Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-02

loss. as nearly as it could be approx
mated at the hour Of going to press,
being about $4,000.
The department was handicapped in
fighting the flames by an insufficient
supply of water in the city mains, but
fortunately the burning buildings We're
located near the river bank and three
engines were put to work pumping
water from the river.
The alarm was turned in from box
81. and was followed in a very short
time for a call for the entire depart
mant.
The confiagration consumed several
bindings owned by Louis Neibergall,
located on the east side of Eoff street,
between Forty-fourth and Forty fifth,
and occupying an entire half block,
with the exception of three dwelling
houses on the corner Of Forty-tifth
street. The buildings burned include
an artificial ice plant, cold storage
house. one brick stable, one frame
stable and a slaughter house, all owned
bv Mr.. Nebergall together with num-
her of small buildings on adjoining prop
erty.
The fire is supposed to have originated
from the burning out of the chimney in
the furnace room at eight O'Clock in the
evening. The room adjoins the ice plant.
ah tbp
building, and the theory of the origin
of this mornings blaze, is that some
wood work was ignited, and the flames
smouldered until they burst forth with
such disastrous results.
The flames had already gained con-
siderable Roadway when they were dis
covered, and they spread rapidly, the
frame work of the buildings burning
like finder, and the fire spreading with
amazing rapidity. The ice plant
caught then the slaughter house and
cold storage house, and then the stables
In an almost incredibly brief space OF
time. all the buildings in the half
SQUARE were in flames, the dwellings
at Forthwith street excepted.
The occupants of the residences re-
moved all their household effects as
rapidly as possible, but subsequent
developments proved this precaution TO
have been unnecessary, as the heroic
efforts Of the firemen saved these struc-
lures.
Persons occupying adjacent buildings
were thoroughly frightened and organ
lied bucket brigades to place water upon
the roofs and stamp out incipient blazes.
Shortly after one o'clock the walls
of the burning buildings began to fall
and about the same time the names
reached across the alley in the rear OF
the Niebergall property. Inc coai
house and shed on the Ellsworth prop
erty were entirely consumed.
About lis O'Clock an amonla tank
in tn ice house exploded with terrilc
force and loud report. Debris from
the burning building shot 100 feet into
the air and there was a sudden rush IN
the crowd to places of safety. Portions
of the building were blown across the
street and knocked down chimney on
the roof of a house occupied by 5.
Sord. A portion of the roof fell down
into the house, but no person was IN
side and so far as could be learned
nobody was injured. 1t was reported.
frl or
was wounded but this could not be
verified.
At 1870 o'clock the ice plant blaze
was practically under control, and 1t
looked like the fremen would master
the flames within another quarter of an
hour.
The ice plant is virtually complete
loss. The cold storage house, slaughter
house and frame stable, together with
some smaller buildings. We're entirely
consumed Only the walls are standing
OF the brick stable The loss to ada
cent property was comparatively light
The estimates of the loss to Mr.. Me
bergall ranged all the way from s25,Ooo
to $4,000, but the latter is a wild guess.
Mr.. Neibergall estimated his loss in
conversation with friends at $4,000.
he insurance is said to have been only
$1,000. That much was placed in the
Theodore Roller agency, and it is posi-
Bile that Mr.. Neibergall carried from
$4,000 to $1,000 more.
The fire was extremely hot, and what
the department calls nasty" 1t was
difficult to handle on account OF the
nature of the buildings and an addi-
tional handicap to the department was
the lack of water in the city mains.
The Chemical engines did effective
work. using the contents Of their tanks
and re-charging them in some instances
two and three times.
On account OF the weak supply OF
water. three of the city engines We're
placed on the river bank, sections OF
hose being run across the tracks of the