The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-14
SUCH WAS THE FINDING OF THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
INVESTIGATORS.
state and City Officials Aeree.-Oem-
onstrations SiVen.-Other
Business Transactions

That the fire which partially de-
stroyed the handsome high school
building on the night OF Saturday.
Ianuary .. was caused by spontaneous
combustion was the definite conclu-
sion reached by the board OF educa-
uon at specially called meeting
held last night In the public library
building: That this theory OF the orr
gin OF the nre was proven TO the sat
istaction OF the board was evidenced
by the adoption, without "A dissenting
vote OF the report OF the finance com.
mittee, authorized at a recent special
meeting of the board TO conduct a
most thorough investigation into the
disastrous blaze.
The report went fully into the causa
OF the combustion, explaining in con
siderable detail the circumstances of
the nre. To prove that "a fire could
be started under similar conditions.
me committee had previously made a
demonstration OF the action OF rags
saturated in certain kinds OF oils.
tossed upon sawdust and shavlngs
which the committee reported. had
caused the combustion.
In summing up their report r. n.
Mckee, chairman OF the finance com.
mittee, said: The Investigation
made by the committee. as well as
an investigation personally made by
myself, has demonstrated conclu-
sively in my mind that the fire of
January 3 was caused by spontaneous
combustion"
Late Starting.
10 was almost $50 O'Clock before
a quorum of members arrived. When
President Reed called the meeting 10
order be following were present.
CommissroTseTs Seabright, Gollner.
Lane, lhlenfelo. Mckee, Jepson, Rog.
ers, Steinbicker, Hare and Relster.
Armbrecht, Miller and EtZler arrived
later. Fire Chief Edward T.. Rose
and Deputy State Fire Marshall NJ =.
Kindelberger we're present on the in.
vitation OF the board.
The minutes OF the last regular ses-
sion and also OF the special meeting
held Sunday, January 4. the day fol.
lowing the fire. were read and ap.
proved. The question was raised as
10 whether the minutes OF the spe.
cial meeting should be approved az
being held on Sunday. On motion OF
commissioner Hare they were an.
proved and the president was heart
lily commended for calling a meetln z
OF the board on that day 10 provide
Tor the emergency.
The FIRST matter taken up was the
report of the ordinance committee TTis
was submitted orally by Chairman Ale
kee' IN four Parts. lie nrst reported
the matter or the boards proteat against
the auditing az It's books by tho state
tax commissioucr. second. the suit or
oN-Ctty solicitor =. -. Boyce FOR com.
missions alleged 90 Doe due for the col
lection Of taxes third. the Investigation
into the cause and origin 81 the fire an
the high school and. fourth. the matter
81 adustment of losses with the iusur-
auCe companies.
The committee reported that counsel
advised that the bili OF Mr. Uoyce had
no standing tu court. The boards at
torrcy was Instructed 90 ight the suit.
The case was 60 have come up M this
term OF the circuit court. 90 was re-
ported, but the plaintiff succeeded in
having 81 postponed until frr next term
investigation OF Fire.
chairman Mckee then took up tho re-
port or the investigation into the Gre.
The report was being made orally at
tIis time, he sail. because the commit
tee has not had time 20 urfrare "a writ
ten report a written report will Doc
submitted later. Sfarfin. tie Monday
following the Gre. Mr. Mckee reported.
the committee went through the HfEn