Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-12-27
A BIG FIRE.
Toe Dean WOoleh Company's NIL at
Newark Destl Dyed by Fire.

l --e - @~0'~s ~ - W Gh1s
About 8 o'clock Christmas morning
the Inhabitants Of the quiet little town
of Newark were startled by an alarm
OF nre. and at the sag Q tims the whistle
OF the Desn Wocsen Mfi.s Company
blew as 1t had never blown before. As
work was suspended In the mills for
the day the whistle indicated
that the hre was In the vicinity of the
mills, and In q very few minutes the
news spread from ons TO another that
the large structure WAS on fire. The
people fiocked to the spot and found
that the frs was In the second story OF
the main building, but delay occurred
In getting the fire apparatus be-
longing to the mills in opsra-
tion, which proved fatal, as the flames
spread with alAr ming rapidity.
There was q strong wind blowing
from the West, which, with the dense
vo umes Of smoke, made 1t i'm possible
for those present to do any thing tow ard
saving the structure, and word was tele-
phoned at 8 40 clock to police station
in this city for assistance. Mayor
Rboads replied at once that he would
communicate with Chief Engineer Fl
Il, Sweeney, and that engines would be
sent immediately. AZ soon as word
vas sent TO the Chief he notified Birst
Assistant Chad wick, who ordered the
PhDaix and Weccacoe Companies to
respond. In the meantime Superinten-
dent Garter of the p, W. q b. Railroad
Company, who had ALEC been notified,
ordered special train to be In readi-
ness, and as soon as the engines reached
the station they were loaded on plat
form cars and left this city at IL 15
o'clock
The Phoenix took their steamer and
carriage, and the Weccacos their steam
er and cart, and the two companies
were accompanied by about sixty men :,
o part Of whom were from other com.
panies. The run to Newark Centre WAS
made In fifteen minutes, and before ~
O'Clock the Ph0nix engine was in ser.
vice, but by this time the fire had
gained such o headwa that the fire
men could do but littls except saving
the dye house and q large building
alongside that is used for storage. The
companies were In service two hours
and half, and had IL Eos beer for their
efforts 1t is probable the large and hand
some dwelling Of William Dean, which
Is situated Tut short distance from the
mills, would also have fallen prey to
/ thC doNoukthH OtOtbunts 1uo ntoLucB
returned to this city about 8 O'Clock, by
which time the are was fully rxtin-
guished, but where this hive Of ind ustry
had stood few hours before there was
nothing left but o emolderinR mass Of
ruins,
The origin of the fire Is unknown,
and James Dearlove, the watohmap,
who was on duty, says that o short
time before the fre was discovered he
was through the building and every.
thing was all right. 1t is generally
supposed that spontaneous com bustion
was the cause, but there are some who
seem to think that the steam pipes be-
came overhested and ianited the wood
work. In addition 10 the mills four
Of the tenant houses were destroyed
but the occupants, named George Scott,
John Sharp, James II. Councillor and
James Grow, succeeded, with the help
OF those present, In saving all their
household goods. 7 20 of the families
were immediately ,.Iered shelter by
John &. Lewis, of a yDser Park Hotel,
who had part Of szlsee house vacant,
ard the Of hers found shelter with their
relatives. The firemen received the
greatest praise for their very efficient
labors, and had been possible for them
to have been on the ground at the time
the despatch was sent, there is no doub
but the buildings would have been
saved.
Coaches were in waiting. and as soon
AZ the fremen had finished their lsbors
tn y we're taken. at the instance of Mr..
Dean, to the Deer Park Hotsl, and to
10 ,eph Wilson's Washington House
where they were served with turkey
| dinner3.
The buildings destroyed were stone
structures and were known as follows:
No. /, 160x60 feet, three stories in
height, built in 1868, the third story I'D.
ded in 1882, and used as the spinniI x
mill. No. 2, 226x50 feet, two stories,
built during the latter year, and used
rs the weaving and picker 0epartm en- .s
and for the storage OF drugs, dyes and
stock-a model structure. having ce.
men ted floors aud iron aiiders, ard but
for the exceedingly infismmatory ma.
ture OF its contents, 1t would have Ion.
ger resisted the heat TO which it was
exposed; four tenement houses, about
1895 feet each, two and-a-half stories,
with small outbuiidinss
The total loss will reach nearly $780,
600, with Sl53, 500 Of insurance, SIT 800
on the buildings, $4,000 on the ma
chinery, and $40, coo on the stock, d.
vided among the following companies:
Farmers Mutual and New Castle
Mutual Of Wilmington; Spring Garden,
Pennsy lvania, American, UDion, In-
4urance Company of North America.
Firs Association and Mechanics of
Philadelphia; 9ermsnia, Hanover,
Pte tenix, Citizens, Home, Commercial
Union and German American of New
York; Washington, Howard and Bos
ton Underwriters Of Boston; Etna of
Hartford Western of Pittsbure; Home
of Now Orleans, Norwich, Hamburg,
City of London, Scottish Union and
National, Lancas hire, London and
Lancashire. London Fire Association,
Royal and London and Liverpool and
Globe, foreign.
There were 2e6 hands employe ed, di-
vided about equally between the sexes,
aud the monthly payroll averaged
third OF the residents of Newark de-
pended.
About two months ago o new boiler
built by Hilles &::Jones of this city and
Ieight Knowles looms,' costing. $4,000,
were put in the mill, while other valuable
pieces of machinery were comparatively
Inew.
The principal manufacture was army
and navy cloth, many contracts having
been filled for the United States Govern
ment. The mills were originally started
in 1916, by Joseph, father of William
Dean, and the firm became Joseph Dean
& Sons, afterward changing to Dean Il
Pilling. In 1889 the present stock con-
cern. The Dean Woollen Company was
|organized with capital of $3.50, ,00C,
Augustus Thomas of Philadelphia, presi
ldent, and William Dean, superintendent.
The capacity was nearly trebled at that