Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-16


MACHINERY AND The ENTIRE
STOCK OF PAPER COMPLETELY
DESTROYED BY FIRE-MTLL SUP
POSED TO HAVE BEEN SET ON
FIRE DURING THE NIGHT AND TO
HAVE SArCULDBRED FOR HOURS.
SENATOR WAGNER, THE OWNER,
WILL NOT LIKELY REBUILD.
ONE OF THE OLDEST INDUS
TRIAL PLANTS IN THE VICINITY.
The West Wheeling paper mill, one
of the Oldest industrial plants of this
vicinity, was utterly destroyed by fire
yesterday morning. About a quarter
of eleven smoke and flames were seen
issuing from the second story of the
mill. The smoke was so dense and
the heat so intense that it was impos-
sible to gain an entrance into the sec
ond story or make any effective eff
fort to check the progress of the fire.
The bucket brigade the only fire de-
partment that the small town of West
Wheeling can boast Of, worked zeal
ously, but as they were unable to save
the burning paper mill, they confined
their attention to preventing the fire
from spreading to adjoining buildings.
This was successfully accomplished,
and the Office and the large barn were
not damaged The heat was confined
by the metal roof on the paper mill,
and became so intense that it cracked
the window glass of the Office windows
across the alley from the fire. Nearly
the whole population of West Wheel
ing watched the fire, and the flames
were plainly seen from this city, as the
paper mill stood prominently on the
river bank. The roof and back walls
fell in about half hour after the fire
was discovered. 1t burned for several
hours, but the building was mass or
ruins and debris at noon.
Senator David Wagner, the sole
owner of the mill, was seen by Reg
lister reporter yesterday afternoon.
Senator Wagner stated that the mill
and machinery were total loss. AL
though the building itself was old and
probably not worth more than $4,000,
the plant was fully equipped with the
best machinery. Senator Wagner sta
ted that the machinery had cost be-
tween s25, 900 and $4,000. On the
whole plant the total amount OF In
surance is only $500. Senator Wag-
ner stated that owing to his advanced
age. it was not likely that he would
rebuild the mill. The mill, or, rather,
the former ms which occupied the
same Site was built by Senator Wag-
oner's father in 1912. 1t was frame
structure and was carried away by the
food in 1852. 1t was then replaced by
a two-story brick building, which was
burned Yesterday. The mill was owned
hv Senator Wagner, but for number
of years it was leased and operated by
outside parties.
About four months ago Senator
WAGNER took the plant and he and MS
grandson, David Cleary, have been
operating it and conducting the bust
ness. The mill gave employment 70
about a dozen men and was seldom
idle. 1t manufactured all kinds OF
paper, particularly -four sacks and
wrapping paper, and supplied an eX-
tensive trade. 1t was running just be-
fore the fire but was shut down yes
terdav on account of slight accident
TO the machine which necessitated a
stop for a day.
The origin of the fire is not positively
known, but it is believed to have been
incendiary. There was no fire in the
second story, where the fire broke out
The only fire about the mill was under
the boilers in the first store. The fire
under the boilers was kept covered and
it is entirely improbable that it could
in any way have caused the destruction
Of the building. AS there was no watch
man about the mill the night before it
would have been easy for an incen-
diary to have gained an entrance to
the second story, started fire and by
covering it with paper to have kept it
smoldering for hours. In the room
where the fire started was stock Of
unfinished and manufactured paper to
the value of 81 900. This was also de-
stroyed.