Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17
REMARKABLE FIRE
At wheeling, ". VA.
Burned District Entirely Sur
rounded by Water.
IS PERSONS WERE DROWNED
Frightful Scenes During Burning Of
Pottery Plant.
EXPLOSION TERRIFTEs PEOPLE
Thirteen Met Death by Jumping From
the Windows Of Their Homes
Into the Flood.
IS PERSONS WERE DROWNED
EXPLOSION TERRIFIES PEOPLE

WHEELING. W. Va, March 16-Eighteen
persons are known to have lost their lives
in the early morning fire that occurred to-
day at the plant Of the Warwick Pottery
Company, which Is located In the flooded
district.
The following is a partial list of those
who were drowned:
Mike Bretries, aged thirty, storekeeper;
body recovered.
Rosa Bertas aged twenty-five. single:
body recovered.
Elias Mitchell, aged eighteen months;
body recovered.
Allen Bertas, aged two years; body re-
covered.
Frank Holmes, Waterman at the pottery;
body recovered.
Simon Elias, proprietor of dry goods store.
Julia Moses, aged seven years.
Waider Moses, aged four years, brother
of Julia Moses.
Charles Matthews, Waterman at the
Wheeling Stamping Company.
Because of the water surrounding the
burned district it was impossible for the
fire apparatus to reach the scene. The fire
men pressed into service all the boats that
could be secured and carried the lines Of
hose to the burning building by this means
They did heroic work and not only fought
the fire but assisted in rescuinG many per-
sons.
All the police that could be spared were
rushed to the scene to assist in the work or
rescue.
The crew of a boat that was moored
across the river from the building manned
a yawl and rescued about one hundred per-
sons.
The men were offered all kinds OF re-
wards and big sums of money for the WORK
they had done but they refused to accept
a cent At times the big yawl was niied 10
overlooking and it was with dlmculIy tlat
the rivermen prevented the frantic oSriahs
from upsettng the craft.
Screams for Help.
During the progress of the hre the SCENE
was most frightful. The screams FOR help
of those in the building could be hearo as
far as the steel bridge. mile north. "here
thousands of persons. unable to lend any
assistance. watched the blaze.
The work of rescuing the bodies Of those
who were drowned has been going on all
day. The current has been very swift, ana
the impression is that more bodies Will De
recovered when the flood subsidies.
Had the drowned persons remained In
their homes none of them would nave met
DEATH The buildings occupied by the I'M
fortunate victims were not touched by the
flames The explosion that started the fire
is what terrified the people living in the. VI
cinity.
Five Drowned by Upsetting of Boat.
No sooner had the report Of the explosion
occurred than people commenced leaping
from the windows into the water. Not all
of those who met death were drowned by
jumping into the water. Five of them were
drowned by the upsetting of a boat that
was carrying them to place of safety.
The majority of the persons living in the
vicinity of the wholesale drowning are
Syrians and after the. fire they refused to
return to. their homes. They are being
taken care of in the city hall and county
Jail. There is scarcely a family that did
not lose member. and the survivors are
frantic. A meeting of the board of trade
was held this afternoon. and full arrange
ments were made for succoring the food
sufferers.