Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-15
THE INcENDIkRY TORCH.

IT'S APPLICATION TWICE. LAST NIGHr-AMos HAIR
RIs SHIP SMITH SHOP, uRIfFENBERGs SPAR
SHOP, woDE, FEAsTER t& co.'s SAIL LOFT AND
IIREILEY's STABLES BURNED.
The epidemic OF tires during the past week has
finally eliminated in a conhagration of no mean
proportions, and here, let us hope. the mania
will end. That nearly all the fires of late have
been Of incendiary origin seems to be pretty
well established though the object sought to DO
accomplished thereby is not so readily under
stood. Every one has their theory but we have
no time to theorize now, and must turn our al
tention to the occurrences themselves.
BURNING OF KELLEY's STABLES.
The first alarm. last night, sounded few
minutes after 7 o'clock arose from the burning
of the stables Of John Townsend, SIMPLIFY street
above Front and occupied by Francis Kelley.
Owing to the combustible nature OF the material
| the flames spread rapidly, and soon enyeloped
| the whole building The fire companies, how
| ever were quickly on the spot, and although
| able to prevent the spread of the flames to the
| adoning carriage factories, they could not save
the building A portion of 1t is yet standing, but
/ 40 badly charred that no part of it is serycable
for any purpose. The horse and wagon were
| safely removed one ton OF hay was burned.
| Mr. Kelly's loss is about 300 and Mr.. Town
| sends 5000. This fire was undoubtedly OF in
| cendiary origin, for a man was Heen to enter the
| alley and light match. Those who Witnessed
| this supposed it to be Mr.. Kelley himself, and
thought no more about it until the alarm was
| struck.
An incident or two OF this FIRE While the
| stable was burning a hne-looking cat belonging
to one OF the neighboTs appeared upon the roof,
and was soon surrounded by columns OF lame.
Still it made no effort to move and soon vol
| umn or fire darted mp underneath it. and it
| periehed. vast crowd was collected in Front
street. gazing upon the fire, when a runaway
horse dashed into the crowd scattering il in all
directions. Fortunately no one was hurt.
THE FIRE AT THE FOOT OF CHURCH STREET,
A second alarm was rung of from the city
hall about 40 this A. NJ. caused by the obser.
| vance of fire in the spar shops of William Il
| Grilinberg at the foot OF Church street. The
steam whistles in that part of the city joined in
the alarm and betokened the imperative neet
| OF quick response. Soon bright light shot
| m almost to the zenith from the east and
general rush was made in that direction Even
before the fire companies arrived the flames hat
attained such headway that it was impossible Il
subdue them in the spar shops, and 1t was gyeI
! up to its fate.
, structure, and considerably beaten by thu
! storms of many years Both floors were oceu
! pied, the lower one by William i, GrIenburg a
| spar shop, and the upper one by Wode Feas
!; ter IL Co, as a sail loft. Nothing was saved from
the burning building, and both it and all its con
: tents fell victims to the devouring element. MI
2 Grffenberg'a loss il about $4,000, and Wode
u | Foaster n Co.'S about s2200 The first is GOV
l
y Mr.. Griffenberg's loss was increased by the dc
u structon, or injury to ouch an extent that the
are worthless, of "a large lot of spars lying on
"a side the shop, in a finished condition, and read
for delivery to the parties for whom they weT
made--the Pacific Mail Steamship AcdpWlcO no
fitting out at Harlans, and the Metropolita
Steamship Co.'S vessel. the General Whitney
8. | which is now building at the same place.
A. Separated from this shop by narrow allie
IN was the ship-smith shop of Amos Harris. Tn
flames from the burning building soon commr
| nicated with it, and dense volumes Of smok
escaped through the creYices, finally succeede
by a living sheet OF flame. Stream upon streal
ny of water was directedupOn the burning building
k. but to no purpose 1t was burned beyond r.
i'll pairs although it still stands, and all the persl
n able materials within it were consumed or inju
ed in such manner that they are worthless
Mr.. Harris loss is abont 50, 600 upon which the
10 is no insurance. he having suffered his policy
/ run out in January.
n: Both buildings were owned by Mrs, Harris, Il
mother of Amos Harris
nd Adjoining Mr.. Harris smith shop was one
- the buildings Of the Diamond State Rolling Mi
go 1t was saved without damage by a free apple
ton of water.
H. This fire is also believed to be the work of
at incendiary. Three men were arrested in 4
es | vicinity under suspicious circumstances, b
he they were afterwards released. there being
evidence against them. Two OF them-Willia
a Maloney and John Willis are old Offenders ma
100 both been imprisoned at New Castle, and ha
H. both been pilloried and whipped. The thi
al party, John McCabe, recently came to Wmin
u" ton from Baltimore, and falling in with the
fellows was arrested with them. The May
has issued orders for the arrest Of all bummC
to be found about town.
About o'clock, this morning. the smouldt
ing embers Of the burned building at the fo
or of Church street showed signs OF life, VIII
another alarm was sounded. The Fire Conn
MES soon put out the ieviying flares.