Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-27
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CAR STABLE s ABL1zE.
The Front and Union Stables Destroyed
by Fire Monday Night--The Building a
Total I.Osa.

by Fire Monday Night--The Building a
Total Loss.
The stable of the Front and Union
Street Railway Company caught fire
little after O'Clock Monday evening,and
within about one hour was complete
ruin. No one knows how the fire arose.
There is suspicion, however, that 1t
was OF incendiary origin. Night watch
man Hughes was taking out a team of
horses at the time when Robert West
discovered that the southwest corner of
the building was afire. The stable was
a lumber structure, all but the west end,
which was of brick. There were some
nifty tons of hay and fodder in the upper
story, which Immediately blazed up.
The alarm was struck from box No. 81,
Front and Searles streets.
The Waterman and stable hands i'm
mediately gave their attention to rescu-
ing the "a car horses. This was accom-
plished quickly and successfully and
the animals were led out and turned
loose in the Union Park baseball
grounds. Mr.. West, his son George, and
other neighbors assisted the stable
hands. A bucket brigade was impro-
vlsed and gave such assistance as was
possible. Meanwhile the various FIRE
companies OF the city arrived and set
vigorously to work. The dry old lumber
OF which the stable building was COM
posed fed the blaze too readily. The fire
ran quickly along the upper story and
in very short time it was evident that
the inflammable contents, hay, fodder
and woodwork, could not escape, the
flames. The flremen, with excellent
Judgment, had already disposed them
selves to prevent the flames reaching to
the company's adjoining new shed.
They were completely successful in this
although at times the dense volumes of
rolling smoke almost suffocated the en-
ergetic firemen.
Officials OF the city passenger railway
including Preston Lea, Daniel W.
Taylor and Superintendent Archer were
early on the ground. Mr.. Archer was
quickly in his shirt sleeves aiding the
ilremen. By 0 O'Clock the fire was UNI
der control and in half an hour or so all
the companies left but the Weccacoe
which remained on guard until 11.30
o'clock.
Tuesdays estimate of the loss is
about $4,000 The loft contained about
so tons of hay and two or three tons of
feed. A horse fodder cutter and some
implements were destroyed. The build
ing, which is 29x60 feet, with an addi-
ton 2Sx12 feet, was worth about $500.
1t is understood that everything was
insured. With what companies, how
ever, and to what amount cannot be
ascertained, as Franklin B. Cotton,
president of the Front and Union rail-
way, who has all the papers, is out Of
town.
The Liberty fire engine was stranded on
the roadside on Front street between
du Pont and Scott. While going to
the fire Monday the steel axletree sud
denly broke in two. On examination
Tuesday morning the facciof the fracture
showed that the metal axle had two
flaws running completely across its dl-
ameter. The fact is that less than
one-third Of the metal was sound. The
wonder is that the axle-tree stood the
work as long as it did. The appearance
of it only TOO plainly suggests that such
flaws may exist in the axles Of other city
fire engines and that everyone of them
be Immediately tested by competent
engineers and that report be made
upon their condition. In the present
case oil had soaked through one-half of
the diameter OF the axle. The break
down was of course entirely attributable
to this and not in the least to the condi-
ton of the road which at the point
where the accident happened is very
good.
AS the Weccacoe engine was passing |
Lancaster avenue and Harrison street it |
was brought to astand-still at that point. |
A number of persons ran TO the assist |
ance of the tiremen, among them John |
Carr, aged is. The engine suddenly
started out of the rut and young Carr |
was thrown to the ground and trampled |
by one of the horses. He was struck |
on his left shoulder and ankle. He was
quickly picked up and carried to his
home at Conrad and Adams streets,
where DR.. NJ. f. Corkran attended him.
One Of the members of the Fame
company while at work in the burning
stable suddenly stumbled and fell when |
his left hand was badly gashed at the
base of the thumb by some glass. DIR.
Smith Cooper attended to his injuries.
S. p. Green of the Delaware company |
had his face slightly cut. Other iiremen
were hurt but not in any serious way,