Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-26
IN INCEND|ARY FIRE
Destroys Several Small Buildings
About Midnight,
Near the City Building-Started in
Stable Owned by Robert Teas
dale, and Spread to Adjoining
Buildings-Caldwel Mfg. Co. the
Heaviest Losers.

Shortly before midnight fire broke
out in the frame buildings, corner Eoff
and Sixteenth streets, on the B. G. o.
property, and several were destroyed
entailing loss which will reach con-
siderable sum in the aggregate. Mr..
Charles Schmidt passed the place about
twenty minutes before midnight, and
noticed a blaze in the building adjoin-
ing Crumbacker's place. He notified
two men who were working on al en-
gine in the w. & E. G. shed, and one of
them ran to the Atlantic engine house.
An alarm was turned in from the box
there, and from two other boxes, but
the system is not in good working or
der and some confusion resulted.
The fire burned rapidly and the blaze
could be seen in nearly all parts of the
city. On the corner was the office of
Mr.. Crumbacker, one story building,
comparatively new. Adjoining il was
a two-story structure owned by Robert
Teasdale, and unoccupied. In the rear
of these buildings was the scale house,
and the stables of Mr. Teasdale. Ad-
joining the vacant structure on Six
teenth street, is long one-story build
ing of structural iron, owned by the
Caldwell Manufacturing Company, and
used as a warehouse.
The fire appears to have originated
in the stable When discovered, 1t had
gained considerable headway and
when the streams were turned on the
building of Mr. Teasdale was mass OF
flames. 1t was apparent that none OF
the frame structures could be saved.
There was a stiff wind blowing, and the
sparks were carried north for fully a
block. The w. & f. G. sheds, DR.. e.
NJ. Billiards. residence and other build
ings in the vicinity were several times
in danger, and streams Of water were
turned upon them. Mr.. James Cahill
had charge of the department in the alb
sence of Chief Healy, and did very eff
cient work. 1t was not more than ten
minutes until the flames were under
control
The stable, scale house and Mr..
Teasdale's frame building were entirely
destroyed. with their contents. Mr..
Crumbackers building is also practic-
ally total loss. There was some office
furniture in the building, and about
81 .00o worth of lumber from tho Cd ica
houses which were torn down. There
were no horses in the stable at the
time. Mr.. Teasdale carried an insur-
ance of $1,000 in the Franklin Com
pany.
The heaviest loss was sustained by
the Caldwell & Peterson Mfg. Company.
The building contained merchandise
valued at about $4,000. including a car
load OF tin plate received last week. 40
barrels OF linseed oil. and a quantity of
metal ceiling and roofing ready for
shipment. Two barrels Of the oil burn
ed. in the midst OF the other barrels,
but they were NOT consumed. This is n
remarkable circumstance. The burn
Ing OH hlazed up and communicated
the flames 20 the woodwork OF The
building The tin plate was consider
ably damaged by water
The Gre vas undoubtedly ~ inccn.
diary origin a colorcd boy who wai
standing near the Atlantic engine
house. saw q nan come 0ut from the
stable "a fer minutes before the fire
Was discovered He went down Six
toonfh street and Chaplinc. Tho boy
could noi furnish an accurate dcscrip-
ton. bar said the man wore q siouch
hat and thought he bad a mous'ache.
Two men are suspected hy The officers.
Mr. Caldwell. when seen by Regis
ter reporter. could not estimate his
firms loss. and cannot do so until an
examination D. made to-day The tin
plaie will be considerably damaged by
wafer. The stock approXimated IN
value between $1,000 and $4,000, on
Which there was an insurance Of 81
500 in the J. V. l. Rodgers agency