The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-04
WHITAKER MILL
tconssnusd from xirss rare,

will total less than $4,000 which
amount 10 partially, not en-
ureiy covered by insurance Mr..
whitaker was not positive az 10
the loss last night, az he had not
been able to review his books and
tell Just what was In the rooms
that were destroyed
Inc lire alarm was turned in at 8: 20
O'Clock from Box 30 at Nineteenth and
JACOB streets by some persons who
thought the blaze was at the Trim
ole-i.utz supply company building.
ms handicapped the firemen consid.
erably. second alarm was turned
IN az $3.50 O'Clock from box ~ at the
Whitaker Mill.
Entire Department Called.
This second alarm called the en-
TIRE department TO the scene. Their
work was handicapped from the start
wnen II was found that the plug nea-
the mill was covered with lumber and
other debris. making II almost impos-
sible TO get to it.
Engineer William Stonestreet. q,
the Whitaker Company, was the firs,
TO see the fire. He was working a,
MS engine near the North side OF the
main plant. and in looking Shrourh.
noticed considerable light. He called
Charles Wallace. miilwright. who in
turn ran into the storeroom and found
the fire.
~ had apparently started at the
Juncture of the old wooden structure
and II Is thought was caused by an
overheated stove in the storeroon,
Some one across the creek had in the
meantime. seen the blaze. and turned
In the alarm from the North Side OF
the creek
The above mentioned men then ran
10 the entrance TO the mill and pulled
Box ~. The hook and ladder. chem.
ical. and No. 4. were the first 10 ar.
rive on the Twentieth street scene
Their work was hindered when they
found the plug hidden.
Preliminary Fighting.
Captain Schulz. who was IN cnar0a
then sent his men across the GREGG 10
string lines over the Terminal bridge
and across the creek. Another set OF
men were placed at work TO uncover
the plug. After considera BILE work
this was done and a stream played on
the lire from the south side. The
Eighth ward engine pumped at Tween
tieth and Chapline streets. with two
lines attached.
Foreman Clouse. of the vigilant. not
10 De outdone. with two other men
turner and Trautwein, strung a line
down Alley +. over the big embank-
ment through the creek A rome was
lowered over the bank from the mill
and the line pulled UP. These three
men were forced to wade through the
icy waters of Wheeling creek Gear O
their hips. Explanations from sc
bank showed that their work was ap-
preciated, although no one seemed 20
envy them their job.
As soon as the effectiveness of this
line was found out. the Island com
pany. McClement. McGranna gan. En-
inert and Smith. ran their line down
TO and through the creek. II was
hauled mp in the same manner and
PLAYED on the north side Of the store
room. keeping the fire confined TO the
middle section.
More than 5000 people lined the
banks along the north side Of the
creek to witness the blaze. Sparks.
raised by falling sheet iron siding.
rose high In the air and was witness ,
ed as far as Bridgeport, o. Many
spectators claimed that Il had the ap- |
pearance Of being a larger fire. from
the northern part OF the city. than the |
high school fire of one year ago last
night.
Wheeling & Lake Erie railroad pas
senger train due here AZ 955 o'clock !
from Cleveland. was diverted around
the Peninsula and in over the Penn I
sylyanta lines. One or two freight I
trains were held up until after tho
fire hose were removed from their
tracks and the bridge.
Several railroad employees parolled
che bridge In icar OF fire from the /,
flying sparks
To Start at Midnight.
one thing about the AFFAIR that is /
rather discouraging is the fact that the I
mills were fred uD last night for a
steady run for few weeks TO catch ]
up with the holiday lay-of. The men. !
about five hundred in number had
been notified to report az midnight \
last night
When asked last night as 20 how
much the plant would be inconveni-
enced by the FIRE Mr.. y. y Whitaker
said. There II no reason to be held
up long. We will be- working in the
next two or three days. You know.
this was the old wooden structure that
was destroyed. and can quickly be -
placed
lie was also asked n the part dc.
stroycd would be substantially re- .
built. and he said that ~ was reason
able 10 believe that II would be. i'm. |
mediatcly This news will BE- received I
very gladly by a number 81 employees. /
Quite a number Of calls were register. I
cd AZ The Inteliigencer office for this |
one thing alone last night
One coincidence was brought out
last night IN the month Of January
1893. the Whtaker-Glessner mill was
almost destroyed. and was rebuilt By |
the substantial steel frame building IL .
nov occupies The work Of last
nights blaze finishes the work started 1
a. that time
Considerable excitement was start. |
ed among the spectators along the I
creek bank near the mill when Il was I,
passed along that n large amount Cft
oil and chemicals were stored IN the /
room. This had the effect Of putting /
the crowd back beyond tho danger 4
line. This report was untrue. how
ever. a. tho oil was merely vege- 4