The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-21
SCHOOL fire
LOSS $4,000
suPr, CITIZENS COMPLIES FIGURES
ON MADISON SCHOOL BU1bD1N9
AND EQUIPMENT
No Effort to Rebuild for Present Term
-Douols Sessions OF School TO
Be Held

. Sup,. &. +. Citizens stated last night
that S5U,O0p loss was conservative
estimate Of the damage 10 MaaIS1 Pi.
school as the result or the hre carry
Mr. Citizens stated that the building
was insured for $4,000. approximate
half OF It's actual present day N"'ue'
while the contents OF the school are IN
sured for 5000. q fractional part OF
their value In his estimate. Mr. 9th
ems Included damaged equipment.
Arrangements have pen anaue au
taking care of the children who we're
deprived OF books IN IN" hre by taxing
ali the extra books from other scnooIs,
The chlidrcn occupying the eleven
school rooms damaged Dy oHe nIe 10y Mis'
start 10 school on the first OF tne weeN,
Double sessions in the new Madison
building Will care FOR me 80 pups
wh, would be prevented from altehu~
'!ng school as the result OF the nre'
Unless some OF the equipment in the,
school rooms can be salvaged the loss
in school supplies will be approximately
$4,000. The damage 20 me eui'I."S XII, ~
larger than was first thought. II VII!
be Impossible TO replace the floors ana
walls of the building for the amount AT
which they are valued IN the insurance
taken out on the building. The ouiIalnS
rs valued az about 100000.
DR.. Citizens stated last night that no
tattempt would be made to rebuild the
old school during me prssSstm. Term p
timated by Fire Chief Burnley Thompson
at over $50. 900 This figure is widely
at variance with the estimate or tns
members Ok the board OF education ana
others.
The fire at Madison school annex
burned from 1870 o'clock YESTERDAY
morning until nearly o'clock: Streams aynS
OF water were played upon the damaged
building until nearly noon.
The fire broke out shortly after
o'clock YESTERDAY morning nI,Sa The lsi s,IIi
alarm at l:20. followed by an alarm
from box ~ at LIS. when the hre had
assumed dangerous proportions. len
sounded. FROM this time on six streams
OF water were played upon the ouiId'nS
N the early moments OF the fire it
was believed that the blaze would De
confined TO the southern section OF the
: building where II IS supposed 10 nave
arisen. The flames. however ate tneir
! way over TO the western and northern
parts Of the building until at ) o'clock
the entire school was burning.
The tire was made particularly hard
to fight because OF the bursting OF gas
: supply pipes. The building is fitted with
hot air supply shafts from the furnace
TO every room In the building. The hre
crept through these shafts until II
Time and again the iremcn would ex-
tinguish the flames in one part OF tnS
building. only TO discover that X hau
broken through the walls in other
rooms The walls and floors throughout
the building we're practically eaten out;
Early in the fire the southern part or
the first floor fell through. With only
q few seconds to spare. four members
OF the Atlantic engine company sue sue
eeeded in jumping from the falling pori,
ton. Later on the second floor caVeo
IN at a number OF points.
After believing that the fire was
nearly extingucshed. at about O'CLOCK
streams wErr being played upon an
parts OF the building. me names as"tt.
y
necessary to cut through the roof ana
night them from above in order TO save
the walls.
rooms are completely destroyed except
for one room on tho east side. inc
. stairways and halls are also badly dam
Three frcmcn were incapaCitated dur
ing the fire They were John Dom
never and Charles Moore Of the Attain
tic engine company and Homer S3ilinS
who Is ca ptain Of the Atlantic company.
was overcome by smoke early in the
fire, lilo was removed 10 the home OF
George Scattcrday. Janitor of the new
building az Madison. from whore he
was taken to the Ohio Valley General
hospital
Collins was also taken TO the hospital
suffering from a number OF severe cuts
and bruises received while fighting the
flames. Both ne and Moore are resting
easily at the hospltal.
Fireman Nearly browns.
Donmeycr was the most seriously In,
jured ~ the trio. His injury occurred
while no was engaged in aShtins - Inc
Are in the walls Of the basement Inc
imcnse amount OF water thrown on
tho building had almost hlled the cei-
lar SO that the men were forced 10
work in water, nearly Ave feet s, asep;
Dorrmeyer. while directing the strea, i,
of water at vital point. was StrucK
along the side Of the head by Falling
timber. He fell into the water ana was
nearly drowned. ,
N;s rescue was due TO the heroic work
of Fireman William Clayton OF hcaa,,
quarters. who jumped into the pool
from tho edge Of the f1rst floor where
Ia remained standing. Enaided until no
reached the light. he dragged ne nndE
nf his comrada from underneath taliihs
fjrnhcrs and through smoke and steam.
DorfmevCr was not injured until AFTER
s o'clock. ,,
UNION tho scene for eight fun hours.
During the cntir" tim" the crowds wer"
thick During the earlv hours crowd
OF . OnO peorle assembled in all shades
and styles Of attire from evening gowns