The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-08-04
FIRE AT CHESAPEAKE CITY.
THE STEAM PUMP BUILDING BURNED

Special TO The Cecil Hhiq.
CHESAPEAKE CITY, Aug. I'd.
Shortly after two O clock on "Wednesday
evening last, John Wolf discovered that
fire had broken out in the large steam pump
building, wherein is located the immense
engines, boilers and pump, used for supply
ing the canal with water, situated on back
creek, short distance above the locks of
the canal He at once gave an alarm, anda
crowd of citizens quickly gathered. The
town is without any fire apparatus, the only
method of fighting fire being with buckets.
In the building there is a donkey engine with
hose necessary for extinguiShinS fire, but 1t
had been unused for so long a time that it
was not promptly available. So while this
apparatus was being put in condition by
the engineers, the citizens bucket brigade
went to work. \ line was formed and the
buckets of water We're passed up from the
creek, and by this means the fire was held
in check, until the engine was ready, which
was accomplished in about two hours, when
heavy stream of water was turned on and
the fire extinguished. There was hut very
little of the wood work saved in condition fit
for anything, but the application of water
by buckets during the two hours, prevented
the heat from iniurins the machinery as
much as it otherwise would have done.
The pump building is of stone with slate
roof. The latter was destroyed, with the
entire interior. OF course the machinery,
which is very valuable was badly injured,
perhaps to the extent of 500, 900. The So
called steam pump IS not properly a pump,
but consists of an immense wheel. driven
by powerful engines, which picks up in the
large buckets of its paddles, the water from
Back creek, and it flows out at its axle into
the canal. 1t has a capacity of nearly
100000 gallons per hour. The pump and
building cost the company over SlO0, 900, and
was erected about So years ago.
The bucket brigade was directed by Su.
perintendent of the Canal Price, assisted
by Chief Engineer r. Lorraine, S. Powell
and William Thompson. Their efforts
saved the large wheel, with perhaps a little
scorching. as well as the surrounding build
ings. Charles Schatier, young man in the
employ of the company, worked manfully.
He succeeded in gaining an entrance to the
wheel-house and with a long boathook, tore
down the burning rafters ana threw them
into the creek below. Many others might
be named who did heroic work, but as
cannot name all, deem it best not to give
any others.
The fire originated in the boiler room
among some old barrels and boards back of
the boiler. The loss is estimated at about
So 900. | am informed that the damage to
the machinery can be repaired in about
fifteen days, so that in that time the pumps
can be put to work again. The rebuilding
of the house, of course, will take much
longer but the pump can be run without
the house. The canal has a tfteen-day sup
ply of water in it now.
The City Fathers and Mayor Jone; have
made much Improvement in lighting the
city, and have erected n number (33 IN alp
of iron lamp posts and placed new lamps
thereon, and n rev kind of oil is used |
which, when lighted, gives bright light
equal to that Of any other great and pros
porous city like ours.