Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-07
A DISASTROUS FIRE
At Noon Yesterday Cost Three Fire
men Their Lives.
The Origin of the Blaze Mysterious.
How the Fire Fighters Met Their
Death-The Monetary Loss 500,
OOO-The Details of a Tragic Sun
day Occurrence.


San Francisco, June GA fire in the
southeastern part of the city at noon
to-day cost three fremen their lives
and entailed a property loss of $780,
600. The killed are:
JOHN MAHONEY, of Chemical En-
gine No. 6.
FRANK KELLER, steward of Hose
Cart No. 2.
JAMES MAILMAN, driver of Truck
No. l.
The fire started mysteriously in the
four-story brick building owned by
Schroth & Westerfield, and leased to
the Standard Biscuit Company. Work
in the factory ceased for the week at
$50 yesterday Afternoon, and so far as
known the only occupants of the build
ing this morning were John Erwin,
the bookkeeper, and w. Cook, the cash
ier. who were at work in the Office.
Cook departed at II o'clock, and Erwin
was still occupied with his books at
noon. when a fireman rushed in con-
veying the information that
THE BUILING WAS ABLAZE
in the upper stries. Erwin had been
unconscious of the fire which had been
observed but a few minutes earlier by
several passersby, who were startled
bv a sudden burst of flames in the
fourth story. After the first alarm the
fire chief turned in a second and gen.
eral alarm. A stiff breeze famed the
fire within the brick walls, causing it
to spread with extraordinary rapidity,
and it was soon apparent that the in
terror of the structure would be entire
Iy destroyed. Adjacent to the brick
factory was a row of old wooden build
ings. including a branch of the Saliva
ton Army Barracks and the southern
police station.
THESE SEEMED DOOMED.
Fortunately the police station con-
tanned only three prisoners, but the
terrified yells and appeals of the trio
to be liberated caused intense excite
ment among the gathering crowds.
They we're transferred as quickly as
possible to the Central Station.
Meanwhile floor after floor of the
cracker factory fell in, rendering the
walls unsafe. Then the east wall OF
the factory toppled over and then a
wavering sheet of flames spread over
the area adjoining. With the crush OF
the east wall occurred the tragedy of
the confagration A score Of fr9men
we're in an adjoining paint shop en-
deavoring from that spot to check the
spread of the flames. A falling
timber struck fireman Mahoney on the
leg. breaking it. He refused to allow
his comrades to carry him away in
their arms. insisting that he must be
BORNE OFF ON A SHUTTER.
All but two of the band of tiremea ran
to procure a shutter, and just as they
left their injured comrade the wall fell.
burving beneath a mass Of brick and
mortar Mdhoney and his faithful
friends. BY dint of much dangerous
labor the three bodies were recovered
and sent with police escort in as many
patrol wagons. The loss to the brick
building is estimated at $4,000, with
$4,000 loss. the contents, consisting
Of machinery and stock. The damage
TO the Salvation Army barracks was
81 600. and to the police station ;he
damage was nominal. The biscuit fac
tory was operated by corporation or
ganized a year ago and reputedly
trapsacting a large and prosperous bus
mess The cause of the fire is "a yet
unknown.