The Morning herald., 1876-02-02
WILMINGTON, DEL. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 2, 1876
THE FIRE LAST EVENING.

THE FIBE LAST EVENING.
1ace's Feanasy and Stabbes Ds.
stroysd-Darnins ef the Foan-
dry PasteFnstA Stubborn
Ftrs-NarF0w Escape Of
aaEnt1ko Dlook.-Rroh-
ably the work o5an
IncendiaFy.
Last night fire broke out in the frame
stables, connected with J. v. Rice's foun-
dry, at 10th and Orange streets, which had
It not been for the rain and the prompt &C.
tion of of the Arsmen, would have proved
very disastrous in it, consequences. As 1t
was the loss was considerable. The fire
was first discovered about half-past ten
o'clock by resident of the block,
although bright light Was seen some time
before by colored man, but he supposed
that 1t was only some one there with Ian
tern. The Friendship Fire Company, whose
building Immediately sdjoins the foundry
was notified and . stream instantly put
upon the flames, and It was thought that
no alarm need be made, but ina few moments
the flames had gained 20 alarmingly that
an alarm was instantly struck. Before even
the Friendship engine could be of service
the entire stable was sheet Of fame, which
soon spread to the adjoining pattern shop,
where from $4,000 to $4,000 valuable
patterns were stored. It was . very
short time before the entire fire
department was on the spot and
seven streams were soon playing upon the
fire, but for = long time without any effect,
and 1t was feared that the entire block,
destroyed. The stubbornness OF the fire was
wonderful. .
The rain at this period fell in torrents and
thousands of gallons of water thrown upon
the flames some ten minutes, but until four
or five of the dwelling houses along Orange
street had bsen greatly damaged by the
flames and the entire row In imminent
danger, without effect.
After two hours of hard work on the part
of the part Of the Aremsn, the flames were
under control. There can be no doubt If the
night had been dry and only slight breeze
going, but that the entire series of frame
dwellings Would have been destroyed. The
row on Orange street was soon cleared
of all tho household goods which
it contained. 1t was inhabited entirely by
colored people. ~.
It was almost impossible, owing to tho
lateness Of the hour and the fact that Mr..
Rice was not in the city, to ASCERTAIN the
amount of
THE LOSS.
The entire row of shansies, for such they
really are, belonged to Mr.. Rice's estate.
Robert Mc1ntire, the garbage contractor
of the city has large quantity of hay in the
stable, and several carts, all Of which was
burned. His loss will probably reach $500,
there was no insurance upon the property.
AS nearly as we could ascertain Mr..
Rice's loss will be as follows:
Stables and store house $4,000; damage
to dwellings $1,000; patterns destroyed,
from $4,000 TO 81 900.
There ID some insurance upon the build.
ing and the patterns, but not sufficient to
the entire loss, probably not more
half its value. Although all the fire COM
paniss were promptly on the spot, and did
good service, the Water Witch Engine claims
to have been first in service, having the first
engine stream on, the Friendship having
put on plug stream some time before. For
the first time the Water Witch had the en-
gineer Cody, and Becky, the fireman, both
IN service.
It Is reported that the Phoenix engine
burned out her flues and was compelled to
retire.
Before the fire was entirely out false
alarm was started and some of the compa-
nies were led away by It,. The Water Witch
was ordered to remain and stayed until the
flames were entirely extinguished.
There is little doubt but that the fire was
the work of
AN INCENDIARY
as it would have been almost impossible to
have been caused by accident unless some
one was criminally careless.
A resident of the neighborhood told q
HERALD reporter that he saw some one
stealing about the buildings ct quarter
after nine o'clock and noticed q bright
light for moment like some
one striking match, . few seconds after
wards, but paid no attention to It. The
case will be thoroughly investigated.
COL. AcCOAB'S RAILROAD.
A mantino If thA atock hnldAra IF thu