Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-07-03
THE ADAMS FIRE.
Twelve Hundred Rockets FIyIr g
Around In Room ut One Time
PRndemOnium Let Loose.

F&hu6MuDHkUhh EABU h4Uubts
Yesterday the REPUBLICAN, stated tn at
the persons who had charge Of the fire
works in the fourth story of the Adams
Bros. building where the fire broke out
on the night OF tho parade either lack
ed presence Of mind or courage. This
was the conclusion arrived at by nearly
all who witnessed the fire from the
street in the vicinity Of the building,
and the reason for this conclusion was
that when the fire broke ont nobody
was to be seen in the vicinity of the
window where the FIRE caught leaving
the impression that whoever was in
charge had deserted their post at the
appearance Of danger.
Under these circumstances the arti.
Gle rejecting upon them was written.
Since then the particulars Of the tease
have been fully sscertained and in jus
tics to those who felt somewhat aggriev.
ed at the comments Of the REPUBLICAN,
yesterday we will state them. It seems
that several gentleman had charge o.
the windows that evening with every
requisite and preparation for burning
red fire and shooting Of Roman candles,
only emitting the precaution to have
bucket Of water placed at each window
TO be used in case Of any emergency.
As the procession was coming up
Market street and when between
Fourth and Fifth the fire works were lei
off with good effect. 1t was not long be-
! fore a ball of fire from q Roman candle
which 1t was thought was fred from
the outside fell into the box of red fire
on the vindow-sill which Immediately
went of into the biggest kind Of ar
explosion. All present tried to put
the FIRE out and for this purpose jumped
upon 1t with their feet trying to crush
it ont, but the more they stamped thu
more the red fames spread and sputter
ed over the platform on the inside. II
might have been gathered up ant
thrown outside only TO fall on tn
surging mass Of humanity crowded oN
the sidewalk below.
Nothing but water could drown ou
this ind of fire and water was not jus
at hand. Lying close by were eighty
roman candles each with fifteen charge
making 1900 in all which ignited from
the red FIRE. Such scene as followed
is indescribable, hundreds Of balls @
fire from the eighty candles were fE
zing and shooting in every direction
indeed the room was full of blszin
rock cts.
No human mortal could stand such
bslching battery as that. To stay il
such q sulphurio fume would have beel
death, It was then that those il
charge were compelled to leave tb
room, one Of them saying that 1t looke'
as if the fires of the lover regions wer
at their heels. They ran to get
bucket Of water from the story belov
to drown out the FIRE, but no buckle
could be found. Returning after tn
candles had all exploded they tried I
penetrate the dense smoke to put on
the fire, but the sulphur fumes an
smoke were too dense.
During this time the head of the pa
rade arrived in front, and halting, ,afte
considerable trouble the tremen sue
osede after the draft had in part driv
en- out the sulphur fumes, in entering
Under the circumstances it will be see
that the gentlemen instead Of lackin
courage did all that could be done I
put out the fire and none others soul
have done more.