The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-17
THE BUCKEYE BURNS.

discovered that the large plant OF the
Buckeye Glass Company, situated on
the river front In Martins Ferry at
the foot of Hanover street, extending
above and below that thorouGhfare,
out to the river bank, was on fire. An
alarm was Immediately turned in and
the three volunteer fire companies OF
Martins Ferry turned out TO battle
with the flames, which, however. had
secured o fearful start before the
alarm was turned IN. In fact, n large
part Of the works was mass OF flames
before a stream OF water was turned
on.
The fire was completely beyond the
capacity OF the fre department to con-
troll and at 1.4O O'Clock had pracd-
cally burned out all that part OF the
works north OF Hanover street. In this
part OF the plant were located the fol-
lowing departments: Cutting shop
engraving shop three furnaces. mold
shop, decorating department, asserting
rooms and lehr department. The
flames communicated to the southern
half OF the works, across Hanover
street by way OF the bridge that con-
nectcd tho upper and lower buildings.
AT $40 q. IN. It looked as though the
entire plant would be wiped out of ex-
istence and the efforts of the fire de-
partmeut were mainly devoted to saw
ing the Martins Ferry city electric
lighting plant, which was recently COM
pleted and Is situated a short distance
from the glass house.
Work ofR Btrebug.
It is learned that the fire was most
probably OF Incendiary origin. This
theory looks plausible for the reason
that President A. D. scamon, OF Wheel
Ing, had announced that the Buckeye
works would resume this week with
non-unlon workmen. 1t will be re-
membercd the Buckeye attempted to
run non-unIon last year and were BIT
terly opposed by the union men and
their sympathizers who resorted to
questionable methods In their opposi-
,tlon. At the scene OF the fire this morn
ing n number of men expressed the
opinion that "Scamon had been served
right"
~ IPho Buckeye GLASS Works was prin-
cipafiy owned by a. D. Seamon, Of
Wheeling, who was president and gen
eral manager. The plant was one OF
the largest In the United states and
was worth $t50,0dd. The insurance ttG-
ures could not be learned this morning,
but Il IN said that Mr.. Season carries as
much insurance US the companies
would take. Within the past two weeks
there have been threats 10 burn the
works on account OF the labor troubles,
and II is said some OF the insurance
companies were about to cancel the
policies they carried on the works,
There was no clue this morning to the
flrc-buEs, though the Martins Ferry
police were hard at work trying to dis
cover how the fire started. The only
fire about the works was In the fur
naces, the fires having been set last
week preparatory to the resumption
this week. II IL hardly possible that
the fire started from the furnaces: in
fact. everything points to an incen-
diary blaze
An effort was made this morning to
ascertain the amount OF insurance car
ried by the Buckeye company. Mr.. AL
fred PAUL, secretary OF the Peabody In
surance Company. OF Wheeling. was
seen, but said that hts people had not
distributed the Buckeye GlHSs Works
insurance since two years ago. At that
time the amount carried was $4,000.
distributed in n number OF companies.
The insurance valuation OF the works
was 100000.
Electric Plant In Danger.
At 2:20 q, m. a telephone message
from Martins Ferry was to the effect
that the entire works, north and south,
had been wiped out. including stock.
books and office fixtures. Not thing
was saved.
The secretary Of the works was not
inclined to give the insurance figures,
but said that Il would probably foot
up less than $4,000. He was under
the Impression that the Insurance was
distributed by the Peabody company.
OF this city. but as related above, this
impression Ia incorrect. The premium
eNNcted by the insurance companies
was per cent on account OF the labor
troubles OF tlle glass house people
The watChmRn OF the works was Lu-
Glen Weldmdn. He rclntes the follow
lnB btOTys AZ lssaV u. lW' Ut UlLuc
tour OF the woriIs and found nothing
nmIss At 1910 a m. he went up Flrs.
Ecrcct along the works and saw no Sign
OF fire. Ait 1880 a. m. he was on the
street when he saw q blaze IN thc cen
trail part OF the upper building on the
first floor. lie tried to nUH Il oiS., bu,
he Roon cav that the fire had been set
there being strong odor OF carbon oil,
He then formed IN the alarm. The ilre
ncnd muat have planned his dcYillsh
work well for the IRE spread all over
tho Erouad floor with miraculous ra-
p!dity and was in an instant almost
beyond hope OF being put out by the
waGchman.
The Buckeye works was built IN 1863
by Sweeney. McCluney & Company, o!
Wheci!Ng. II was then small ono
pot furnace p!dnf. II prospcrcd and
was enlarged, being known as the EN-
cclsiOr Glass Company up to 1873 when
4 fell p victim 10 tha panic Of'that year
II was soon rcorganl2ch ana ran uA-
irrcrruptedly url!l two yoaIs ago.
Al : o'clock the south wall OF the
Buckeyes lower building fell In and
mndc more dangerous the position OF
the Martins Ferry electric light plant.
which If only ilteon feet away. II "
worth SSO,0 900, with no insurance nj all.
The value Of the Buckeye company'a
stock OF giusswarc was $4,000. mni:iug
the total loss to the glass works not less
than SlGj,0OO
AZ $3.50 the electric Hight plant was
safe. md the lire was about under
control.
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