The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-09
FIRST EDITION
THE WILMINGTON FIRE.

Fire mt the Shops of the P., w. and II. Rail-
road-LOcomOtives and other Property
Destroyed.
The Wilmington Commercial of last evening
says
out in the kindling-wood shop of George w.
Bush, at the southeast corner of Water and
French streets, 1t was quickly communicated
to the oil store-house of the p, w. aud B. Rail-
road shops, which stood Immediately adjoining.
(This was the general understanding, but It is
stated to us by Mr.. Bush and others who
were promptly at hand, that the fire began in
The flames spread with great rapidity, and in
a few moments caught the roof of the locomo-
tive Tound-house, which adjoined the Oil-hOuse,
and speedily set fire to it and to q number of
locomotives which stood In it.. These are be-
lieved to have been about fifteen in number,
more of which were removed. All these were
badly burned, though some escaped more than
Others.
The Fire Department was promptly on the
ground but the large force of men employed in
the shops were just at dinner Attempts we're
made TO subdue the flames in the oil house but
il was stored with large quantity of oil, tallOw,
waste, etc, and burned with the greatest fury,
throwing out immense volumes of black smoke.
The large Office of George w. Bush soon caught
fire, and was destroyed.
Efforts being at length mostly directed to
cutting off the fire, at the point where the
Tound-house adjoined the general repair shops,
the flames were checked about half-past one
o'clock.
The loss is heavy, but as most of il consists in
the damage done to the locomotives, the extent
and character of which can only be ascertained
by machinests, upon a thorough examination,
we can give no estimate approaching accuracy.
The whole loss, however, will probably be from
$50 600 or $15 600. OF this we estimate S25, 900
to be on the locomotives alone, the remainder
being on Mr.. Bush's Office, kindling-wood shop,
and contents, his sloop (Which was damaged as
she lay at the wharf, and on the oil-house, pat
tern-shop, round-house, and othere injured
property, belonging to the railroad company.
Our estimate of the damage to the locomotives
will appear low to many who were present at
the fire, but it is based on a hurried inspection
made by one of the compauys officers.
Mr. Bush is fully insured. ALI his books were
saved ont of his Office
Mr.. Perry, master Of machinery 10 Whining
ton, was absent in Philadelphia, but came down
with Superintendent Kenney on a special train
By the time of their arrival, however, the fire
was under control
The express train South was delayed about
three-quarters of au hour. President Graut was
not on board, as had been expected.
Broken Open Sacramentat Service
StOlen-The Poor Boxes Robbed.
The Commercial also has the following
Last night some villains entered Saint Peters
Roman Catholic Church, Sixth and West streets,
and proceeded to ransack it for valuables. They
stole the cups of two gold-plated chalices, two
saboriums, one gold and one silver, two gold
patents Ca sort of plate used in connection with
the chaices), all being articles used ia the sacra-
ment of "Ihe Lords SUPPER" as administered
by that church. They also broke up gold
plated chaice, and, finding it to be plated, flung
it contemptuously on the floor. They then pro-
ceeded to the boxes in the Vestibule into which
contributions for the poor are dropped,
rfed them, and made their escape with their
booty unobserved. The candlesticks and other
decorations of the altar were undistur0ed.