Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-02-23

AT halT-paSt nine CLOCK last even
ing a fire started in the cellar of the
White Front saloon and restaurant,
Nos. 1924 and 1926 Market street. op-
pOsite the Register Office, and for five
minutes or so it looked as though the
property would be destroyed or very
seriously damaged Fortunately. how
ever. the fremen soon got the upper
hand of the blaze, and the loss will noD
be over a couple of hundred dollars.
A few minutes before the time men
toned, "Zeke" Ball, of the Goebel
Brewing Company agency, was NOV
ing a barrel of beer in the cellar, and
in some manner rolled it against a
natural gas pipe. which was broken off
right at the meter. In making a light
TO see what damage had been done the
escaping gas was ignited, and it fash
ed up with a strong volume as to great
ly endager Mr.. Ball ard at the same
time set fire to the first floor of the
building. Mr.. Ball escaped from the
cellar badly burned about the eyes. and
with his hair and mustache scorched,
and the blaze was noticed imme-
diately. both by those i'm the building
and passerS-by on the street. Propri-
etOr Gavin ran out 10 the sidewalk
and jumped down the outside cellar
way TO see where the fire was located
but was Immediately met by flash of
flame, which Singed his hair and eve
oroWs considerably, and slightly burned
the upper portion of his face. He
was dragged out of danger by people
who had cOngregated at the cellar open
ing, and while this was going on, con-
suming but about a moment. an alarm
was turned in from box No. %. which
brought the entire department TO the
scene The Eleventh street chemical
company was the first to arrive. and
soon had a chemical stream on the
fire, but for some minutes this had lit
tie apparent effect. and the blaze hav-
ing gotten a good hold ON the under
side of the floor and covered good
deal of space. As company after com
pany arrived. several lines Of hose were
laid, and two or three engines were
stationed, ready to 90 to work. but By
this time the chemical had got the up
per hand. and even plug streams were
unnecessary. Three or four holes We're
cut in the floor of the saloon. to enable
the tremen TO work to better advant-
o@e but outside Of this. a0d the filing
Of the upper portion of the bull ding with
smoke, there was no evidence of the
fire on the ground floor and by ten
O'Clock business was proceeding very
much as usual and Mr.. Gavin was re-
ceiving the CONGRATULATIONS of his
friends upon his escape from "a
roast.
The building is owned by Col. Thomas
O'Brien. and is we'll covered by insur-
ance. The damage will not amount
to more than fifty or seventy-five dol
lars on the real estate. Mr.. Gavin's
loss. which is also covered by insur-
ance. could not be well estimated last
night but it will possibly not exceed
cellar and the blaze was noticed imme-
A very large crowd was brought to
the scene Of the fire, and the police hal
their hands full for a short time, in
efforts TO keep spectators out OF the
way of the fremen No fire lines We're
stretched. and as a result there were a
dozen people crowding up to he front
of the building for every fireman at
work. Street car traffic was only in
terrupJed for a short time