Daily Republican., 1884-01-14
NEW CASTLES BIG FIRE
PARTICULARS OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
-LOAS ABOUT $4,000.

1t waa briefly stated in Saturdays
REPUBLICAN that j. G.Knowles' wool
en- mill, at New Castle, was on fire and
that the flames were spreading 30 rapid
ly that no hopes of saving the mill were
anticipated. A REPUBLICAN reporter
was dispatched to the scene and was au
eye witness to the total destruction Of
the mill. Soon after the fire broke out
word was telegraphed to Wilmington for
assistance, and Chief Engineer Murphey
Immediately ordered the Reliance
steamer and hose carriage, together
with the Washington hose carriage, 10
their assistance.
The latter, however, refused to send
their carriage without the steamer, so
they remained at home, and the former
company soon had their apparatus on
board a special train, drawn by engine
No. SO, with Engineer Pyle in com
mand, who made the run TO New Castle
in ten minutes. The assistance, how
ever, came too late to save the mil, bu t
they went into service Immediately
after their arrival, and, with heavy
extinguished the flames, and kept
them from doing further damage. Chief
Engineer Murphey and First Assistant
McCatferty were in charge.
The mills are situated on Delaware
avenue, close TO the railroad, and near
Lea -four mills. The fire originated
In the picker room, about II. .35 o'clock,
from sparks blown among some pieces
of cloth. About $50 employees we're in
the building when the alarm was given
and they filed out in good order and all
escaped without injury. The EN-
plOyees comprised men, women, boys
and girls, and all who were able lent a
helping hand towards saving the build
ing, but despite their efforts the flames
continued to spread and within two
hours the building was mass Of
smouldering ruins. A considerable
quantity Of cloth and other valuables,
together with the safe were saved, but
all the valuable machinery and un-
finished goods were destroyed.
The Fire Department OF New Castle
responded to the alarm, but their mem
bers seemed panic stricken and ran to
and fro in wild confusion, without
doing any apparent good, as their ap
paratus consisted solely of a hose car
riage and line of rotten hose, which
after being laid was of no account.
Had they been properly equipped the
fire could have been extinguished with
but little loss. About 2 30 o'clock the
eastern wall facing the railroad, gave
way and fell with crash, burying
seven telegraph wires beneath it, there.
by cutting off all communication with
points south on the Delaware Railroad.
Linemen were Immediately summoned
from Wilmington to repair the dam
age.
The burned mill was owned by par
ties in New Castle and operated by Mr..
Knowles, who had been doing a good
business, previous to the fire and EN-
ployed about 100 hands, who are thus
thrown out of employment in the dead
of winter. The total loss to building
and contents is estimated at about $30.-
600 or $40 600, and is said to be fully in
sured in Philadelphia.
In 1876 the same mill was totally de- !
stroyed by fire, which originated in the
same department. During the progress
of the fire large crowds gathered in the
vicinity and many amusing incidents
happened, among which was a man
with garden hose, standing close to
the building, and battling wi the
flames with small stream of water.
1t is thought the mills will be rebuilt
as soon as possible.