The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-12-13
FROZEN RUINS
DRAWS CROWD
Of THE CURIOUS
HUNDREDS WATCH WORKMEN
TEAR DOWN ToPPLHa
WALLS
Tire Chief Rose Works Hard Saving
Hose and Protecting workman

Fourteenth and Market streets. the
scene Of the big House and Hermann
fire Sunday night, was ono Of the bus
lest spots in the city yesterday. for all
day long there WAS a'larGe crowd in the
vicinity watching the work Of the fftS
or moro men hustling about the ruins.
Workmen were busy cutting away tho
ice on the streets. while others worked
in The ice and debris Of the ruined struc-
turc. The safo in which the jewelrs
and silver Of the House and Hermann
firm was stored. was located, and men
employed by the firm uncarthcd IL, out
before they could get It open Fire Chier
Rose ordered them away. for he noticed
a seGging In the south wall which
threatened to topple over on the work.
men at any moment.
Chief Rose had rope attached to the
great mass Of brick. mortar and Ice anu
with very Nttle exertiou by tho men.
the bulk fell over adding n considerable
pile to- the heap Of material in the cell
lnr. which is filled up as high as the
pavement.
Fire Chief Rose Busy
Today. the fire chief said he would
have men tear GOWN O(leE looSo pitSNH
and cornicc work on the Reilly building
which is being held In place by the tco
and which would fall were 1t not frozen.
Mr.. Rose was on the job every minute
yesterday. and he watched carefully al,
ter the safety OF the men.
Fire insurance adjustcrS were husy
about the buildings damaged by the hre
for they wish to mako quick scttle-
nent Of all damage claims. Among those
about the wrcckage were Arthur Lob
,ncyc7 of Charleston: T. j. Mosher OF
Baltimore: William c. Poe. IT.. Baltl-
more: II. s. Mutton. Richmond Va; G.
C. Carpenter. Baltimore; George W.
Briggs Of Clarksburg.
! slate Fire Marshall John s. Koran
made an investigation OF the cause OF
tho fire and stated that II was started
by the accumulation of gas in an air
.iyht closet which wns ignited when
John Powell. the night Waterman ap-
nlied match to n gas stove adjacent
to the closet.
May Save Fire Truck
House and Hermann arc adding 10
their stock at 1915 Market street IN the
Hub building and arc transacting ousi-
ness. but Of course on n much smaller
scale. They arc getting large ship
ncot Of goods from Pittsburgh and
will have Il fine display on'hand probably
by late today.
A large force Of firemon were working
Yesterday, getting out the hose which
was frozen in the Ice and little OF IT vii:
be lost.
City Manager Magic announced that
tho big aerial truck which was badly
CANA -cd In the fire. may be repaired ana
nut back into usn. The truck is not q
total wreck. but It is badly buckled and
all the ladders are broken. If II Is
found that the engine ls intact II may
do many more years OF service.
Ritter on the JOB
The many friends Of Honus Ritter
an out-the-pike resident and one OF the
most widely known men In the Wh"clinA
district, are congratulating him on the
volunteer work he did at the big fre.
NJ. Ritter pitched in and worked all
night in lending aid to the fremen-
Harry Paradise. proprietor Of the
Mecca, Fifteenth and Market streets.
WHO was among those who served hot
coffee and lunches to the flremen while
lighting tho blaze Sunday night WAS
on the job all day. yesterday. handing
out steaming coffee free TO the fremen
working about the burned structure and
TO the large gang OF men who cleaned
the snow and Ice from the street car
tracks.