The daily gazette., 1877-01-02
FIRST EDITION!
THE FIRE FIEND !
LARGEST AND MOST THREATEN
4 ING FIRE EVER IN
WILMINGTON.
Loss $4,000, PARTLY INSURED.

last night, a general fire alarm was struck
from the town hall and soon afterwards
repeated by the Water Witch bell. A
Fearful snow storm was prevailing at the
time and caused many to pay but little
heed to the alarm, until, of q sudden the
whole armament was ilumin mated bv n
red glare of light. and in few minutes
the entire fire department was on hand.
Ihough IL has been proven on many oc-
easions that our fire department is second
TO none in the country, 1t nobly done It's
duty last night, notwithstanding the
great difficulties and obstacles thrown in
their way by the freezing of many of the
fire-plugs. as thereby the engines were
unable to procure water, but finally after
several of them making many changes
they succeeded in getting streams of
water upon the burning buildings. The
night was q fearful one, the high north
and northwest cold winds and snow storm
greatly added to the embarrassment of the
noble workers.
Chief Engineer Hanna and his Assist
ants displayed excellentjudgmenti their
management of the firemcn, though they
received great aid from His Honor,
Mayor Whiteley, who was upon the
ground and did active service, besides
giving practical and good advice at times
to the tiremen, he had his whole force of
police busily engaged in taking care and
guarding the property of those who had
the misfortune to be turned out of DOORS
In fact he showed himself to be Mayor
in every sense Of the word.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The origin of the fire seems to be shroud-
ed in mystery, and many conflicting ru-
morS in regard to il; are afioat.
The fire was first discovered at No. oil
Orange street in building owned by
Mr. VIM. Bright and occupied by Charles
Sehmith, axle manufacturer. In the
building next above him were j. q. Hir-
eel, machinist; George Hardcastle, cabi-
er and scroll saver; Paris Mitchell, car
penter; John Gheen sash maker, William
Forbes, wheel builder; and the business
of Abbott 81 Mckinney (machinery and
kindling wood, etc., was carried on in
the same building, where was also Dono-
hoe andRobinson's bottling establishment
and VIM. q. Ford's malt house. Smith
& Breen also had a room over Downeys
place, where they manufactured hominy
grits.
At the time of the breaking out of the
fire Mr.. Robinson, of the firm of Douohoe
and Robinson was engaged in writing at
the desk in their establishment, when
suddenly his attention was attracted by q
bright light and upon looking out the
side window he saw flames in the alley
way between their place and that of Alb
bott & Mckinney, the flames seemed to
be issuing from the celler underneath the
establishment of the latter, which was
used as room by several of the occupants
of the buildings as a store room for old
articles. The origin of the fire is unknown
but the Chief and First Assistant engi-
neers of the department will hold an in
vestigation to-day. The opinion is that
it started in the department Of Abbott &,
Mckinney, others say that it originated
in the engine room located in the rear
The engine drives all the machinery of
the different lessees. Robert Rodgers is
the engineer and with exception of a
short time in the morning it was not rum
nlng yesterday and consequently Mr..
Kodgers was absent. Owing to the COM
bllstlble material, and the great amount
OF OIL in the floors gave it great headway
before the engines could be got into SER
vice. But the unparalleled and heroic
efforts of the fire department saved the
surrounding buildings. The snow that
was falling at the time making very diff
cult the working of the firemen, probably
went far toward saving the surrounding
The dwelling houses adjoining on
Orange street, south of the fire, were
somewhat damaged by both fire and
water. The furniture of the following
persons was hastily and roughly thrown
into the streets No. 503, Joseph Valen-
tine 5O5, Joseph Ginder; 507, Mrs. Earn
est; 509, Mrs. Collins. On Fifth street,
No. 2Ol, Jacob Hummil; 205, Geo.
! ITweedy; 2O7, Alfred Whalraven; 209,
Lewis Cloud; 2l1, Mrs. McGouldrick;
2l3, Moses Grubb; 2l9, John Melet. At
one time all hopes of saving any portion
OF this square, or the adjoining square,
between Fourth and Fifth, were given |
up, and propositions was made by those |
high in authority to tear down several |
frame houses, but fortunately, just at this |
time the rear walls of the burning build |
ng fell, and the heat was not SO intense,
giving the firemen free access to play |
upon the frame buildings on Fifth |
street, by which means the fire was some |
what stified In its progress, and soon af- |
,erwards was under control. And ma
jority of the excited mass of people left |
'Or their homes, while others staid to aid /
ind assist the poor homely ones, and |
early this morning, Wilmington's chari-
able men and women were on the ground |
giving aid to the needy. The fremen |
Ieveral parties who placed before the no
Die men all the delicacies of the season
ESTIMATED LOSS AND INSURANCE..
s. M. Downey, loss not ascertained.
Stock completely destroyed. No insu-
'ance.
j. G. Hirzel, loss, about $1,000. No in
urance.
Smith & Breen, loss, between $500 and
400. Not insured.
Hardcastle lost his tools. Amount un-
NOW. Not insured. "
Isaac Pyle, loss about $500. Insured
or 5000.
Abbott & Mckinney, loss not known.
Not insured.
VIM. Forbes & Bro, loss, $4500. Not
insured.
John Ghcnn, loss, $1,000. Not insured
VIM. Bright, loss, $4,000. Not insured.