The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-23
SIX STORY
STRUCTURE
DESTROYED.
Flames Eat Up One of the Principal
Office Buildings in the Iron City.
Loss S25o,ooo.
LUCKILY NO LIVES LOST.
Students in DufF's College Escape I'm
hurt-Entire Block Seemed to Be
Doomed to Destruction.

PITTSBURGH, Pa, June 92.--Flre in
one Of the principal downtown business
blocks to-day caused a loss Of S25O,OOO,
involving eight buildings, containing
many office tenants. The aggregate in
surance will more than cover this loss.
The fire was first discovered IN the
rear of BIchbaum Company's printing
establishment, supposedly caused by
spontaneous combustion. The Elch-
baum building fronts on Fifth avenue,
a few doors below Wood street, was six
stories high, and was tenanted by many
office holders, among them being Duffs
College, occupying the two upper floors;
the Holmes Electric Company. on the
third floor. In an incredibly short time
the entire building was a mass OF
flames, and before the firemen could do
much effective work, had communicated
to the Exchange National bank build
ing, next door below, and from there to
the Hussey building, adjoining. Sim
ultaneously the fire extended TO james
Platts saloon and restaurant, and A.
NJ. Murdock's flower store. on the up
per side.
Threatening Was the conhagratiOn.
The conaagratlon was one of the
most threatening seen in Pittsburgh
for many years, and for n time the en-
tire block bounded by Fifth avenue,
Wood, Diamond and Market streets
seemed doomed to destruction. I'M
mense fire brands were carried by the
wind to buildings in all directions. and
numerous lnciplent blazes resulted.
Fortunately. however, the roofs Of all
the buildings in the district were soon
manned by private fire brlgades, who
prevented the fire from spreading be-
yond the buildings named. The roof Of
the First National bank. $50 feet away
from the Elchbaum building, and on the
other side OF the street. caugh: fire, but
was soor cxtInguished without material
loss. The new Western. Union Tele-
graph office building, immediately op1o-
site tslchbaum's. was saved by the eX-
ira precautionary measures adopted by
the company officials. The greatest ex-
element prevailed in the rooms of the
Duff College, where fifty or more stu
dents were at work.
Had to Run for Their Lives.
The extension of the flames was so
rapid that people had to run for their
lives, not having time even TO gather
their belongings together. Reports were
rife that several students had per-
ished, but 1t is known tonight that all
escaped unhurt. The Eichbaum build
ing was completely destroyed. and the
Hussey building had the three upper
stories burned and the lower floors were
flooded with water When the EIch-
baum building had been Gutted the
wall of the l. portion. which run in
back OF Piatts and Murdock's build
ings, fell, crushing in the rear portions
of the Wood street buildings occupied
by the American Express Company,
Paulson Eros, Ambuhl Bros. and Kurt.
Langbeln & swartz. Several flremen
were caught In the debris OF this wall,
but none were hurt so badly they could
not continue their work
The Principal Losses.
The principal losses are the EIch-
baum building, owned by Whitney, Ste
phenson & Co., $4,000; the Hussey
building, owned by Mrs. Emma AIsop.
$40. 600; Kurt, Langbeln & swartz. art
lists supply company. $1,000; Duft's Col
lege, $4,000; Pittsburgh Coal Company,
$500; Platrs saloon. $1,000; Paulson
Bros, hatters, $1,000; American Express
Company. $1,000. and the Holmes Elec-
trio Company, $1,000.
The other losses are distributed be-
tween the office tenants. some os whom
suffered to the extent of more than
$1,000.
The Exchange National bank did not
suffer much damage except by water
by reason of the fact that its buildings
is only two-story structure between
the two big buildings. and the flames
practically skipped over it.