Daily Republican., 1881-12-13
THE FIERY ELEMENT.
PLAYS SAD HAVOC WITH LIEB.
ERMAN'S CLOTHING STORE.
Prompt efforts OF the Flremen Pre-.
Vent q Serious Fire-Cause 81
the Fire Unknown
Full "DETAILS.


along Fifth street near Tatnall be saw
sparks issuing from the top of a build
ing, in the vicinity of Fifth and Market
streets. He immediately started for the
City Hall, where he struck an alarm
from signal box II.
The tiremen we're promptly on the
scene and were not long in getting into
service. The fire was discovered in Mr..
Nathan Lieberman' large four story
brick building. Mr.. LebeIinap oc-
cupies the first and second story floors
as his clothing house.
The third floor OF the building is the
headquarters of the Shields Library
Association, and on the fourth floor are
the Lodge room of the Red Men and
other societies, From the ground floor
is a large open space, between the
building and the adjoining residence
of Samuel Findiey, which added fuel
to the flames, bV the current of wind
which was blowing through the area
way and tanning the flames Before the
department arrived, tine flames had
gained considerable headway, and it
was feared at one time that the build
ing WAS doomed. When the fremen
arrived, however, they did effective
service. Owing to the extreme hei Shth
of the building they were compelled to
lug Their hose up flight Of stairs before
they reached the vicinity of the fire
The excitement in the neighborhood
was intense for awhile and the inmates
of the Clayton House, came down upon
the street and mingled with the crowd
outside. The Chief Engineer and as
sistants were upon the scene and super.
intended the work Of this tiremen, thus
preventing any unnecessary amount OF
wafer being put On.
By two o'clock the flames were ex.
tinguished and an examination made
as to where the fire originated and what
caused it. IL originated in the ante
room of the Shields Library Associa-
tion on the third floor, and rap
idly spread to frame annex built over
the area. The furniture Of the associa-
tion, which was handsome and valua-
BILE, was ruiend, and the contents of
the ante.room completely destroyed.
The books in the library, however, " ere
not damaged, as they were in a glass
case, beyond the reach of the fire. Their
loss will amount to several hundred
dollars.
The heaviest loser will be Mr.. Leiber-
man, who arrived upon the scene IN a
short time after the alarm was struck,
and, together with number of police
men aud private citizens, went into the
store and succeeded in saving d large
amount of clothing, from being ruined
with wat.r by spreading gum coats
over the garments in the second story,
where the water was pouring down,
His loss, however, will be heavy, but
he cannot, as yet, estimate the exact
loss, but it will amount to several
thousand dollars, which, it is though
is fully covered by Insurance How
much insurance is on the stock is not
known, as Mr.. Ltiberman told RE
PUBLICAN reporter who was upon the
scene, that only n few weeks ago
a policy of 5000 on the stock expired
and he neglected to have it renewed.
The damage 10 the building By fire
was not SO great, but most OF the cell
ing in the rooms where the water
soaked through will have to be replaS,
tered.
Among the most valuable articles
burned in the Shields Library room,
was large pictare frame presented tu
the Association by the Haymakcr' S
Association, of Chester also a large
frame containing the pictures of the de-
ceased members Of the Association
The third story back room, occupied by
the Hebrews Of this city as a syna.
gogue, was not touched. Some of the
otner society rooms were damaged by
water.
Mr.. Lieberman clerks were some
what amazed this morning upon arriv-
ing ut the sore, to find everything IN
confusion, and instead OF standing
around waiting for buyers to come in
they went to work arranging the dam
aged clothing. Not one OF the numer-
Gus clerks emyloyed was at the fire,
and knew nothing Of it until this morn
ing.
The ire fully portrays the necessity
of having longer ladders for the use O
| the department, and an Insurance pa,
troll would be qui,e an addition to th'
efficiency of the Wilmington Fire De
partmeut, and would have saved hun
dreds Of dollars last night. No unne
cesSary amount OF water was thrown
upon the building and the fremel
deserve great credit for their earncs
work last night, and by their tilnel!
assistance, prevented what might have
been serious fire.
INSURANCE.
Mr.. Lieberman has his stock insured
in the following companies Royal, o
Liverpool, $5,00O Manhatten, New
York, $4,000; Farmers Mutual, thi'
city, s., 900. Total, $ll 200. Insurance
OH building : New Castle County, g.,
900; Fire Association, Philadelphia, s.,
500: North British, Liverpool, y, 900
Farmers Mutual this city, $4,000
Manhatten, New York, $1,000. Total
$4,000.
Annie v. Wins.
Yesterday afternoon a large crowd
gathered on the Causeway, over Mar
ket street bridge, TO witness the begin
ming of the race between MIR. Richard
\ a -na