The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-24

1
She was hurried into the open alr In
time to save her life. and though she Is
badly burned about the face and arms
and half crazed by her terrible loss, she
will recover. In another room were the
bodies OF Mrs. Champlln and her three
year-old Son, while on the upper floor
the nremen found Mamie Whiting, the
colored servant, unconscious from
smoke. but not seriously hurt
The Injured were taken to homes OF
neighborIng friends. with the exception
of the servants. who were conveyed to
the city hospital. The dead were car
rled across the street to tho residence OF
DR.. X. B. Bachelor. where every effort
was made to resuscitnte them without
avail. When 1t was found that nothing
further could be done for them, they
were covered with sheets and laid out
on the floor OF the physlcian's parlor to
await the coming OF the undertaken.
The FIRE although a fierce one. was
confined 10 the Armiger residence.
which was completely Quilted. No esti-
mate has yet been made OF the loss, but
It Is thought the contents are worth at
least $4,000. The house Is insured In
the Germanla Insurance Company. OF
New York, for $500, which will fully
cover the damage.
IHt news OI IuG ulAuANtT HpTeuu Will
wonderful rapidity all over the city and
in an hour the tremendous crowd had
gathered In front OF the house. Prayers
for the dead and for the afflicted We're
lifted up In almost every church In the
city and expressions OF sincere sympa-
thy and regret were uttered from every
pulpit, and repeated In the households
Of the many friends and ncquuintnnces
OF the unfortunate family.
IIsArtrendInG Scenes.
The scene In the parlorS Of Or. Batch
elor's residence, where the charred and
bruised bodies were carried. was har-
rowing. Even the undertakers and
their assistants used 10 scenes OF death,
turned away at Itmes half slckened.
Mr.. Armlser was burned 10 q crisp
around the upper part OF his body, The
wl1fte-halr around his venerable head
wns matted wS:h blood and cinders.
His face and forehead were badly burn
cd.
Mr.. Riley died from burns and suffo-
cation. He was rather stout and mus
cular man. Tue burns were Chiefly
about his face. neck and shoulders. His
face was terribly distorted and wore
an expression OF awful agony. His left
leg and side were slightly burned and
there was hvid nre-mark across his
chest.
Or, Manuel was terribly burned and
his horribly SCARED face and body was
twisted to one side as though he died
only after making supreme effort for
life. GleamIng In esartling contrast
with the burned and blackened fingers
OF Mr.. Mannel's left hand glIstened
handsome diamond ring, shaped Ike
a serpent with the glltteEing gem in
the centre OF the head.
Strong men who were standing in the
paFlor turned their heads away when
two undertakers brought in the body
Of little James Chumplin, grandson Of
Mr.. ArIniger. A woman standing near
the pSrior door, IN the hall. falhted.
The child was q blackened cinder.
Smoke and fire had done their fearful
work. Even $he throat aad uostrils
were burned inside. His llEtle white
night gown was dabbled and spattered
with cinierS and dark Stains from the
burned body.
The two Riley children were killed by
sufrocatEnE smoke. They were not as
badly burned as the Others, but their
faces were blackened from the burs.-
ing OF blood vessels, and The crimson
nuid stained their blnckened night
gowns.
Mrs. Letitia Riley. who IS 50 cruelty
bereaYed. is lying at the home OF DR..
Bachelor In q semi-stupor seemingly
unconscious OF her irreparnble loss and
suffering great physical agony.
To.day's tragedy Is the third OF q
similar cl1a7lct.er wrTich has visited
this city during the past year. The
first wuS that In which MIR, and Mrs,
Thomas whtterldge were killed by fall
ing from n ladder down which Mr..
wntterIdgc was cndeavorinG TO carry
his wife, otter having refused the SER
vices OF the firemeu. This fire occurred
on january Is. 1895. OF l3 West Blddle
street. The other resulted in the death
OF Mrs. Roscoe p. Heath, q daughter
of the late Commodore" KIttson, OF
Minneapolis, and occurred at % Mount
Royal avenue, on March "a. 1895. Dep.
uty Fire Chief McAfee. to-dny's hero.
was presented wkh q medal Oft that
time for teroIsm In eDdeavorlng to res
cue Mrs Heath. a more recent dis
aSter was that at the old Front street
theatre. on December 26 of last year. In
which five men, three women and NJ
teen children lost their lives during a
senseless panic caused by false alarm
OF fire.