The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-28
FIRE SWEPT AUTO SUPPLY STORE
IS ABLE To CONTINUE BUSINESS
SPECTACULAR BLAZE AT THE
ROGERS AUTO SUPPLY HOUSE
CAUSES $4,000 LOSS.
Fireman Eddie Otto Hurt by Falling
GIass-The Big Block Seemed
Doomed-BraVc Work Done.

The loss will not exceed $4,000.
The greatest damage was 10 the big
stock OF tires stored in the upper
floors. The loss is pretty well covered
by insurance
This statement was made last even
ing by D. Earle Rogers, head Of the
Rogers Auto Supply company, whose
store at 70 Twelfth street. was the
scene Of an ugly blaze AT 100 o'clock
yesterday.
The building Is thrcestory brick
owned by the Security Trust COM
pany. The damage to the building
NAV be rs high as $1,000. Portions
of two floors. the roof and window
castings and pancS woSe destroyed.
The building was insured.
Mr. Rogers stated last evening that
he believes the blaze originated from
spontaneous combustion. There was
nothing burning on the second Hoor'
where the rulCanzing Is done, be
said.
Two Alarms Sounded.
Ray Gowdy, returning from lunch'
saw the fire from the Twelfth street
sidewalk and rushed upstairs, al
tempting to put out the names Win
Pyrenne. But the eXtlnGuishcr was
lnelleCtlNc dEdlIlSl tllC nv any ''S
Gowdy was painfully burned about
The face before he rellnqulshed MS
fight and retrcated.
Box - at Twelfth and Main streets
was pulled and the Eleventh street
chemical department. making flying
run after the first round OF the alarm,
found great volumes OF smoke emit
Ting from the building and the stock
Of tires burning tercely. II looked
as though the building was doomed.
Box 23 at Market and Twelfth
sounded a second call AS soon as "A
ceased hitting. sending every piece
of fire fighting apparatus in tho city
10 the scene. Few if any fires IN
Wheeling ever Jared up 50 quickly
and burned so tiercely. But The fire.
men with water and chemicals in a
few minutes had the flames under
control. Tho men braved choking
smoke, falling glass and mcShes OF
highly charged wires TO night the hre
from both The front and rear. so sue
ccssful was their fight thai he JOS.
Graves wall paper store and the Gut
man. Gibson & Mcconnell clothing
store on The other side. escaped
damage and the fire WAS kept from
dropping oven into the first floor OF
The burning auto supply store.
Fireman Otto Injured.
In the heat Of tho battle. a stream
Of water was turned against win
dow in the third floor. The glass
broke and fell 10 the sidewalk. a big
silver striking Fireman Eddie Otto
on tho arm. cutting an ugly wound.
Seeing the blood squirting from the
wound. Sergeant huGu-, Fredericks.
recruiting officer at the United States
marine station rushed 10 Otto; aid
and checked + blood with flrst-aid
methods usef. -. the navy. Otto waI
rushed 10 tho North Wheeling hos
pital. There it was stated last even.
ing that tho wound is not dangerous
and that the injury is not apt 10 be
pcrmapent.
While The big aerial ladder was
being hoistcd. it tore down several
electric light wires on Twelfth street,
creating Il small panic among the
spectators who pushed into the way
Of the frCmcn.
Supply House Reopened.
Earle Rogers and his assistants
SGT 10 work almost before the last
piece OF fire fighting apparatus WAS
removed The supply store was being
SGT in order aaGin. The first floor was
soon set Alright. the water removed
and The store WAS open, for business
in quick order.
4 now stock Of tires and acccs-