The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-06-15
The Egis and Intelligencer
BEL AIR, Md, JUNE Is, 1888.
Great Fire in Havre de Grace.
DUBOIS SAW MILL DESTROYED.
The Entire city Threatened.

Fire broke out at Havre de Grace about five
o'clock Monday afternoon in the extensive saw
and planning mill and sash factory of John Du
Bots, and spread so rapidly that for time ii
threatened destruction to the entire lower por-
tion of the city. The fire was caused by sparks
falling on the roof of the factory from the
smoke.stack, and although it was discovered in
few minutes and the large force of workmen
and citizens worked hard to eXtinguish it, their
efforts were frutless, and in an hours time the
buildings were burned to the ground. The
flames spread to immense piles of lumber in the
yards about the MILL number of dwellings
in the neighborhood were in imminent danger
of being destroyed from the shower of sparks
and bits of blazing timber which were carried
before the breeze. The inhabitants of the little
city turned out en- masse, and for a time great
excitement prevailed.
Engines from Baltimore, Port Deposit and
Wilmington were telegraphed for by the authori-
ties The engine from Port Deposit arrived at
$50 P. NJ, and succeeded in saving a considera-
BILE amount of shingles and loose lumber in the
yard. Engine No. II arrived from Baltimore at
sos, and the Reliance engine from Wilmington,
Del, at $50. The engines all drew their sup
plies of water from the river The flames could
be seen for miles around the country and down
the river. Great crowds of people came down
from Port Deposit and other places. The fire
also extended to the wharves of the Reading
Coal and Iron Company. About $500 worth of
coal on the wharves belonging to A. p. Nc
Combs was burned. The intense heat from the
blazing piles of lumber somewhat retarded the
fremen in their work, though they did splendid
service, and through their efforts and the ener-
getic labors of the citizens the fire was kept
confined to the one place. They also saved
large lots of shingles and lumber. The immense
stock of sashes, doors and other wooden build
ing materials in the factory and in the yard ad-
joining was almost entirely destroyed. After
five hours hard work IL fire was gotten under
control, and at midnight was nearly eX-
tinguished. Nothing remains of the large
factory but lot of smouldering ruins
The loss will be $4,000 Insurance S3S, 900, all
made through George s. Harlan, Of Baltimore,
in over dozen companies. The burnt district
covers an area of over two acres. On it were
two large mills, several sash factories annexed
and over 5000, 600 feet Of lumber, all Of which
was destroyed. The light of the flames illumi-
mated the country for many miles round, and the
view up and down the Susquehanna was indies
crbable. The people turned out en- masse, and
crowded around the fire until long after mid
night. The establishment, which has been in
operation since 1860, was by odds the largest
enterprise in the city. The fire throws seventy
five men out of employment, and deprives them
of over one thousand dollars per week in wages
delay of over an honr getting engines from a
distance was occasioned by the sending of the
kilograms in the name of citizen, and not by
the Mayor No. IL arrived from Baltimore
shortly before eight o'clock. The run from
Bayview to Hayre de Grace-thirty-thr miles
was made in thirty minutes The company
went Immediately to work, and their excellent
service is highly commended The run from
Wilmington was also very quickly made. The
Port Deposit engine did effective work in
saving the Republican office and several other
buildings. Nothing in the buildings was
saved. Had not the wind been blow
ing in a northwesterly direction the
town would have, without doubt, been entirely
destroyed. AS it was, the sparks were waited
into the river. There were no casualties
american.
Mr. Arthur Vosbury, the manager of Dubois
mill was in Baltimore, on Monday, and came up
to Bel All in the evening, on the Maryland Cen
trail train He did not hear of the fire until his ar
rival here. Mr.. j. Frank Jones, of Havre
de Grace, met him shortly after his arrival, and
they drove rapidly to the scene of the fire