The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-23
F|REMEN HAVE
SHARP BAT TIE
REAR OF JENNIE GOODS HOUSE
Quilted, WITH LOSS PROB.
ABLY $1,000.
Wheeling Ice & Storage House Threat
ened With Destruction. Many
Lines Used

, Fire which broke out IN jennie
Goods house at No. Twenty-thlrd
street shortly after seven O'CLOCK last
evening. quilted FIVE rooms in the rear
of the building and caused loss cs-
timated at more than Sl,0op. Aq1olh
Ing buildings in the Twenty-thlrd ana
Water street section Of the red-llght
district we're threatened, and IT TOOK
Il sharp fight for nearly Il half hour
to prevent the flames from attacking
the big ice house Of the Wheeling Ice
and Storage company. directly ID the
rear of Jennie Goods house.
The fire, which was confined TO rear
rooms on the second and third hoors
and the roof and rear wall, evidently
started from short.Circuit In the cleo
trio light wiring, as was disclosed later
by an examination conducted by flre
Chief Edward Rose and electricians.
When the fire was first discovered 1t
had gained a good Roadway and was
bursting out the roof and walls IN lhe
rear Of the big frame house.
Box 42 was pulled first and before
the alarm had stopped striking names
were shooting high IN the air anu
could be plainly seen in distant sec
tons Of the city, Box ~ began slrih-
inga second alarm as soon as the hrSl
alarm had ceased and Cbief Rose, see
ing that the fire was serious, soundeu
special signal 1-2.l, calling up the
Eighth ward departments.
Every one of the automobile trucks
responded to the alarms and nail
dozen streams of chemicals were soon
being played on the fire. SIX water
u lines were laid and water was thrown
ION the fire for twenty minutes from
four sides and two streams were play
ed on the ice house to keep the hre
from it. After twenty minutes OF naro
fchting. during which the tremen
working in the house encountered the
hazards Of live wires and falling
through sky-lights, the blaze was con
uuered. One department was lett on
line scene for couple OF hours TO
guard against new outbreak.
Investigation Started.
Chief Rose and electricians at
once began examination 10 determine
the cause of the fire. They louno
serious short'circuit IN the eleciIlc
wiring, which necessitated cutting
the current out of the house until
repairs can be made and the d1ffl-
Guilty In the wiring remedied.
During the fight with the flames,
several firemen working in the house
encountered charges of electricity IN
the water-soaked walls, and Assis'
tant Fire Chief Charles Schulz, IN
getting away from shock stepped
on a skylght and fell through, cut
ting bad cash in his knee,
The damage by water last night
was heavy, in addition TO that caused
by the fire. ,.o
Inmates of Jennie Goods house
succeeded in saving their personal
effects with the exception OF one
girl, who lost her trunk containing
practically everything she has eH-
cent the clothes she wore. The occu-
pants of adjoining houses, believing
that the fire would reach them, muir
riedly removed their belongings 10
i, safety until ii was seen that the lire
was under control.
The house in which the conflagra'
ton occurred is an imnense twenty
five room frame building. which
burned like binder for several MIN
utes. ~.
The fire was first discovered, by
George Black mad Dick Donahue,
who were sitting in Morans pool
room nearly square away II hau
big start then.