Evening journal., 1890-11-12
FIENDISH FIREBUGS.
Brandywine's Big Barn Burned
Early This Morning.
INCENDIARIES' FOURTH DEED.

ing IL SlO.OOoi sfocks N4.VoV-NarroW
Escape Of Mayne's DwsIling-sus- |
picious Characters.
The barn on the farm Of E. l. DUPONT, |
DeNemours q Co., in Brandywine hun
dred about one mile northwest Of Rising !
Sun Village, and tenanted by William
Mayne, was destroyed by fire early this
The barn was one Of the largest in the
state, and much larger than any IN that
It's walls were Of solid
Branywine granite, and about ten inches
thick. The main room or apartment
was built about 1868, and its dimen-
sions were 70x140 feet The immense
walls in this section of the building
were supported by heavy iron stanchions,
and the roof, which was covered with
tin, was held in position by stout joists
of white oak wood Three sections we're
afterwards built TO the main barn, the
last Of these having been erected about
FIVE years ago. The walls Of these were
OF stone for about 15 feel above the
ground. The remainder Of these addi-
tions we're Of frame.
A Mass of smouIdsring Ruins.
The barn was in splendid repair and
fitted up with all the modern improve
ments. 1t was a model structure in every
particular. To day all that remains Of il
is five shattered sections OF black
ened stone walls, so badly dam
aged that they will have
to be pulled down. Every piece Of frame
work and wood is gone, and the remains
of these are piled together. and so com
plete bas been the destruction that three
ordinary farm wagons could contain the
smoking charcoal, that is all that is left
OF them. The heavy stanchions of wrought
iron have crumbled to pieces and
are scattered everywhere. The tin from
the roof has been melted almost beyond
recognition, aud lays about in Jumps.
The building is complete wreck and
every part OF it will have to be torn
away. Its value was $4,000, but a
prominent contractor on the grounds this
morning, stated that he would not re
build it for $4,000
Origin OF the Fire.
The ere is supposed to have been the
work of an incendiary, and it is also
thought that an attempt to FIRE the build.
ing was made on the night before. At
that time tho barking of watch dog
alarmed Mr.. Mayne and after making a
thorough investigation, he stationed
himself at window Ia the third story
of the house. whence he watched the
premises for almost an hour. As there
was no further cause for alarm he re-
tired.
Last night the furieus barking Of the
dog again awoke the farmer, who did not
/ pay any attention to it this time.
He could not rest quietly, however, sn6
at 35 o'clock arose An instant later
the whole room became as light as day
and for moment he was bewildered.
The whole family was aroused and Mr..
Mayne's four sons dressed themselves n
an instant and were at their fathers side
in front Of the burning building.
All Hands to the Rescue.
The men rushed into the big building
and to the stables. They slashed the
halters of the horses and cows in twain
with knives which they had hastily
seized. With great difficulty the dumb
| animals, which would have been roasted
to death FIVE minutes later, were driver
from their stalls into the barn yard. AS
! soon as these were saved the party rushed
to the western wing of the barn,
where all the farming impliments,
many of them Of great value, were
stored. The work Of removing thess
was very dificult and the party wer,
being choked and stifed with the smoke
After three or four Of the most valuable
ones had been pulled out, the rescuer
were compelled to abandon their work
and the great structure, with ell of 1t
contents, was left TO the mercy of tn
flames.
Saving the outbuIldiugs.
score of neighbors had by this tim
gathered on the scene and everybod,
turned attention to the building
between the barn and house Forum
ately the wind was blowing in the op
posite direction and the intense heat a.
well as the flames were turned away Thl
whole surroundings were so illuminated
that the effective work of the buckle
brigade was greatly facilitated. Water
was thrown over all the remaining build
ing for several hours and all o, tLen
were saved.
What the Flames Consumed.
The barn was filed to overfowing will
this and last year farm crops, and Mr.
Mayne had often been complimented OF
/ the fine wheat and corn that he haS
] raised and stored there. These cereals
were thought to surpass in quality any
that had been raised in that section this
/ season. Every available incl
of space. outside the stables
was filed with grain and farm products
and these caused the flames TO becom
more powerful and at 2 so o'clock one o
! tha biggest fires that has ever beef
, known in this state, was raging. TIL
: flames roared and leaped and hissed int,
! the air several hundred feet. The hea
became intense, and the noise Of the biz
fire was so great that the people at th
scene had to talk in a lIud ton
Of voice TO communicate Il
each other. The farm products in tn
building were nearly all the property o
Mr. Mayne and were 1900 bushels o
corn, shelied and on the ear, 500 bushel
of potatoes, 400 bushels Of wheat, 90
tons of hay, 90 tons Of straw, 3 tons o
fodder, one farm wagon loaded witt
bran, one drill, corn shelter, fan and hay
cutter.
All of the above were consumed and
patent hay fork was irrepsrably damaged
Besides these there was a great man
scattered pieces of harness and forks
: shovels and other small imple
ments were in various part
of the building. Mr.. Mayn
could only give a rough estimate Of hi
loss but is positive that it will excee'
81, 0aO On this there is but a light in
sursnce in the Chester County Mutus
Fire Insurance Company.