The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-10
S130,00O.Q0 FIRE
{Couttrued from First PaGe.)

Continued from First PaSeD
was turned in from Box q. 1T
the corner of South and Main
street, surmonina every stlch o.
apparatus in the city deparfmsnt
to the scene. The flames appear
to have started on the second
floor near the Man street 'front.'
and spread with. remarkable "a
pidity, feeding raVenousiy on 'he
immense stock Of the concern.
Several streams of wafer were
soon introduced through the sec
ond story windows. ana TOT &c"
minutes it appeared from the sun
sidence Of the flames that the IRE
would not destroy the entire oul'a-
inc and stock. but this hope was
quickly sent shatterinG. "hen IRE
was found to be eating its way 10
the rear. and ascending TO tHe
third and fourth floors. AZ 2:4o
the entire building was mass o.
flanoes t was no LONGER 4 nope or
saving any part CT the drug com
psnys STOCK 7nd building. nul
whether the firemen would be aelc
. to keep the fire fiend from rava5-
inq ether Main street properties
and even those en- Market street.
across the alley.
Falling Roof Helped. -,
The falling Of the root about
$50 a. m. while it made the ire
more spectacular. with the flames
ascending a hundred feet or more
into the air. really improved the
situation and made the -prospeet
Of contning = within its original
limits better. Desperately the fire
men fought. pouring ton after ton
of water upon the burning mass
o. ruins. and at the same time
keeping streams playing on. the
roots and walls of the other build
inos that were endangered. The
frequent explosion Of chemicals
Was a feature Of the battle. and
the hundreds Of spectators who
had Gathered in Main street
sbrank back in dsn1ay. but the
brave firemen from the street
level, from the aerial truck, from
The roofs Of adjoining buildings
and even in the death trap OF the
.Iley at the rear Of the burning
structure, stuck to their posts OF
imminent danger and finally won
their victory over the red enemy.
At a. m. the terrific heat from
the cauldron had materially less
ened. and it was seen that the
dancer was practically over AZ
3.2O o'clock the flames had SUD-
sided. and with the great volume
Of water still pouring upon the
ruins tn fire was a past NUMBER
as the most fearsomeo spectacle
az the most fearsomc Of spec
tacles.
Az .3o o'clock the firemen were
still pouring water on ehe RUNS
but at that hour the hre was
practically extinguishea
Mr. William +. Irvine. u TIL. ~
fonal Rank O! Wes. Virginia. Vince,
no renresactatiy- Of lion. RAJ! "
1eiehay. az Cleveland and Wai'lA-
IN ownar OF TIE burned BUILDING
Fas asked r,'::ardjaG he In" Uf III
,uranCr carried on iil.. structure. ~
aid tha,. while 10 had no Gi"rc' Iii
or1nariCn i; 49, ~, iHEa:lahi" cas-
ON Of Nj G.'ahav % carr 4 u.
inc OF fire Insurance OF ali MS PROV
Arty. n
in less than III hour after ';F ~
vas. discovered on tn" SeroAH moo
ront tho entire contents had gone u
n flames and on.. 4 par 81 me SAeI
walls were sanding. I'll" STOCK huC!'
ID with unusual rapidtty. and al IN
ervaiS flames wouiH burst pul LYON
some exploding chemical;
\ parr nt t!;e' south wall IN the req
ell frs. followed lar"v by the entlr'
Jack wall falling. >.
The firemen encountered much on
icultv in getting streams INTO fH'
ear Of tho building. owing 10 TN
,eavy fIr" iu"": S"i1S hoi'"d IRON
he inside. T'l,," Yer" battered i
.fter consi-i"rahi" trouhlc.
7eci1:e: Building Afire.
Sparks &ro.'N"'i on tH' NsSlS,",
,uildins about i square away. $"ttln:
he roof uiire Tn" blaze vas fu
mt with chemicals.
The police kept III" """w5 bacI
rom the froni az i" building as Il va
cared the front would topplc over
Despite the danger. fiTemen WORK.
n the two-Story building south OF IN,
turning structure near the falling wal
n the side and rear. The gave n
ICED 10 tho cries OF III" crowd TO g.
ff the ROOT
Roof Topples Over.
About : - O'Cinck. q big chimney 4
he rear Of the drug company build
nc toppled Over onto tho Slugl"-Sin".
varerooGl. in th.f' rear. used by ~
,apitot Gar company TO store auyomo
lies.
Captain Burnley Thompson. Of III.
atlantic fire company. "hn WIS stand