Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-28
4 DIs1S ROUS FIhE.
The Residence OF Joseph Pyle, on
West Front street, IN Ashes.

"sst th fhShtHs
Joseph Pyle's fine residence at "Ceds
Grove" on Front street abJve Union, W a
desuoyed with nearly all cf its content
Friday evening, entaliDg loss OF abou
$l8, 900. The fire, which is supposed Il
have bseh caused by the dropping of ,
match down the hue in the dining room
was discovered in ths cellar about
o'clock by Samuel Nicholson, coloreC
employe, and was not extinguisned unit
30 O'Clock.
Nicholson began throwing water on th'
fire, but WAS unable to make much head
way, as the flames were burning fercely
Mr. Harris, the aged father OF Mrs. Pyle
discovered the flames shortly after the
oolored man, and he, after throwing somt
water from the dining room, also stopped
being unable to get at the fire.
At 6 Is O'Clock the light from the
burning building could be seen in the
city and an alarm was Immediately
struck from box No. 25, Second and
Jackson streets. The fire department re.
sponded promptly and in short time the
Weccscoe had taken possession of the
fire plug at Front and Union
streets, the only available one in the
neigh hborhood, and the Washington had
gotten small stream from ditch. The
Weccscoe played constant stream on
the burning building until the fire was
extinguished, but the Washington did
not remsin long. The other engines did
not 90 into service
AZ soon as the fire was discove ed the
family, except Mr.. Pyle himself, who was
in the city, hurriedly left the house with.
out taking anything with them. Five
carpenters, VIII had bsen working on the
new esidenoe Of William Ii. Connell, Mr..
Pyle son.in.law, few feet distant,
rushed int the fl tme euoircled building
ard, with great diff lulty, succeed in saw
iAR the parlor iurbiture, q piano, a clock
aud some silv.rware, bloks aud carpets.
The remainder of the furniture, all # the
clothing, except one Of Mr.. Pyle's quits,
and all the family jswelry, which was
quite valuable, was destroyed.
1t wss not until it had been ascertained
that the building could not bs saved that
messenger WAS sent after Mr.. Pyle,
who was attending meeting at st. Psul's
NJ. parsonage. He immediately
hurried home, but the structure was
then almost in ruins.
The stable, large frame structure
about go feet from the house, was saved
by fastening carpets on the side OF the
building next to the fire and then wet
ting them and the roof.
The burned house was three. storied
frame building, 80 By 50 feet, and con.
tanned IL rooms. The third story was
completed last fall at an expense Of
$500.
The loss on the building was about
$12, 900 and on the furniture, jewe ry,
&c., about 10000 more. The insurance
is about $40, 300. divided between the
Regal, Queen and Phmnix companies,
principally the frat two, for hioh L. P.
Buck & Co. of this city are agents.
Offers of assistance were made by
friends and neighbors but Mr.. Pyle kindly
declined to accept them.
The ruins will be cleared away and
another residence, probably brick, will
be built soon.
In the meantime Mr.. and Mrs. Pyle and
Mr.. Harris will reside with Joseph
Coley, Mr.. Pyle's son in-law, and Elwood
Pyle will live with Joseph Jones, another
of Mr.. Pyle's sons-iu-law.
1t is probable that the fire would not
have been 30 disastrous il there had been
more fire plugs in the neighborhood.
There is only one plug south OF Fifth and
west OF Jackson streets. Owing to the
muddy condition of West Fourth street
fire apparatus was unable to go along
that thoroushfare.