The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-14
HIGH SCHOOL FIRE CAUSED
BY SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

school building several times. from -oof
10 "asemert and from emo to end. ac-
state Fire Marshal * utclbcrseg. and 4.
n. Brake. electric expert OF tLc West
NifH MA 4usrsc ton bureau.
The Investigation Of the building was
thorough one suid AIR. Mckee. "uud
az last your committee reached me COM
'luSion that Tire fire originated tu she
niue closet In the basement. about ave
wing OF ire hu. ldius After holding sew
eidl mc"ilngs gt wfigI many Witnesse
was caused hN spontaneous combustion
In this closet"
Mr.. Mckee went ON o. say that &,
would Re practically hnpof7iblc f01 the
wires. as there were no wires o- ,irop
lights near the closet. There was ga th,
closet however, D." said. abolt 90 hale
about two buckctful- OF hsAkctfuls of
fraNinrs, IN addition 80 about "a car,
~ sawfust. upcu which had been toss
CD -FOUR hurlap cloths. The rags were
saturated with linscsd Oh. tutpcntine.
Jrler and burnt amber The rags. a.
Eether with the material had bec~
Weed by painters IN the domestic
science room, and had been thrown uu
inc sawdust and shn wings by the per-
yer the painters had finished their
work. SATURDAY.
Several persons. including members
or the board, had hootcd the Idea mat
bustion. continued SIR. Mckee. To provo
II. ne said, a Representation had ne,n
arranged at the chemical engine house.
me same conditions were produced ard
the same results were obtained.
Demonstration.
The chairman tben told OF the demon
self and Fire a. ief Rose .'1 4 quantity '' o.
sawdust and shavinEs had been spread
on the basement cf the chemical eng, ne
house. Two cloths were aaturated with
ia IUH
amber. These ingredients had been
missed by George Grey. the painter IN
and In the same proportions as that used
IN the huilding. The rags were tossed
carelessly upon the sawdust and shay
At a Few minutes after Il o'clock the
pile burst into Flames and was con
sumcd. The demonStra zion proved. 81.
Mckee asserted. shat within three and
q half hours after the painters had I'm
isned their work and the room clcars O.
the refuse being dumped Into the clofct
Comraissioner Gollner wanted 20 know
how the shaving. and s1wduHt ana rlr-
when the painters had been working I'D
the south wing. Mr. Mckee stated tln-
me women who cleaned the -chupI build
order that * might lie hauled away
Fire chief Rose and state Fire Nor
sal KindelberEor also spoke briefly a.
'omrissioner Hare moved tia, tre
report he accepted and vote of thanh
be rendered tho committee, Fire Chf,r
Rose nnd DEPUTY state Ffro Mnr.hnl
kindc berger Tor their efficient serl toes
Arbitrato Loss.
Chairman Mckee fncu took up HIS rc.
port With reference "a Tho insurance. no
stated thai adJuEtcrs FOR tho cufuUnny
insisted upon reforms the matter Oh
arbitration. and asked That tho commit
tee be given authority 10 secure C9mT,-
tent help. 4 rcpresen tatfvc o. the II1l'
Adjustment ComTuny. Of Hltt~bLggl.v 90.
present and submitted two propositiu rs
20 tho board. Tho request OF AIR Mo
keo that the committee ho given autho-.
ity 20 act precipitated considerable warri
diScuHsiou. hrt "a motion to thu. effect
finally prevailed b. vote Of 10 20 g. s
roll CaI vote was demanded. u IS likely
that one % the propositions OF che
Pittsburgh company vIll be accepted.
Reports ~ various committees were
then submitted and approved. The aud-
lung committee recommended payment
- bills amounting Co &i,z5g.1s. tie text
books committee reported that tie IN ar
~ local Typewriter company % furnish
free machines for the commercial dc-
partmcnt until tho board 81 ready to
TurcnIse new ones NHI been accepted
TIE buildings and grounds comm ttre
reported progress in clearing the build
INK Tor use az tie earliest possible fwU.
Che library committee recouuI rIeu OBJ
number OF bills Tor payment ANA f.s
purchase or many new books. The rc-