The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-07-02
A Destructive Fire.

Port Deposit on Friday afternoon
last 18th .ult., which resulted in total
destruction of the establishment. in
volving a direct loss of $4,000 or
more. The can mandatory occupi-
ed the second and third floors of the
large stone building, belonging to.
E. j. Rinehart, which is situated in
the heart of the town, The first floor
was used as a hardware and stove
store by the firm, and contained at
the time large stock of goods, which
was entirely destroyed.
The fire occurred in the second
story where the machinery for max
ing tin cans was placed. Many of
the machines in use were new and of
the firms own invention, on which
they had obtained patents, and which
they considered the most complete for
the manufacture of cans in use. The
interruption to their business at the
commencement of the canning season
will be a severe loss aside from the
destruction of property. A large
number of cans, in addition to stock
and machinery were destroyed. The
fire originated by an accident. One
of the hands, it is reported, was car
rying can of gasoline which took
fire from some source not stated by
our informant. This would be about
tantamount to lighting can of gum
powder, or little worse probably. In
one minute the building was in flames.
The workmen, who were all active
young men and boys, ran for their
lives and fortunately made their es.
cape without serious injury. One or
two received slight injuries by jump.
ing from windows.
The building was insured in the
Mutual Fire Insurance Company of
this county. for $4,000, and an addi-
tional insurance of $1,000 was held
by the Commercial Assurance of Lon
don. The Reynolds Bros. held an in
surance on their loss in the Cecil Co.
for $1,000. What other insurance
was on the burned property we have
not ascertained, but fear the loss is
not nearly all covered.
M. E. Rogers who was climbing on
the building of w. W. Nickle to pre-
vent the roof from taking fire from
the flying brands. missed his step and
fell to the street about 80 feet below,
sustaining serious, probably fatal in
juries. The loss is severe one to
the town and heavy blow to: one
of the most enterprising business
firms in the county. They have our
sincere sympathy if that could be of
any material advantage.
J. A. Davis & Son lost, by the fire,
their stables and some lumber,
amounting to $500, which was cover
ed by insurance
A frame house occupied by Mr.. S.
A. Wilson caught fire and was consid
erably damaged.
The following additional particulars
of the fire give better understanding
of the extent of the loss caused by the
fire.
The tincan factory and hardware
store of the Messrs. Reynolds Bros. was
completely ruined. The building was
a graystone structure, three stories
high, 100 feet deep and 40 feet front.
The stock on hand consisted of 100000
tin cans, II large quantity of new tin, a
new stock of ground rosin and great
of new machinery. Every
thing was lost, involving loss of about
$15, 900 on the stock. The firm could
not place its insurance, but 1t was stat
ed that it would not reach over 81 500.
The building was also complete
wreck. Both side walls were nearly
as were also front and rear
walls. The stable of James A. Davis,