Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-09-12
Fire.
BunsrSo OF c. ]. FELL * BnornnRs' FAu1K-

| BURNING OF G. j. FELL & BRo1HERs' FAuIK--
LAND SPICE MiLLs.-Loss $4,000.
We regret to learn that the well known Spice
Mills Of G. j. Fell & Brother situated on Red Clay
Creek near the Brandywine Springs and about 8
miles from this city have been totally destroyed
by fire.
Monday evening about 8 o'clock fire was dis
covered near one of the sets of mill stones but
was speedily extinguished, or at least it was
thought to have been extinguished. It is sup
posed that this fire was caused by nail or other
hard substance getting between the stones and
sparks being thrown out On account of this fire
unusual precautions were taken 10 obtain assu-
rance that all was safe when the mill was closed
on Monday evening, the foreman going through
the mill twice without light.
About oclock Tuesday morning fire was discoy-
cred bursting through the roof and the whole
building was soon wrapped in flames. By the
time that the workmen and ncghbors were
aroused the flames had obtained such Roadway
that any attempt to save the mill would have been
useless and the whole attention was turned to sa-
wing the surrounding buildings. The fire ragged
oil the rest OF the night and all day yesterday it
being impossible to do anything to put il out The
mill for the manufacture of boxes, and the fore
mans house both situated near the burning build
ing were with difficulty saved The latter would
surely have been burned had 1t not been for row
Of fine large Linden trees between it and the mill.
The Fell family have been engaged in this bus
iness for over century, four generations having
one after another conducted it, and never before
during all these hundred years have they had a
dire in any of their mills. Theirs are the oldest
established and largest spice manufactures In the
United States.
The building burned was four stories in
height and 40 by 30 feet. It contained all
modern improvements and complete machinery
'or the manufacture of Chocolate and other pro-
lucts of Cocoa, the preparation of coifees, mus
tards, Spices barley and hominy. 1t was driven by
two water wheels each Is feet in diameter and 16
eet wide,and contained heavy stock of material
hey being just preparing for the fall trade.
The whole loss is $4,000, divided as follows
building sGoOo machinery $4,000, merchandise
10000. On this there is an insurance Of $4,000
On the building, $4,000 on the machinery, and
$1,000 on the merchandise, in all $4,000, making
Messrs. Fells net loss $4,000.
The insurance ID in the following companies for
he amounts stated Farmers Mutual, Whining
ton, $4,000; New Castle county Mutual, OF Will
nington, $4,000; North American. of Philadel-
'hia, $4,000; Phoenix, of Philadelphia $4,000;
Union Mutual of Philadelphia, $4,000.
At the time we were on the ground,
bout 10 O'Clock, yesterday morning, the mill
vas still burning. One of. the races had
been diverted from its course and its water was
cunning into the mill. Pipes were already being
lid from stream on the side of an adjacent hill
as to throw another stream Of water into the
turning mass.
Messrs. Fell e. Brother propose to commence
Immediately rebuilding the burned mill, and
meanwhile they have rested another mill which
ney will temporarily fit up for continuing their
business, so as to supply their customers.
The loss of this mill does not at all effect their
business, as they have another large one in Phil
dclphia, and a mill for the manufacture OF their
tclt-raising flour in Newport, near this city.
The mill destroyed contained nine runs of
french burrs, and four pairs OF chases.