The Cecil Whig., 1886-07-03
FIRE AT PORT DEPOSIT.
Several Thousand Dollars Worth of Val
liable Property Consumed.


Reynolds Bros Reinhart Estate, james A
Davis, and Mrs. j. B. Wilson the Princi-
pal Losers-Accidents.
We last week gave the readers of The
WHIG what little information it was pos.
sible to get concerning the fire which
broke out in Port Deposit shortly before
we went to press. The fire, which proved
a very disastrous one, had its origin in
the tin-can factory of Reynolds Bros.
At 12:45 O'Clock on Friday of last week
William f. Vincent, the foreman of the
shop, was engaged in making connec-
tion between fire pot and gasoline
lamp by means of pipe, when either
an explosion took place or the pipe be-
came deranged, and in an instant the
factory was ablaze. In the factory was
large quantity of ground rosin, and it
gave an easy pathway to the flames. \
high wind was prevailing at the time,
and this materially helped the progress
of the fire. Soon the flames had burst
from every window in the building and
crept outward towards the hardware
store of the same firm, adjoining the tin
can factory on the front. The roofs of
many dwellings in the line of the wind
were quickly on fire, and the widest ex'
citement prevailed. As it looked at one
time as if half the town would be de-
stroyed, women ran about wringng their
hands in despair, children screamed with
alarm, and men did not know what to do
first i'll order to insure the safety of their
property. Many householders removed
their furniture into the street, where it
was piled in broken and damaged con-
dition. The fire department was quickly
on the spot, but there was some unfor-
tunate delay in getting the engine to
work; and this added to the general
alarm. 1t was great relief to the anx-
ious citizens when the announcement
was made that the steamers were all
right, and it was seen tfat three large
streams were being poured into the Rey-
nolds Bros building, which by this time
was one huge mass of flames, confined
within its massive granite walls.
\ well-stocked stable, belonging to
Mr.. James A. Davis north of the can
factory took fire and was completely de-
stroyed Several horses and carriages,
however, were gotten out in safety. The
fire continued on its northern course, and
next took possession of the dwelling
house of Mrs. John b. Wilson, which
stood about fifty feet from the stable.
1t was thought that the fire would get
away from the town fire department, and
it was determined to send to Baltimore
city for aid.
President John r. Bond of the Board
of Town Commissioners, sent the follow
ing dispatch to Mayor Hodges:
Engine and hose needed at once; great
fire.
Mayor Hodges at once summoned
Chief Engineer IIennck. of the Fire
department, and directed him to send
the required aid with all possible speed.
Chief Hennlck telephoned to No. } En-
gine House, on South Ann street, to send
the engine and two hose carriages to
Port Deposit. Not ten minutes later the
apparatus was at President Street De-
pot, where Chief Hennick had also gone.
A platform car was backed up to the
| nj
riage placed on it under the direction of
Chief Hennick and Foreman Fred. L.
Nielsen. The car not being large enough
to accommodate the other hose carriage
the hose was transferred to that on the
car. When all the work was completed
and the car ready to start, another de-
spatch was received saying the fire was
under control. Tne apparatus was then
unloaded and taken back to the engine
house. Had the platform car been ready
the engine reached the depot, the train
would haze been on its way before the
countermanding despatch was received
After the order had been sent to Balti-
more for help the wind lulled and the
local department mastered the fire. At
three O'Clock it was seen that the danger
was over and the town became quieted
down. At five o'clock the fire was prac-
tically over, and a full view of It's extent
could be seen. The tin-can factory and
hardware store of the Messrs. Reynolds
Bros. was completely gutted. The build
\ ing was a graystone structure, three
stories high, 12O feet deep and 40 feet
front. The stock on hand consisted OF
400, 600 tin cans, large quantity of new
tin, new stock of ground rosin and a
great amount of new machinery. Every
thing was lost, involving a loss of about
$15, 900 on the stock. The firm could
not place its insurance, but it was stated
that 1t would not reach over s., 800. The
building was also complete wreck. The
by a knife. Both side walls were nearly
demolished as were also the front and
rear walls. The building is owned by
the Rhinehart estate, and the loss is
placed at $4,000; insured for $1,000.
! The stable of James A. Davis, which was
also total wreck, was well stocked with
feed, and the loss is placed at $400, COW
cred by insurance. The dwelling-house
of Mrs. John b. Wilson was only par
TALLY damaged by fire. although it was
flooded with water. The loss will be
about $500. Several piles of lumber be-
longing to James A Davis were de-
stroyed, entailing loss of several hun
dred dollars. The losses on the other
properties which were visited by the fire
will be slight.
Among the houses slightly damaged
were those of L. p. Brickley, w. w.
Nichol, I. 5. Strout, F. NJ. Alexander,
Samuel Orr, Timothy Kelly, John Sher-
mon, John b. White, Fred Schilinger
and John Lamb.
When the fire started about forty men
and boys were at work in the can factory,
many of whom escaped by jumping from
the windows. VIM. Vincent, the fore
man, was burned about the hands when
the fire orig mated. Fred. Norris and
George Morris, both boys, were also
slightly burned.
Moses Rodgers was severely, and it is
thought fatally, injured while at work tc
save the house of w. w. Nichol. lie