Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-02
CONFEDERATION.
Grent Fire ut ROcklnnd-TOtal Destruc-
ton OF Jcssup d. MOOre's Upper Mills

uHtht n TIC " hOfhluMu-HOtNI DeHlfuc-
ton OF Jessup a MOOre's Upper Mills
Loss over 100000.
One Of the most extensive fires and heaviest losses
which this city or its vicinity has ever experienced
occurred on Monday in the total destruction OF Jessup
o. Moore's paper mills ut Rockland, on the north
bank Of the Brandywine river four miles distant from
Wilmington. These mills were among the largest
and most extensive in the Country and were incud-
ed in several large adjoining buildings. They manu-
featured paper of various qualities from combinations
of wood pulp and rags, and supplied the CoxMEnerAI
and all the other papers in this CITY, tho New York
Independent, Street Smiths N. Y, Weekly Boomers
Nep York Ledger, and a number of others, large
quantity of paper being shipped to California. The
mills were run day and night employing about one
hundred worSmen, and turning out TO- 900 pounds Of
paper daily. Sixteen tcamsters found employment
simply in hauling stock to and paper from the estab
llshment
The fire was discovered about halfpast two O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, by the hands. 1t originated in
the rag picker roo in the upper story Of the largest
building, and it is supposed to have been caused by
box Of matches being among the rags. The flames
spread with the greatest rapidity seeming to commu
nicatc to all parts of tho building at once There was
very little blaze, the clouds of smoke alone telling the
progress OF the confagration. The most extensive
and efficient mears for distinguishing fires had been
provided by the proprietors, in this very building
and they felt themselves entirely secure. very
tensive reservoir Is connected with the works and Is
provided with powerful steam pump which, on the
occasion OF fire, could be made to supply large
main pipe, which communicated with other pipes
throughout the whole establishment in such a way
that every floor could be promptly and completely
flooded. Strange to say, however, the fire took place
In the very room where the connection between the
main and the smaller pipes was made, and their sup
ports being soon destroyed the whole arrangement
was rendered useless. Had the fire broken out any
where else there IL title doubt It would readily have
been controlled
The works with all their contents machinery,
stock, and manufactured paper-were entirely con-
sumed, and are a total loss, even the iron machinery
being so warped and injured as to be useless. The
loss is state by the propretors to be over 5000 on
which they have an insurance Of only $l15O00 Their
confidence in the efficiency of their water works was
great that even this amount soc ned almost unne-
cessary.
Attached to the mills was large gas works, which
furnished light for the whole establishment. When
tie fire commenced, the foreman Mr.. Luke with great
presence Of mind and ut imminent risk of sufJcaton
opened the'gasometer and allowed the supply to es-
cape, thus doubtless preventing serious explosion,
when the flames reached the building.
The Water Witch Steam Fire Company of this city,
as soon as the alarm was communicated here hurried
to the scene, but the fire entirely beyond possible
ity of CONTROL and they were only able prevent its
spread to adjoining property.
II is subjet of great qualification to the propre-
tors that this serious disaster to property was not at
tended with any loss of e and 1t Is at least matter
for some congratulation.
Messrs.Jessup Il Moore were summoned from Pha-
delphia, and came down last evening. They express
their ability to promptly provide their extensive GUS
tom with paper and will at once rebuild their works.
They are unable to state the companies in which they
are insured until they examine their lists at their
main Office in Philadelphia.