The daily gazette., 1882-11-22
FIRES LAST NIGHT.
A Rope walk Burned-The DelswareS
Truck Badly Damaged by nm Upset.

Truck Badly Damaged by nm Upset.
Shortly after O'Clock last evening an
alarm of fire was sounded from box 10,
Eleventh aud Church streets, oceasioned by
the burning of some oil; rags and paint In
shed at the car works OF Bowers, Dure & Co
The flames were soon extlnguished.
On the way to the FIRE the Friendship
engine passed safely over Eleventh street
bridge, and following 1t come the new truck
OF the Delaware Hook and Ladder Company,
which ran into an obstruction,
and was upset almost before the
men knew there was any danger ahead.
The accident was caused solely by
neglect of the parties repairing the water
pipe to display red light as directed by the
city ordinance. The Reliance and another
engine closely followed the truck and only
escaped damage through the lattsr's mis-
fortune.
The obstruction was caused by the excava-
tious for the repair of the water main and o
large bank of earth between FIVE ands six feet
high, had been thrown up right In the
centre of the roadway, at the south end Of
the bridge, blocking 1t up almost entirely
The horses were going In gentle trot, but
there. being no light whatever on the pile,
the driver was unable to see IL until he was
on top of it. He adopted the only course
left him and pulled to the right. Finding
he had but little space to the right he made
another turn to the left, breaking rein as
he did SO. The truck struck the stone wall,
keeled over, and fell on its side, within q
foot or SO Of the edge of the embankment,
which is about Is feet high and directly
over the creek. The tillerman, Ferd.
Chairs, was pitched out, but escaped with
out serious injury. Two truckmen standing
on the side Of the ladders were thrown
down the embankment and were somewhat
bruised. Chief Engineer Murphy, who
was also standing upon one of the
platforms, was thrown to the ground,
and slightly bruised. The horses fortu-
nately were not thrown. After, perhaps,
an hours work the truck was righted. It
was then found that the rear springs had
been broken and the axle badly bent at both
ends. A portion OF one OF the iron hubs
was broken OFF and the wheels much Scared.
A rung of ono of the ladders
was broken and the extension ladders
thrown from their sockets. The
damaged truck was taken TO the
the house, run in front foremost, the rear
lacked up and the damaged axle and wheels
taken out. Arrangements were made this
morning to have the injury repaired,
and it is hoped the truck will be
in service by Saturday If not before.
Inc cOSI Oh tne ftphuS Will Do apou,
$1T5 or $500.
Foreman John Dougherty Of the Water
Department, states positively that ample
safe guards were around the embankment,
and In addition to these were three lanterns
which were burning and a watchman. The
watchman seeing the truck coming directly
for the obstruction mounted the mound and
swung all of the lanterns, but it was no use
The truck came right out, but instead OF
striking the mound struck one Of the fender
stones and went down the embankment.
At midnight an alarm was sent from box
| "a, DUPONT street and Delaware avenue
and the department responded. The
ropewalk of James Downward, al
Pennsylvania avenue apd Franklin
street, was found to be on fire, and before
the engines could get In service the building
which was $50 feet lobg, o feet wide and II
feet high, was entirely destroyed. A
chicken house and about 80 chickens wer'
also consumed. The damage will amount
| to about $500, and there was an insurance o
$500 on the building in the New Castle
| County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
i