Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-14

At a quarter after twelve o'clock
this morning Motorman Palmer and
the conductor on the last car to the city
from Martins Ferry and Jaques Front,
discovered a lively fire raging in the
unfinished two-story residence being
erected for Mrs. Mary Mckee, at No.
1852 North Huron street, just south
of the corner Of Cromwell.
No one appeared to be stirring in the
neighborhood, which is quite thickly
built up, and the three men went to
work humping at doors in the vicin-
ity and getting out the citizens. Ed
ward Donaldson was one of the first
aroused. and went to work in his bare
feet in the snow.
In a moment or two the alarm was
turned in, but the striking apparatus
in the City Hall does not appear to
have worked. as the first intimation
Of the fire in the central portion of the
city was when the apparatus went
The new building burned furiously,
and in a very short time the flames,
famed by the high wind which was
blowing from the west, communicated
to the residence adjoining on the north,
belonging to Robert H. Mckee. On
the south was the handsome two-story
residence of Mr.. David A. Morgan, a
roller and this, too, caught fire in a
short time. TIE occupants of these
buildings had been aroused as soon
as possible, and all made their escape
with a small amount Of clothing hastily
snatched up. In his successful effort
to rescue his child, Mr.. Mckee had rath-
er a narrow escape, as the building in
which his family were asleep, was fill
ed with smoke and flame, but fortu-
nately all succeeded in reaching the
outside air. This experience was re-
peated in the Morgan residence. Mr..
Morgan was away at work, and Mr..
Mckee assisted in getting the children
out.
The Island Chemical Company was
the first on the scene and got to work,
but the good start the fire had, and the
high wind which was blowing, rendered
its work of little avail. The Second
Ward Chemical Company came second,
closely followed by the Vigilant, the At
lantic and the hook and ladder COM
panies. After these got to work the
fire still ragged furiously, and call was
sent in for the reserves, which brought
the Niagara and Eighth Ward engine
companies. The iremen were handi-
capped by a shortage of water, which
was popularity attributed to the per-
nicious practice of laying down that
invention of old Nick, four-inch pipes.
One or two engine streams were tearly
good. but the others were OF little use,
and their main utility was in pre-
venting the spread of the flames to
surrounding property. 1t is doubtful
if this could have been done, had 1t
not been for a wide vacant lot on both
the north and south of the burning
buildings. while the fact that the
houses on the east side of North Huron
street set back well from the line OF
the sidewalk also was a factor in their
safety.
BY the time the firemen got the full
DdIlbIH
Mckee residences were doomed, while
the flames made steady progress IN the
Morgan residence. Here it was fought
hard. and some outlines Of the struc-
ture were left standing, but what is
left of the house is utterly worthless.
Nothing of the contents OF either OF
the occupied buildings was saved eX-
cept two or three drawers full OF cloth
ing snatched from a bureau IN the NC
Kee residence and trunk.
The loss will aggregate about SLoOO.
Mr. NcKee's house and contents were
valued at about 81 500, on which there
was insurance of 500 placed with Simp-
son & Hazlett The new building,
which is still in the hands of the con-
tractor. represented about $4,000. 1t
could not be ascertained whether or
not there was builders risk upon II.
The Morgan residence was valued at
about 81 800, and with its contents rep
resents about S3.500 or 50, 800. There
was 81 500 insurance in the Franklin.
The only rational explanation for the
origin of the fire is that the carpenters
had a fire on a hearth in the new build
ing while at work during the day, and
neglected to extinguish it when they
left The high wind probably blew
sharks about the room, and igniting
sbavings. The fire had a big start
when first seen, and must have been
burning for some time.
OIL NEWS.