Evening journal., 1888-09-10
SundayM Morning Sire.
Quigley's Morocco Factory
Burned Down.
1T WILL BE REBUILT AT ONCE.

The morocco factory OF L. Il. Qmpley
on Fourth street between Madison and
Monroe, was totally destroyed by fire
early on Sunday morning. The hire was
first discovered by the Waterman, Peter
Kelly. about 8 o'clock He ran into the
street but ii appears did not send out the
alarm Box "a at Fourth and Madison
streets was pulled by some Eperson about
1920 go'clook and shortly after the fire
department appeared on the scene.
Alarms were sent out from
boxes 81 at Front and Searles streets,
and from 80 al Sixth and Tatnall streets
The Weccacoe engine arrived at the fire
first. The horses were then sent to the
Phoenix engine house and their engine
brought TO the fire The Friendship en-
CINE started mp Delaware avenue for box
81. but discovered their mistake in
time
The building was five stories high with
a basement. The upper story was man
sard roof covered with slate. When the
engines arrived the flames were bursting
through the roof Of the middle portion
Of the building They spread with
amazing rapidity, and in an incredibly
short time the whole factory was ia a
blaze The factory belonging to J. 4.
Taylor, 20 the eastward of Quigleys fac
tory, also took fire and was destroyed
The latter was leas ID by Mr.. Quigley and
run IN connection with his own factory
The heat Of the fire was intense and
residents Of the opposite side of Fourth
street got out their hose and wet the
doors and blinds Of their houses to keep
them from warping and seorching. The
roof soon fell in, and the upper part OF the
L. - - A u II.
was carried by the wind over the city
falling in showers for some distance
away. The rain Of the day before and
the heavy shower shortly after midnight,
fortunately, had thoroughly soaked all
the roofs and no damage was done
1t was reported that number Of
barrels Of oil had exploded, but the noise
was caused by the falling and breaking Of
large sheet iron smOkestack There
was.not half barrel Of oil in the build
ing The fire burned rapidly. The well
directed efforts Of the firemen saved all
adjoining property from catching, and
by A. 30 o'clock 1t was under control.
With the exception OF the Weccacoe. the
fire companies left the fire about day
break The Weccacoe engine played a
stream on the ruins until about o'clock
yesterday morning, after which a plug
stream was kept on until after 10 o'clock.
The origin Of the FIRE is a mystery
The fires under the boilers were drawn on
Saturday night and there was no other
fire in the building The flames probably
started IN the skin room, about the mid
die OF the main building. When first
discovered they had gained such Roadway
that nothing could be done 70 check
them. The Waterman cannot say how il
originated. it was burning at least a
half hour before the engines arrived
Harry Wilson, the boss tinisher Of the
factory, lives on Monroe street, nearly
opposite the factory He was awakened
by cries Of fire, and rushed to the factory
He found the Waterman standing by the
Office door, too bewildered To know what
70 do. Wilson ran through the Office to
the store room and opened the door
flames burst out in his face, the
room was furnace of fire He retreated
and tried TO reach the hand grenades but
could not see. Afterwards he carried out
some books and the drawers from desk
in the office Wilson did not 90 off of the
first floor. Some persons say the watch.
man was asleep when the fire was dis
covered.
The burned Building has frontage Of
100 feet on Fourth street and was 35 feet
deep, with wing 60 feet deep at the
eastern end The Taylor building was
60 feet on Fourth street Both are
almost totally destroyed, little more than
the walls being left standing. The Quig-
ley building was erected in 1881 and was
one of the most complete Of its kind in
the city.
The loss on buildings and machinery
can only be estimated. 1t is probably
something near $50 000 The large stock
on hand is probably a total loss. SIR
Quigley estimates the loss at over $780,
600 A number of skins which were in
the lime watts win be saved. These are
being worked up at the Pussy
and Scott Company's factory,
which was kindly offered Mr.
Quigley. All VI the machinery is prob
ably ruined A part of the rear wall fell
on to the storehouse of J. Mahoney & Son
on Third street and damaged it
slightly. A large corrugated iron
storehOuse on Monroe street belonging to
Mr.. Quigley was saved, The shutters
and windows at one end are slightly dam
aged.
Large numbers Of people visited the
ruins yesterday. One hundred and ten to
one hundred and fifteen men We're
employed in the factory during the
past week. The usual number employed
is 100. About twenty-five Of the
men are at work at the Pusey and Scott
Companys factory to-day, working on the
skins saved in the lime watts Mr.. Quigley
intends 20 rebuild ut once. He stated
this morning that If the insurance com
panies adjusted the losses this week he
expected TO be running again in FIVE
weeks. Dir. Quigley's total insurance is
SO, 500; $06, 800 placed by IL L. Gilpin &
Co, and 90, 600 by L. A. Van Trump.
This is divided as follows: 81 500 ON
buildings in three companies. 81 500 ON
machinery in two companies. $57. 800 on
stock in eleven English and seven Ameri
can companies The $50 600 placed bv
f. a. VanTrnmp is all on stock
and in eight companies. There
was s., 500 Insurance. on the Taylor
building and machinery, placed by Gilpin
4 Co.. ana 81 600 additional on the build
ing in the New Castle County Mutual
Insurance Company.
The iremen return hearty thanks ia
the people residing near the burned fac.
tory for supplying them with coffee to
drink during the fire.
Municipal Court.
Frank Congo was accused Of highway
robbery by Isaiah Frentiss In the Munich
pal Court this morning The court die
not take mnch stock in the case The