The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-25
FIFTH EDITION.
A BIG BLAZE,

- ~
lon Streets Car Line Destroyed by
Fire Supposed Work of an Iucen.
diary-Loss About $500.
At 7,15 o'clock last evening, William
Bewett, who has charge of the old
stables OF the Front and Union Street
Car Line at Lancaster avenue and I'm.
ion streets was in the stable putting
away horse when throwing his ewes
upwards he discovered light in The
hay loft by the aid Of the hay funnel.
AS soon as he saw 1t lie ran towards
the Office and tho large new stables
where men were about, crying lire,
fire."
About the same time, Robert West.
stable boss for the Harlan and Hoi
lingsworth Company residing at No.
1928 Lancaster avenue about a square
from the stables, while sitting on his
front porch noticed smoke issuing
from tho window of the stable, when
he at once ran and gave the alarm to
the employees of the Company, sit
ting in front of the office, who had not
heard MIR. Hewett'5 alarm. 1t was but
the Work OF moment Tor the EMPLOY
es to rush to thestables where "a horses
were confined and to commence liber-
ating them.
Tho flames by this time had spread
over the whole hay loft, and already
burning lunches of hay had commence
ed to fall through the rlcks into the
stable below.
officer Leach being in the vicinity.
ran to box No. So Second and Ilawleyy
streets and sent in an alarm, and
about tho same time nm alarm was
sent ia from box No. 81. Front and
Searles streets.
This put the fire department on tho
way, and until II arrived, those assem-
blod. busted themselves in getting
out tho horses and in forming 4 buck
ct brigade to prevent the spread OF the
lire.
The large doors of the stable wore
thrown open and tho most OF tho
horses were led out without much
difficulty, though they sniffed dam
ger in the air and did considerable 81
snorting. few of the horses became
irightened and were not SO trdcinble.
Some obstrepcrous ones hud To be led
out with coats over their heads to
blind them, young George West hay-
ing round this to be an excellent rome
dy against soaring.
One big gray horse did not realize
his danger and breaking loose ran
back to his stall. The Vests. however.
got him after another tIlnl. and every.
body br1athed ensier when they found
all the hcrses Were out. A number OF
men were also busy carrying out the
harness and everything OF value that
could be carried out before the flames
shut them out.
On account of Lancaster avenue be-
ing torn up the firemen were compell-
cd to take to the heavier graded streets
some going out Fourth and some out
Eighth, and this delayed them consid-
erably.
The Weecacoe, the nearest to the
fire, came in first, and tho others came
In promptly in regular succession, ex-
cept the Liberty engine, which got in
good time To Lincoln street, where the
hind axle broke and let the engine
down on the street. This prevented
the Liberty boys from taking any part
In putting out the fire. They lacked
up their engine and took the disabled
part OF to the blacksmith shop for re-
pairs. At $50 O'Clock this morning
tho engine still held its ground with
q Gordon OF Liberty sentrle5 around
1t.
When tho flremen arrived the build
ing was q mass of flames and nothing
could be done but to prevent the
spread OF the tinmes to other contlgu-
GUS buildings, tho new large stable
building recently erected being only q
few yards off. At the same time sew
eral streams were turned upon the
burning building which, with bundles
OF hay and black suifocating smoke
almost strangled some of the firemen,
At 10 o'clock the fire was entirely
under control and all engines except
the Weccacoe wont away. Tho latter
kept playing ON the ruins an hour
longer, Several OF tho railroad officials
including vice president Preston Lea,
superintendent Archer, assistant SUI
perlntcndent Broadbent and others
were present and worked like Trojans
in assisting to put the lire cut.
The building was a frame ono, except
that IL had brick end next to Union
street. 24x60 feet, and was built when
the road first commenced running.
There were probably 50 tons of hay In
tho loft and large quantity of chop
ped feed for horses, besides the ncces-
sary utensils for such an establish
ment, which were all consumed, but it
is thought that the total loss will not
10 over =, 800. tbs understood that
tho loss Is fully covered by Insurance
| In Buck h Cos agency.
The origin OF the lire is entirely UNI
known and Is supposed TO have been
| the work of an incenliary, though SO
far as the company knows 1t has not
got an enemy.
During the fire the street car service
| from Lancaster avenue and Rodney
street to Union was abandoned, but
was regularly kept up from that point
eastward.
Tho most serious accident of tho
evening occurred at LANCASTER avenue
and Harrison street. While the Weeea-
eoe engine was being driven to the fire
IL stuck at this point and number of
persons ran to give the engine pull.
| Amongst those WHO offered their sarvi-
ees was John Carr, Il lad aged III. lilo
was pulling withall his might. when
the engine suddenly started and young
Carr fell. Before he could get lip the
horses behind him We're on ton OF him.
The horses h3ofs bruised him terribly
and his head and shoulders Wore
gra2od by the wheels,
When the engine had pas sod tho
poor lad was gathered up and taken to
his home at Conrad and Adams streets
in the patrol wagon DR.. NJ. r. Cork
ran attended him and found him ill.,
jurcd seriously internally and his
shoulder was dlsloeated. He Is very
seriously injured, but Dir. Gorkran has
hopes of hisrccovery.
Henry Crouch, II member of the Fame
Hose Fire Company. while at work at
tho fire had an artery in his left hand
MI mimi al itaEae Ntygtsa