Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-26
FIRE IN MEN PORT.
Five Frame Houses Burned to the Ground
EARLY wednesday Morning.

Ehfly Neuneshuy Morning.
Newport suffered its first fire for over 30
years yesterday when block of Hive
small frame houses on the corner of Mar
shall and Ayers streets, near the railroad
station, were burned to the ground.
The fire was discovered about 6.l5 by a
newsboy who was passing, and who i'm
mediately changed his usual cry "all the
news ~ to very lusty yell Of fire. fire ~
A conflagration being such Il rare occur
renee in Newport, the people were rather
slow to believe that the fiery element had
really invaded the place. Soon clouds OF
smoke began to issue from the roof
of the second house of the block,
which had just been vacated yester-
day by the former occupants. The three
families in the block were at once aroused
and began pouring out in all sorts of hasty
attire, and the work of rescuing the house
hold goods began with a will by this
time the entire population had assembled
at the scene and the fire was seen to be
making rapid Roadway under the tin roof,
which covered all the houses A bucket
brigade was at once formed to resist the
spread of the flames, but owing to the in
accessibility of the fire under the rafters.
very little could be done to quench the fire.
Soon the blaze broke from the roof and
began to work downward, taking full pos
session Of the block and seeming to take a
savage delight in showing the spectators
what moderate.size conhagration looked
like, so long has IL been since they had
seen one in the town. At this point all
further efforts to resist the spread of the
flames ceased because il was seen to be a
hopeless fight. The household goods from
all the houses had been removed soon after
the first alarm and nothing remained to be
done except to see that the flames did not
spread to surrounding buildings. This was
an easy matter for there were no other
buildings in dangerous proximity and no
wind prevailing at the time.
by $50 o'clock nothing remained but
the smoking debris in the cellars between
the brick foundations. The household
goods which had been taken to the street
were then taken TO neighboring homes
where accommodation were generously
offered those who had been rendered home
less.
Three of the houses were owned by Rep
resentative John A, Cranston, while the
house and store on the north side were
owned and occupied by George I. Wood
ward, who kept tin and stove store
Many Of his goods were removed but some
Of the heavier stoves, tools and other
things were consumed, causing loss of
500 or $500. This, however is covered by
policy of over $500 in the Chester County
Mutual Company of Doe Run. The house
was also insured in this company for $675
The three dwellings owned by Mr..
Cranston were insured in the West Chester
Company of New York in blanket policy
for S2,l00, which will nearly cover the
loss. Two of the houses were occupied by
r. b. King and William Stewart while
the third one had just been vacated yester-
day. II was IN this house that the fire is
supposed to have originated, owing every
one thinks to defective fluc running
through from the adjoining house.
hon -sf.l al 4
this city asking the aid of the fire depart
ment to subdue the fire. Two engines
were at once sent to the Fourth street
station, but were not loaded on trucks be-
cause word was soon received from New
port that they were not needed