Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-11
MILFohD ABL1zE.
Tho Intercounty rOwn Threatened
Wtth DesLrucrton--ttanIo Started
by EIectpIcity-A Hard Battle with

Tho Intercounty TOWN Threatened
kEith Observation-Disclosures Started
by EIecIpIciLy-A Hard Battle with
the Confinaration.
Special Core spondenco OF Every Evening
MILFORD, Sept. Sat AIS O'Clock on
Saturday sfternoon, in the midst of one
OF the hardest thnnder storms that ever
visited this yicirity, lightning struck the
store house OF George W. He'll, situated
on the south side Of the Mie4iilioa river,
and only 80 feet dihtsnt from the rear
OF the Dorsey House in the very
heart of the business portion of the
town. flames were at once seen issuing
from the building and the alarm of FIRE
was given. Despite the binding rain
that was falling scores OF willing men
were soon on the grounds try ng to save
the doomed building. Mr.. Hall was one
of the FIRST TO reach the spot and said
there was nearly dozen barrels of oil
in the burning building. The doors
were broke in and the barrels of oil
pushed and rolled into the river.
Twenty feet east were the large livery,
saie and exchange stables OF b. NJ. Dono-
van where were qusrtered 40 horses, a
score OF carriages and vehicles OF various
descriptions, harness, DO, valued at
about $6 900.
A half dozen men with presence OF
mind rushed into the Donovan stables
and cutting tee hAltsrs led the horses out
and turned them 10 - In the streets. In
about 10 minutes thereafter the mann.
moth stables were mass of flames. The
carriages and wagons were also saved.
immediately adjoining the Donovan
atables was the stables In tenure of
Charles F.. Jones and owned by Mrs. II.
o. Draper. There was but one thing to
do at this juncture and thu fire.
men went to work at once with
hook and axes to cut and pull the build
ing down In few minutes 1t was lying
fat upon the ground All this time
water was brought them in buckets
dipped from the river by men standing in
the water mp to their arm pitb, and thrown
upon the Dorsey House stables and upon
| the second warehouse OF George FL.
| Halls, which was filled with corn. wheat,
potatoes, &c. Tho members of the MIL
ford Hook and La der Company saw that
this buildin,, mnst come down and
as they worked 10 pull it into
the river the haEaes canght It, and aimosl
in sn iGltant tae whoia sSructare was =
mass OF flames. The Dorsey Rouse car
rage and wagon sheds, adjoining, we're
next pulled down. fbla buiidiDk Is not
15 fest from the Chronicle Office, on the
first floor Of the Doreey aons5. II looked
as if the whole business pottian OF the
town would be destroyed, anS the em-
ployes of the Chronic'o began to peck up
and move, the presses were all unscrewsd
from the floor and everything in resdi.
ness to move il the building should
i L. ~ IL =
down by thu hEemen cheer went up
from the vast tbroug Assem- ntad and a
telegram was at once sent to Wilmington
countermanding the order for special
train to bring fire engine, which bad
bsen sent by the president of the city
council when the fire Was raging the most
and the town looked doomed.
Saturday is the great market day here
when all of the farmers for miles come to
town and it Was with the help of this
extra force o. assistants that tine business
centre OF our town was saved.
Sixty horses in q / wers stabbed in the
halt dozsn buildings. which were either
destroyed by fire or torn down TO prevent
the spreading, and all of them were
saved.
One man was overcome by the heat and
LAM W 10 hehNh AAou4 BAOulht buu NC
was soon all right again, while several
had to leave for fear of being overcome;
the hsat was something intense.
TIE losses g. ii. Hall, 800; b. NJ.
Donovan, $3.50, Mrs. Annie Jester,
81 600; j. O. Hall, $500; Mrs. Fl. O.
Draper, 5000; II. II. Davis, $500; j. M.
Gunby, 5000; II. W. NoColley estate,
$500; O. +. Jones lost pocket book
which was burned containing notes to
the amount of 81, 400 and aome money In
cash. The only Insurance on the whole
was 1856 held by j M. Gunby. The
total loss including the above aud some
stock, such as feed, harness aud stable
utensils will amount to nearly So, 900.
The citizens of Milford now see how
badly the town needs FIRE engine and
better facilities for fighting fire. This is
the second time the town has been
threatened before, when Lowery's stables
burned, about five years ago.
The storm was one Of the seyerest that
has visited this section In the memory of
the Oldest inhabitants. Walnut street at
the bridge was flooded TO the depth Of
several inches, the sewers being unable
to carry the water into the river.