Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-22
THE BRIDGEPORT BARN
AND THE POWER HOUSE
FOR THE ovER-rHE-RIvER So
TEN OF THE WHEELING TRAC-
TIoN co. BURNED
ENTAILING VERY HEAVY LOSS.
The Fire II supposed to Have Been
Caused ny Mischicviops boys who
Turned ON the Power In a Car
That Could Not Movc-Buttdtng
burned tn the Groaud-The Loss
Was Between $3.50 and S5o.eoo.

ing the power house and car barn of
the Wheeling Traction Company al
West Wheeling were totally destroyed
by fire, together with all their valuable
contents, which included a large num-
Der OF cars.
The fire broke out in a car in the barn
and soon spread to the building itself,
which was frame structure sheathed
| with iron on the outside. In few
minutes this structure was a mass of
flame, which, leaping high into the air.
drew great crowds of people from the
Ohio side to the scene, while on the
the eastern banks of the river in this
city large numbers of people gathered
to view the conflagration. Dense vol
umes of smoke drifted northward along
the river front almost hiding the Island
from view.
An alarm was sent In to the Island
and Bridgeport fire stations. The
Island chemical company was frst on
the ground, followed quickly by the
Vigilant company of North Wheeling.
Chief Cline also went over in his buggy.
On attempting to attach line of hose
to the hydant near the burning build
ing 1t was found that the plug was
broken and 1t was impossible TO make
the connection. The only other avail
able fire plug was $500 feet from the
| fire. and 1t was impossible to reach
within 500 feet OF the flames with all
supply was also exhausted In the effort
| to do so.
Thus 1t was that nothing could be
done by the eager fire laddies to stay
the progress of the flames, which had
to be allowed to rage until everything
was consumed. They had meanwhile
spread to the fine power house OF the
company, which was also totally de-
stroyed with its contents
AT about six o'clock yesterday even
ing telephone message was sent In
to the main Office of the Wheeling
Traction Company at Main and Tenth
streets, in this city, from the Bellaire
line, stating that trolley car was de-
rallied at point near Schramms place,
and that they had sent up to the car
barns below Bridgeport for assistance
and tools to use In getting the derailed
car on the track again.
1t appears that the two watchmen at
the barn left the buildings and went
down to assist in getting the car on.
This left the barn unguarded.
Shortly after the watchmen had left,
the attention of gentleman passing
the barn in buggy was attracted to It
| by the fact that he saw the wheels Of
a motionless car in the end of the barn
revolving. 1t is supposed that in the
absence OF the watchmen some one
probably a mischievous boy, entered the
barn, got on the car and turned on
the power
| AS the car could not move forward
owing TO it's being against the others
ahead of it in the barn, the wheels re-
volved rapidly upon the rails. This mo-
ton, which was what attracted the at
tention of the man passing In the
buggy, would soon develop a great de-
gree OF heat. 1t Is supposed that this
became SO great as to ignite the oil
and then the woodwork of the car.
Soon after, another party saw smoke
issuing from the car and telephoned in
to the central Office of the company. He
was at once instructed to run the car
out OF the barn and use the small hose,
always kept attached In the barn, on
! the heated or burning portion OF 1t,
! but replied that he was unable to get
| the car out He then was again told
stood.
He misunderstood the instruction and
attempted to connect the 400 feet OF
21s inch hose, which was in the build
ing to the fire plug across the street
from the barn, but. was unable to do
so, owing to the fact that the point on
the hydrant where the hose is to be
attached was broken.
BY this time the FIRE from the car
had spread to the building and gained
such Roadway that nothing could be
done to stay it's progress, or to run the
cars out of the barn.
The destruction of the property was
complete. The buildings and contents
will prove total loss to the company,
and will amount to $4,000. This is
partly covered by insurance. the exact
amount OF which could not be ascer-
tanned last night.
There were seventeen cars in the
building, none OF which were saved.
OF these eight were fully quipped cars.
ready for service, that had been in use
during the Carnival, and nine were
without equipment. All were what is
known as box cars, or winter cars.
Thirteen of the cars were in the barn
and the other four in the power house,
where some slight repairs were in pro-
gress.