The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-02

wall of the Lenox building. Three
were brought out badly hugt, but
two others were left In the debris.
Firemen Of Norfolk, Portsmouth
and Suffolk, with organized sailor
fire briqades fought herolcaIly
amid Ice and binding smoke and
blueJackets led the rescue work
when the fighters were trapped.
Several of the firemen caught in
the hotel were brought out alive
through the daring Of score Of
the Jack tars.
Three Explosions
Reports az to tho number or eHplo-
sfons vary. It was frst said that the
fro IN tho Cranky theatre had followed
an explosion. but Fire Chief McLaugh-
In and naval investigators announced
tonight that this WAS not tho case. They
said. however there had hecn three sep
arnte and distinct explosions. The first
was In a. cloak and hat shop near tho
Monticello. Tho second WAS on the
sixth floor of thu hotel After tho hrst
fire was practically under control and
the third In the Lrno1 building, winch
later was destroyed
Hotel Guests Flee
Guests from tho Monticello. who were
forced to flee In tho biting cold or the
dawn after they had watched the thea
ter burn, were taken care Of IN nearby
homes and hotels. Scores were mado
homeless and tho national guard arm
ory on City Hall avenue. was thrown
open to them.
There during tho late day Red Cross
workers and other volunteers looked az
ter them and also supplied coffee ana
sandwiches for the naval patrols ana
fren,cn who were foNced to geek rest
from their gruellinS work against the
flames.
When tho r1rernen responded to the
alarm for tho theater FIRE thhy found
nIl hydrants In the vicinity frozen Fires
had to be built TO thaw them out In
thc meantime the fremen looked On
HELPLESS while tho big theater building
burned When wafer finally came. the
prcssurc was so low that streams would
not reach to the upper stories or the
burning building and the fire soon was
beyond control.
Portsmouth Gives AID
Portsmouth, across the Ellzaoeth riV>
or was called upon for aid and the IRE
was checked until falling sparks hreo
tho Monticello. where many OF inc
guests had gone back to bed In tho De-
lief that the nrc was controlled. They
wero soon forced 20 turn out again
The combined departments apparently
wero making good Roadway against the
flames, when tho explosion occurred IN
hot nd anothHr blaze start
cd Suffolk then was asked for aid and
RUSHED nppuGtus to the city BY train In
the meantime tho navel authorities AT
thu navy yald and naval base offered n1d
Ind fire oripades wero soon on The scene
When tbs second explosion occurred
this time In tho Monticello. Mayor Mayo
nut tho naval authorities In charge.
'Thay placed patrols throughout the
business district. throw Gordon or ma
rines and bluejacknts around the hre
district, began picking up persons una
lie TO account for them selves.
working on tho Mystery.
Department nf justice agents Joined
with the city detective force in seeking
to uurarel the mystery OF the eSp!o-'
sions. Three OF tho men arrested were
placed In tho city jRl and federal agents
took charge Of tho other two. schmidt
and LessinE. The latter. officers said.
first represented himself IA depart
mcnt OF justice official.
Fire tugs from thu navy yard early In
In tho day took up positions on the
sater front three blocks away and as
sisted tho fire engines and pumped tons
OF water Into tho burning buildings. out
the block on CRANKY street from CIty
hall TO Tu2ewoll street virtually was de-
s,rcyed, only two buildings. tho Dixon
and Commcn:lal structures. both new,
escaping destruction. They were badly
damaged
rire Again Breaks Out.
lust at dusl; the fire in tho Monticello
broke out nfrtsh, and despite the heroic
work Of the !!rcInen and sailors. tha
Lenux, CARPENTER md TaZ"wall build.
lrgs. six Story structures across the
street. wero wrecked. For q time tho
naval 7. NJ. c. 4. vas threatened, bur
tho widc lans separating fl from tho
burning buildings. enabled tho nremen
to save it, and other large buildings
nearby.
Although tho fire wnS still burning IN
the ruins late tonight. the fire chief nm
nouuced tkat tho danger was over If the
naval patrols could chek the "orE OF
incendinrles.
IN, fire swept district Is but three
front on tho north and i've on the west.
II Is more than "a mile from tho Norfolk
navy ynrd. which IL located up the
Elizabeth river In thn western section
OF portsmouth,. The nearby water front
IS used hy bay and river steamers and
trucking vessels.