Daily Republican., 1889-12-27
BIG BARN BLAZE.
THE LARGEST BARN IN THE
COUNTY BURNED.
Francis @. DuPont's Barn burned
Thousands of Bushels Of
Grain and Potatoes
Consumed - The
Loss $4,000.

Shortly after @ o'clock last night q
bright fiamo shot across the sky from
the direction of DuPont's Banks, and
soon huge volumes of smoke rolled up
into the atmosphere. Conjecture was
rlfe for some time as TO the exact locality
OF the fire. The popular idea was, that
It was some of the powder mill buildings,
but no loud report being heard that idea
was abandoned.
There were great fears that Bancroft's
mills were afire, In which case whole
community would have been thrown out
of work in the middle OF winter. Others
familiar with localities up the creek, had
the fire located In several places. Some
said 1t was an old blacksmith shop on the
Laws property near Mt. Salem Church;
others that 1t was an old barn on the hill,
Cd the east side of the Brandywinc, while
reports soon came that It was Francis @.
DuPont's dwelling house. The latter
report was the nearest correct, as It was
Mr.. DuPont's barn instead of his house.
When the flames were first discovered
they were seen BY farm hand issuing
from a ventilator on top of the barn. Even
then the flames had gained such head
way that the building was past the saving
point, and every effort was then made to
preserve Mr.. DuPonts magnificent
dwelling, standing but few rods distant.
The alarm was given, and soon the
neighbors 10 large numbers were on the
ground to do what they could to stay the
flames. and bucket brigade was imme-
diately organized to protect the sheds
filled with hay, which, had they caught
fire would have endangered other build.
inRs In the vicinity.
As soon as the fire was discovered 0
messenger was despatched to Delaware
avenue and DUPONT street, where tho
alarm was sounded from fire box No. 81.
The alarm was speedily responded to
and the dre companies were soon grouped
at the Middle Depot, but seeing the fire
was In the country they all returned ex-
cept the Friendship engine and hose car
riage and the Phoenix hose carriage.
which were taken all the way out to the
fre aud both did effective service. By
the time the flremen reached the scene
all that could be done was to prevent tl o
further spreading of destruction by con-
fining the flames to the already shoulder
Ing barn.
The Phoenix hose was unreeled and
the Friendship engine went into action,
water being drawn from q reservoir In
the vicinity. The supply of hose run
ming short, team wss sent to the city
for more. From 1900 to 1000 feet of
hose were in use. The efforts of the fire.
men were warmly appreciated by MIR.
DUPONT and all who saw them work 60
nobly aud willingly. They were ip
service until o'clock this morning and
1t was 4.s0 before they got back 20 the
city weary and tired, but pleased that
they had been of use. Before the arri-
val Of the tlremen the bucket brigade did
good service. When the fire wss about
at Its height 1t was remembered that a
young colt ives In O stall In the lower
part OF the barn. A number OF men
rushed to its rescue.
The stable door was already fairly
blistered, smoke Issued forth In volumes,
and through the crevlces came protruding
tongues OF fire. The animal was rushing
around its narrow apartment. In an In
slant the door was broken In, and in
spite OF smoke aud flame, some men got
hold of the halter and tried to bring out
the frightened animal. 1t, however. re.
sisted, and instead of coming out. lay
down. and the men were forced to aban-
don 1t. Soon alter the party left the door
the colt plunged out. Its eyes were de-
stroyed, its head terribly burned, and the
air was filled with the odor Of burnt
flesh. The animal was taken TO lot and
killed to put 1t out of Its misery.
The tiremen were kindly remembered,
and were treated to a plentiful supply OF
timely refreshments.
The barn was an immense stone build
ing, 1S0 feet in length and so feet wide,
the largest barn in the State. 1t was
rooted with slate. There were slowed in
1t and destroyed about 1000 bushels OF
corn, 1000 bushels OF wheat, 300 tons of
hay, besides immense quantities OF pota-.
toes AND oats. The total loss, 1t is sup
posed, will reach $4,000.
The origin OF the fire 10 unknown, as
no ono had been In the barn for several
hours, and there was no FIRE In it during
the afternoon.
The following are the insurances upon
building and stock:
In the Farmers' Mutual, $4,000 on
g., 400 on contents, including
stock; 800 on granary contents, and 5000
on stables.
In the New Castle County Insurance
Company, 81 200 on barn; 5000 on con-
tents, including stock; 800 on stables
and 500 on contents Of grsnaIy.
'He that is down need fear no falls"
but he that Is down with catarrh need
at fpra Old AauHa rata,,h p,,u a..