Daily Republican., 1882-09-04
THE FIRE FIEND.
A LARGE wINDOw.sAsA AND
DOOR FRAME EsTABL1HEaRHENr
FEED CHE FLAMES.

II
church bells had ceased ringing ast
evening, while the devout were eitler
listening to fervent exhortations d
nodding to the bidding of the SLEEPY
god over dry sermons; while those no
in church but who sat on front porchel
and at front doors and windows enjoy
ing the balmy atmosphere and fighting
| mosquitoes an alarm of fire was raised
and instantly the eye was directed to {
bright light that shot up above thu
surrounding buildings in the neighbor
hood of Front and Washington streets.
1t was Sunday evening and therefore
could not be the fiery tongued flasher
from the cupola of the Delaware Foun
dry. 1t was a real genuine fre anC
soon the shouts of fire" resounded
through the streets. Instantly churches
were depopulated and a moving mast
thronged the streets leading in the di
rection of the bright, tlickering light
getting brighter all the time and which
had already commenced to throw uI
sparks aud emit huge volumes Of
smoke. Soon word was passed from
mouth to mouth and from street tc
street, that William II. Persons large
sash, door and frame ware. houses, AIS
and AL West Front street, were on
fire.
The alarm had been promptly sound
ed from box "a, Front and Justison
streets and in a most incredibly shorI
time the three nearest engines were on
hand, closely followed by two more
which comprised all the available en-
gines In the ctty-the Reliance and
Washington having been disabled some
time before and were still at the ma
chine shop. 1t was but the work of a
few minutes to unlimber the engines,
attach them to q plug and put them
into service. Chief Engineer Murphy
was ubiquitous and seemed to know
exactly what was wanted and 30 d.
rected the firemen In putting the water
where it would do the most good.
The engine swere located as follows
Weccacg, Front and Washington
Friendship, Second and Washington
Fame Hose Front and West; Phoenix,
Second and West Water Witch, Front
and Justison and the Delaware Truck,
in. service for the first time, was placed
in close proximity to the burning build.
ings, the ladders raised to the tops ofthe
adjoining houses. thus enabling the fire.
men to do effective work, in saving the
surrounding property.
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
The fire seemed to have originated In
the western portion of the building and
spread rapidly through the remaining
portion of the building and within a
short time, the whole building was en-
veloped in one sheet Of flame, and the
factory was doomed.
The firemen, however, worked nobIy,
many Uf them directing their attention
to saving the surrounding property
which was in imminent peril, while
several streams were constantly direct
ed on the burning mass, in order to
keep down the fire. The heat was 80
intense and the smoke 80 dense that 1t
was with difficulty that the fremen
could stand at their posts. The flames
continued to rage tiercely for abont ono
hour before the immense volumes of
water began to have much effect, but at
the end of that time the earnest efforts
OF the tiremen began to tell and the fire
was under control.
The streets were lined with specta.
tators, thousands of men women and
childrenhaving assembled on heground
and excitement reigned su'
preme. A few minutes past 10 o'clock
the roof fell in with crash and the
frame dwelling house No. 423
on the west side of the factory burst
out in flames. Immediately a hose
was directed in that direction and by
continued efforts this building was
partially saved, although it was on
fire several times and was seriously
damaged. At 1890 the firemen had
complete control over the fire and by
II o'clock the three story brick houses,
Nos. 415 and AIT Front street, imme-
diately adjoining the factory, were
saved from the destruction which for q
time had seemed inevitable.
In about a half hour thereafter, the
fire in the main portion Of the building
had been completely drowned out and
the direction of the firemen was called
to the flames in the rear of No. AIT. AT
this juncture four engines were ordered
from the fire, while the Fame Hose and
WeccaCoe were retained for a short
time, after which the Fame Hose re-
turned Home and the WeccacOe re-
NAMED until every vestige of the fire
was apparently gone and plug stream
was kept on the smouldering ruins un'
til morning. At o'clock the flames
burst OFT afresh in the frame dwelling
No. 423 and another alarm was sounded
but as line of hose was On hand the
services of the firemen were not need
ed.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The origin of the fire is mystery
bur several reports are current in refer
ence to the outbreak. One report has
it that it originated in the. frame build.
ing No. 423, adjoining the factory;
others say it started between the two
buildings where stove pipe passed out
of the house in close proximity to a
Slated window, while the most plaus-
ible theory is that a lamp exploded in
the d yelling No. 423 thus setting fire
to the house and communicated to the
factory. A slight explosion was heard
about the time the fire broke out and
it seems to be tho general belief that
the fire originated in that way.
In q stable in the rear Of the factory
were two valuable horses, which were
rescued with much difficulty by Mr..
D. FL. Sutton, who resides on Second
street, in the rear of the factory. A cow
was also saved and the most amusing
part was a cat with family of kittens
who seeing the danger of her prOteges,
grasped them by the neck and removed
them one by one to place of safety.
The last one, however. had the mistor-
tune to be trampled to death, but it
was removed with the rest.
On Friday and Saturday previous to
the fire, Mr.. PiersOn had removed a
large amount Of material on hand to
the old Huusberger building, corner of
Water and Market streeUs, for the pur-
pose of making room for the rebuilding
and enlargement Of his works, thus a
considerable amount was saved. A car
load of lumber was also luckily saved,
as it had not been uuloaded.
LOSS AND INsURANCE.