Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-05
A BIG FIRE In JOHNSTOWN.

Two Hundred Thousand Dollars Worth OF
Property Destroyed and the Blaze Not
Under Control.
Johnstown, Pa, March AT 9:5O
this evening fire broke out in the base
ment of the Nathan Miller block, IN
the most central part of the town. Al
midnight the whole business portion
of the town is threatened and the hre
still burns fiercely. The grocery store
of Nathan Miller where the fire started,
is a total loss, which is estimated at
S. coo. The Democrat Office, on the
second floor OF the building, was totally
DESTROYED. together with all the hne
new machinery and equipment OF that
firm. Their loss is placed at $4,000
Nothing whatever was saved, even lhe
emplOves. who were preparing the
morning edition, fleeing for their lives.
The H. NJ BenshOft book bindery on
the second floor. is also completely de-
stroved. with a loss of $4,000. On the
third floor was the Neuman League
Club rooms. one of the finest in the
citv and all their furniture and para
phernalia. which is estimated at Sl,OOO,
is lost. The hardware store OF John
Hannah. also on the first floor, is de-
stroyed. His loss is placed at $4,000.
The E. L. and Z. T. UpdegraYe mlllln-
cry establishment also in'the Hannan
building is destroyed, with loss OF
$1,000. The Wolf block, which adjoins
the Harmon block, took fire from the
burning building and is at this hour
given up as a total loss and the fire is
still spreading down the street. In this
block. which is also valued at $4,000.
were a number OF lawyers offices, all
ct whom had very fine Libraries, and
which are almost totally destroyed. Inc
LAWYERS are City Solicitor +. D. O'COn-
nor. Oliver z. T. McNeelis, O'Connor &
: Gresswald. and County Surveyor +. u.
Fetterman. The Americus club rooms
occupied the third floor, and they had
one of the finest clubs in the city. their
loss on furniture alone being estimated
at 81 500. Lawyer William Williams
was also on that floor and his loss is
total Mr.. Z. NJ Marlans occupied the
first floor with q grocery. He succeed
ed in saving part of his stock, and his
( loss is now placed at $4,000 The fire
i isI till raging and has now extended to
( Lincoln street. where the residence of
| Mr.. Wolf. the owner of the Wolf block,
is now burning. Mr. Wolf is one OF
the leading merchants in the city and
at present it looks as though he would
| lose all he possesses. The fire COM
panies. twelve in number, are all on
the scene. but at this hour have not
succeeded in getting control of the
flames. Several of the fremen are al
ready reported hurt, but no names are
Obtainable at this hour Tonight S
scenes are Of the widest confusion,
such as have not been witnessed since
the terrible night of the flood of 1883.
The fire then spread to Morris Wolf S
/ residence on Lincoln street, where con-
siderable damage was done. 1t was only
by the most persistent efforts of the
fremen. several of whom were injured,
that the whole square which repre-
sents the principal business portion of
the city was saved. The losses are as
follows: Hannah block, John Hannah,
stock and building, 100000, partly in
sured; Johnstown Democrat, $4,000,
partly insured: Nathan Millers gro
Gerry, $4,000; H. ". Benshon, $1,000,
partly insured: Brown & Otto $500,
fully insured; Newman League, $1,000;
500 insurance; +. L. d +. +. Upde-
grave. $780, Wolf block, Morris Wolf,
not known; James A. Malin, $1,000; DR..
c. A. Zimmerman, S1.5.0, Americus
Club $500; +. J. O'Connors. Esq,
OConnor e Cresswell, Esqs., William
Williams. Esq. E. T. McNeelis, ESQ,
and County Surveyor S. G. Fetterman,
who had Offices in the building, suffer
ed losses from $50 to 500 each. AT 1:45
d. m, the fire is about under control.