss. was allowed to become dis
cOuraged.
That the fire was the work OF an In
cendiary. everybody in Cameron ap-
peared to believe yesterday Postmas-
ter Fitzgerald said:
"I am firmly convinced that my prop
erty was set on fire. The stable was
carefully locked more than an hour
before the fire broke out, and no one
could have gotten into the building.
When the twenty-six horses were turns
ed out. the top of the stable alone was
in a blaze. showing
WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
/ AS for the postofice, I got everything
I Of the greatest value out, and the mail
| is an right. I am taking the mail oven
to my home. because there is nowhere
I else to- put it. The mail in the Office,
stamps. and most of the government
property is saved. / let my other prop
erty 20 TO look after the office.
AT an early hour in the morning the
more fortunate citizens began to aid
the sufferers I'm every imaginable way.
What was left of household goods was
gathered up and taken TO places Of
shelter and safety, homeless women
and children were provided for, and
last evening all had been temporarily
cared for.
To-day and hereafter, the people hav-
ing found out where they are at" the
work Of restoring the town and re-
engaging in business will be COM
menced, and it will not be long until
another Cameron has arisen up out
of ashes as of the Old