The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-01
A $4,000 FIRE
In the Heart of the Business District
Last Evening
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Largely on Account Of the Water
That Was Poured On in Large
Quantities by Chief Cline's Men.
Last evening at $50 o'clock an alarm
turned in at box 25, Fourteenth and
Market streets, called out the entire fire
department to nasty fire in the heart
of the business district, which looked
quite dangerous for half an hour or
longer. Happily, however, the depart
ment did Its usual fast work, and the
fire was confined to two buildings, with
total loss OF not more than $500, OF
which all but $500 Is covered by insur-
ancc. Most of the loss was caused by
the coplous streams of water which the
fire laddles were compelled to pour into
the buildings.
The blaze started in the engine and
dynamo room, located In the one-story
frame addition to the two-story brick
building at the corner Of Market street
and City Bank alley. occupied by the
retail salesrooms Of the Wheeling bak-
cry. The addition Is occupied for the
purpose stated by Thomas Halpln.
owner Of the White Front saloon. whose
electric light plant lights the restau-
rant of Henry Otto as we'll.
Tba nri fyI, 10 IN bnv
the crossing Of electric lighting wires.
Persons in Offices on the second floor of
the City Bank building first discovered
the blaze, and soon the alarm had been
turned in. The fire sperad with re-
markable iapidity. and seemed al its
worst under the tin roof. Soon the
blaze was ehveloping. the entire build
ing and stretching across the alley and
tapping the sides of the brick building
occupied by W. L. Tanney.
The chemical was first on the scene,
and the boys did excellent work until
the steamers began arriving, when,
after slight delay. several powerful
streams of water were put into ac-
ton. The firemen at the start fought
the blaze from the alley, and appar-
entity had 1t under control. when
warning yell arose from the people
watching the fire from the windows of
the bank building, caused by the sud-
den bursting out OF :. tongue OF fire
from the light shaft OF the two-story
frame building to the east, occupied by
Henry Otto as kitchen and living
rooms.
With all dispatch pair of ladders
were set up against the building where
the fire had started. and half min
ute later two lines of hose were being
operated from the tin roof on the blaz :.
Ing building adjoining. The water was
introduced through the burning light
shaft but 1t didn't seem to reach the
right spot. and Chief Cline ordered his
men to cut holes in the roof, through
which such volume OF water was soon
pouring that the fire was drowned out
In few minutes.
But while this point Of danger was
being attended to the fire again broke
out with renewed vigoc in the building
where 1t had started, and In order to
get at 1t better holes were cut IN the
roof on which the firemer were work.
ing. This method was not found sue
cessful. and finally 1t was found neces-
sary to get at the blazs from below.
The building occupied by w. L. Tan
ney caught fire at the edge OF the roof,
but 1t was littl: more than n spark and
was put out without difficulty. In the
City Bank building Mr.. Walter Reic-
hart moved n desk and some furniture
from his office on the second floor at the
rear fearing that the fire would COM
municate to the big office building, but
fortunately the wind was carrying in
another direction. Tenants In the DOL
lar Savings Bank building were rather
nervous for few minutes, but It was
soon evident that Chief Cline had the
situation we'll in hand, and nobody
moved out. a stream OF water crashed
through the skylight Of VIII C. Browns
photograph gallery, in the Dollar Saw
ings Bank building, and did slight dam
age. In the Wheeling bakery's retail
salesrooms there was considerable
water in evidence. but the loss was only
slight.
The rear portion of the building In
which the fire originated was occupied
by the F. w. Banner Company as n
wnreroom. Here were stored u number
OF new organs and many secondhand
organs and pianos. Members of the
company were unable to state what
their loss would be. rs they have not
yet taken look at the damaged goods.
Fire did not reach them. but it Is
feared the water did. The Banner
company's loss may be 500 or 1t may be
$1,000 or more; what 1t actually Is can
be learned to-day, probably.
The scene In the Otto restaurant dur
Ing and after the fire was one Of desc
lation. The upper floor OF the addi-
ton at the rear was largely destroyed
by fire, and on the lower floor the kitch-
en- suffered from the water. rs did the
ladies' dining room at the rear.
The losses are estimated as follows:
Thomas Ilalpln. on gas engine, dyna-