Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-10

)
and Before 1t Was Gotten Under
Control Two Million Dollars
Worth Of Property Had Been Con-
sumed-N erous Explosions
Added to the Terror Of the Con-
Migration.
Pittsburg, Pa, February 10.-At s: 80
Tonight fire started in the large six
story cold storage house of the Chau-
tauqua Lake Ice Company and before
the flames were subdued, at lis a. m.
nearly two million dollars worth Of
property had been destroyed. at least
six lives lost and many people badly
injured The fire in point of fatall-
ties, is the most serious that Pitts
burg has had in years.
The department responded quickly
and general alarm was sent in.
Other alarms quickly followed, and at
midnight Alegheny's department was
called on for help. The origin of the
fire is unknown
The vicinity of the fire is composed
OF mixture of huge warehouses and
many private residences, the inhabi-
tants Of whom fed in alarm, carving
with them as much portable house
mold goods as possible.
There were freuueit explosions
which greatly added to the consterna-
ton and alarm. The streets we're
completely blocked with people ana
their goods, interfering with the fire
men, who were already handicapped
IN their efforts to control the flames
on account of the windows and doors
OF the burning buildings being strong
ly barred by heavy iron shutters.
Pittsburg, Pa, February "a fire
| of mysterious origin was discovered at
o'clock this evening in the large six
| story cold storage plant of the Chau-
| tauqua Lake Ice Company, and at this
hour I'll p. M it looks as though
| the entire building would be destroyed
| together with about million dollars
| worth of merchandise of all kinds
| stored within its walls.
| The building occupies the block
| from Twelfth to Thirteenth streets,
| between Pike street and Mulberry al
| ley. 1t is a siX-story brick with three
| heavy fire walls, making in reality
| four buildings The ice company has
| its ice making plant and storage ware
| houses on the lower floors and the
| Union Storage Company occupies the
remainder of the building with mer-
chandise of all descriptions, the prop
erty of innumerable merchants and
householders of the city. One of the
compartments is used as the govern
ment bonded warehouse, and contains
about 400 barrels of whisky and alco-
| hol
Fifty horses belonging to the ice
company were stabbed in one end of
the building. but were all rescued in
safety.
The windows of the block are pro-
tected by heavy iron shutters which
cannot be opened, and for this reason
the firemen are badly handicapped,
being unable'to get at the fire proper
ly. The loss cannot as yet be esti-
mated, but at least 100000 worth has
already been consumed. The building
and contents are we'll insured through
the agency of Reno & Johns.
The explosions of whisky and am
monia are expected to take place at
any moment, and the wall on the
Pike street side has been declared I'M
safe by the firemen.
AT 11:15 p. m. an explosion OF
whisky occurred which blew out the
Mulberry Alley wall with terrible re-
suits. At the time the alley was
filled with fremen, policemen, news
paper men and others.
Many were caught by the falling
walls
Rumor has at least 20 or 80 men
still under the debris.
Three dead have been taken out,
among them Police Captain Berry.
The other two are at the morgue I'M
recognized as yet. Many people were
injured by flying bricks and beams,
and all the ambulance and patrol
wagons of the city are in constant
service.
Some of the injured whose names
| have been secured are:
Charles Simon, travelling sales
man from Cincinnati, badly cut on
head
William Fleming, squeezed by fall
| ing rafter may die
Daniel Maloney, carried through to
| the cellar, but dug his way out He is
hurt internally.
Charles Wilson, bridge builder, bad
Iy cut and hurt internally.
William Desmuke, puddler, head
and shoulders badly cut.
Mary Desmuke, his wife, hurt intern
ally.
Davis Stewart, badly cut on head.
Captain j. A. Brown. building In
spector, both legs broken.
Robert Rosamond, lieutenant En-
CINE Company No. 2, leg crushed. ne
cessitating amputation, body bruised.
Owen K Fielder, compound fracture
of right leg.
George Douglass, Bellevue, thought
to be internally injured.
Owen Mullehan, scalp lacerated.
William Fleming, con.usions on
body.
Joe Headley. body and head cut.
Kit Wilson, Paducah, KY, head cut.
Robert Dawson, head and body in
jured.
Mrs. Sife. aged so years.
Stanley Sife. aged 10 years.
David Loweless. aged 80 years.
The telegraph, telephone and electric
lights at the corner of Thirteenth and
Penn fell shortly after the explosion
and killed an unknown man.
Just after the explosion the large
warehouse Of W. A. Heoveler & CO.,
situated on Pike street directly. oppo-
site the Chautauqua Companys build
ings was ablaze and in a short time
/ was beyond hope of saving.
AT ahOut | .15 the fire was gotten I'M