Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-06
FIERCE NORTH End BLAZE
h the Lumber Yard Of W. A. Will
son & Sons Planning Mill.

4
A FIRE, BELIEVED TO BE OF IN
CENDIARY ORIGIN, DESTROYED
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
WORTH OF PROPERTY, AND
ENDANGERED A NUMBER OF
DWELL INGS IN THE VICINITY.
THE LOSS AND THE INSUR-
ANCE.
A fire which, from all indications, was
Of incendiary origin, destroyed $4,000
worth of lumber belonging to w. A.
| Wilson & Son last night, and endan-
gered many dwellings in the vicinity.
The planning mill of Wilson & Son
Fourth and Fifth, and the lumber
yards are directly opposite, on prop
erty owned by Anton Reymann, Esq.
The dry house, in which the finished
lumber is stored, is a story and half
frame structure, built UP to the line
of the sidewalk. This shed and its
contents were entirely destroyed.
No satisfactory explanation of the
origin of the fire could be given, and it
is believed to have been the work of
incendiaries. 1t probably started at the
south end of the building, and when
discovered had already made great
Roadway. When the City Hall clock
was striking the box number, the re-
Fiction of the flames could be plainly
seen below the creek The box from
which the alarm was first sent was No.
IA, located at Main and Fifth streets.
The Second ward chemical was one
Of the first to arrive. The flames had
been communicated to the woodwork
ON the planning mill structure, on the
opposite side of the street, and the
chemical extinguished the flames. The
chemical also did similar work at the
dwelling of Mrs. Alexander Frew, on
the south, four dwellings belonging to
the Glessner estate, and brick dwell
ing belonging to Clark Hanes, all on
the east side of Main street. All these
buildings were on fire at different
times, and all were slightly damaged.
They frequently caught from the heat.
The lumber shed was a mass of
flames when the department arrived.
The fire burned fiercely and was one of
the hottest the Wheeling department
has fought in many years. The Niagara
engine was stationed at Fifth street,
and the Atlantic at Sixth street. The
Vigilant was stationed in front of the
N. e. A. A. club house, but its eff
| cheney was impaired by the breaking
of section of tube in the pump Four
streams played on the burning build
ing from the front, and three from the
rear, while the chemical was at work
saving adjoining property The wind
was light, and fortunately was not
the loss might have been much more
serious.
The water which was poured into the
building appeared at first to simply add
fuel to the flames, but the result grad
ually began to be manifested, and
within less than an hour the flames
were under control, although the de-
partment remained long after that
period.
1t was early apparent that it would
be impossible to save the shed or any
portion of its contents, although the
firemen worked heroically, and endan-
gered their own safety in many in
stances. The stable adjoining the shed
on the north.' owned by Mr. Reymann,
and occupied by Welshans & Kicks.
coal dealers, was partially destroyed
There were four horses in the build
ing, but all were taken out in safety.
A portion OF the contents was dam
aged or destroyed.
The fire was so hot that three tele-
graph poles on the curb line, and one
on the opposite side Of the street, were
partially burned. Some of the wires
were burned and fell The support
wire for the electric arc light in front
OF the shed was burned and fell. de-
molishing the lamp. Several wires fell
across the street railway trolley wire.
No damage resulted from this cause.
however. Ropes were stretched across
Main street, and the crowd was kept
at safe distance Ex-Chief Frank j
Healy was present and voluntarily as
sisted Fire Chief R. D. Cline in fight
ing the flames.
The shed, which was a total loss,
contained finished lumber which cost
the firm about $4,000. Lumber has
since advanced 40 per cent in price.
however. and member of the firm
estimated last night that no less than
$1,000 will be required to replace the
lumber. There were 100000 red cedar
shingles, 100000 white pine laths. and
quantities of poplar and yellow pine.
in the building. The yalue nj ali +ba