Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-02-10
THE DOPER FIRE.
Tbe Capital Hotel Burned- L0ss
About $4,000 Fully Insured
Fighting the Flames Under Diff
C.IIIieL-An hrneI.l In.

Fighting the Flames Under Diff
cuities-An appeal fOr Aid.
Special Correspondence Of State journal.
DOVER, Feb. About 2 O'Clock this
morning a fire brose out in the eastern
wing of the Capitol Hotel, which spread
slowly, but steadily to the main portion
and was not gotten under control until the
whole building, with the exception of part
of the western wing, WAS entirely con-
sumed. The ioss ON ihc MOTEL property is
estimated at about Sl2 900; fully insured.
The origin OF the fire is laid 10 the old
bugbear-a defective 1ue. II was first
discovered by gentleman named King,
who occupied room No. 81. King be-
longed to the witnesses in the FJurgeray
divorce case /; the whole party occupying
rooms "a, 56 and %. These rooms were
in the tuird story, which is next the
Roof, of the eastern wing; No. 81 being
on the right aud the otber two on the
left of the corridor. Room No 80, which
was unocoupied, adjoins No. 81 and is
also the corner room OF the northeastern
end Of the wing. The same chimney
serves both these rooms.
Room No. 80 near by was occupied by
Col, Macal!ister and Councilman Merris
Taylor of Wilmington. A few minutes
before 2 O'Clock Col. Macallister, awokA,
declaring that be smelled smoke. Hs
arose and opened the door of tbs room,
aud found the air of the corridor was un-
mialakably smoky. Awaking his room
mate they partially dressed themselves,
and proceeded to the room from whicu
the smoke appeared to issue. About the
same time Mr.. King gave the alarm say
ing, There lis fire in this room"
the iire was now visible burning over
head in rooms 81 and SO, in a small space
around the chimney ana between the cell
ing and rafters After dsshing two or
three bucketfuls of wash water, hurriedly
brought from the nearest rooms, upon the
fire, finding that it had gained too much
headway to be easily extinguishec, Mr.
Taylor proceeded to rouse the inmates of
the other rooms while the others hurried
down stairs to give the alarm and summon
help. In the office they found the night
| clerk and two or three others, who were
up to this time utterly unaware that any
thing unusual was happening and who
could hardly credit the story of fire. Five
minutes afterwards half the population of
Dover had been aroused and the Court
House bell began to ring peal, probably
the first OF the kind That ever sounded
from its metallic throat
lue urt spTtdu SLOWLY OUT bteHully and
had gained considerable headway before
the only rude means at hand for fshtir
| the flames were brought into service.
These col sisted simply of ladders and
water buckets, there not being fire
apparatus of any kind in the town. With
these poor appliances gangs of men
worked steadily, bringing the water from
a pump in the hotel yard, which was
/ fortunately frozen up. Others lent a
willing hand to carrying out the furniture,
carpets, tables service, trunks anc other
movable articles, which We're placed upon
the snow covered square in front.
Very fortunately there was but little
wind, and what little there was came from
the north, the most favorable quarter.
Thus, the inmates of the hotel had ample
time TO dress and secure their personal
| effects, and most of them did SO quietly
and methodically. There were few who
rushed exoitedly from their rooms in differ
ent stages of undress, but these were the
exception rather than the rule.
| About 81 O'Clock the wind seemed to
be freshening, and it looked a. if the fire
would extend to tine buildings eastward of
the hotel The house of Mrs. Ridgeley,
sister to Chief Justice Comegys, adjoining
tine hotel on the east, seemed almost GER
laoly doomed, and all haste was made to
remove the furniture, and the law library
Of the Chief Justice, who occupies room
ln the building as an office. l. may bs
said, in passing, that Mrs. Ridgeley's
house, u two story structure with heavy
brick walls, Is ths oldest building 10
Dover.
AT this time a disastrous couh4gratlon
that would sweep the wHole square down
10 the county building and endanzer tho
State House and the dwellings beyond was
looked for, and Sergeaut-at-arms Josephs
of the House proceeded to station men
upon the toUf of the State House 10 guard
rs far as possible against the threatened
darger The library of Secretary of State
Wulcolt WAS removed 10 the House and
much of the furniture removed from the
dwellings, near oy.
But tha wind did net increase and the
roofs of ali the neighboripg buildings were
covered with heavy coating of snow,
upon which the myrads Of sparks, some
allroet as large as a mans hand, fell and
sputIered harmlessly. BY the uutiring
-ntrgy of several hard-working amateur
iremen the flames we're fought off from
the RidReley house. but the result was for
long time doubtful.
A telegram was sent TO Wilmington for
| aid, and special train with the Washing
/ ton and Water Witch engines and the
Washington, Water Witch aud Reliance
hose oartiages on board, arrived here soon
after o'clock BE- this time the fire had
| been gotten under control, 1t having been
| kept confined to the hotel building and
gradually dying out for want OF ma eral
The loss on the building is estimated al
| about Sl2, 600 insurance for Sl1 900; on
| the main building, "a 600 in the Farmers'
/ Mutual and 81 O0D in the Kent County
Mutual on the new or eastern wing,
| SO 600 in the New Castle County Mutual.
| fhe proprietor, W. Q. Fountain. loses
| heavily on furniture, M lch of that re-
moved being considerably njured in the
removal His loss may be any where from
| 81 600 10 ~ 900 The furniture was In
sured il the Delaware State Mutual IT,
surauce Company for So 600
! Bat the indirect loss to Hr. Fouutain is
much the worst Happening right iu lbe
busiest part of thc legislative season, hi
husln' IS which was unusually prosperous
/ is nearly ruined for the present. Tenn
porsry quarters have been secur,d for
some Of his guests in building known 81
the Hotel Annex" ON the west side Of the
square. The rest hsd TO seek the Bayard
Q
The hotel building was owned 10y Thos
/ O. Culbreih, 'fhe greatest part of the
Old or west wing was saved, Chi hy
hecsuss the light wind blew the flames
towards the front There is little doubt
ghBt the hotel will be rebuilt ~ soon as
o'rible Dover cannot do without it Il
hss been under the charge Of Mr.. Foun-
tain about two years.
Few losses by guests ere reported
Librarian Il. Il Kenney probably Jared
be worst; his loss on books, clothing and
revolver amounting to about $50 He
saved his trunk and some of his books,
but overlooked the other things in his
! bury When the htmes reached his
foom the charges iD the revolver went of
with unreasonable rapidity.
A widow lady named Mrs. Mcdaniel,
who, with her step-daugbter, occupied
rooms in the hotel, las, some Drticles OF
furniture.
William Smithers, a nephew of N. b.
Snithers, Esq, lost a gold watch which
he forgot to secure on leaving his room.
State Senator Cooch lost SIT of studs
and collar button, worth sbou; 50.
Among the guests at the hotel were the
following members Of the State Legsa-
ture who were Unexpectedly called upon
TO exchange their warm beds for the
bitterly cold air OF the streets (the temper
ature must have been about zero); Sena-
tors Belts, Harrington and Coooh Speaker
L