Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-23
a BIAzE 4 DYE NO USE.
j. u. Ragey's Establishment Catches Fire
From an Explosion of Benzlne.

From an Explosion of Bonzine.
About g. 80 o'clock Monday evening there
was sudden explosion of benzine in the
dye house of j. B. Ragey, No. 722 Marke
street. Immediately the two-story bricR
structure where the dyeing is carried on
was enveloped in flames. There were two
workmen in the building at the time
Charles Ragey and George de Hegh. How
they managed to escape with their lives 4
a wonder to everyone. The dye house is
in the rear of the establishment Just abut'
| ting the back wall of the Central Church
building. In fact it is in the centre OF the
block bounded by Seventh and Eighth
and King and Market streets. A more
dangerous situation for fire of its nature
could hardly be imagined.
The intlammable, gaseous nature or the
compounds used in the dyeing increased
the risk. The Violent heat from the flames
seemed to burst outwards in every direc-
ton, igniting simultaneously the premises
on every side-the church walls to the
east Legg's and Bucher's premises to the
north and west and the building occupied
by Jesse X. Baylis to the south.
Immense crowds of citizens gathered i'm
mediately that alarm box No, II, city hall,
had sounded The department responded
quickly, but there was great difficulty IN
gaining access to the burning building.
This was accomplished at last by passing
hose along the southern walls of Central
Church. The intervening wooden fences
were torn down and then the firemen
quickly got the main blaze in the dyeing
establishment under control.
The intense heat had already, as stated.
ignited the second and third stories Of
Sarah A. Leggs house. Furniture, bed
ding, &c, was destroyed to the extent of
5000 in value caused by fire and water.
The dye house by this time was com
pletely Quilted. Shooting tongues of fame
caught the roof of II. u. Bncher's photo-
graph gallery. Fire and water quickly re-
duced it to perfect wreck. Damage to
the extent of about 500 was what was eK-
perienced in Mr.. Bayis premises. The
cellars of A. +. Bornot were flooded with
water and some slight damage by breakage
was experienced.
The flames rushed up the rear wall of
the Central Church. The only injury done
by the fire was the burning of the narrow
north window of the chancel. The pulpit
carpet was also injured by the flood of
wafer from the hose. Clerks from Head
u Co.'S office obtained early access to the
church building and quickly removed all
the furniture from the platform. Sexton
Webb also locked the doors on ascertain
ing that there was no fire in the building
and refused to allow any strangers within.
His quick decision doubtlessly saved the
church auditorium from damage by any
ingress of the crowd. The painting of the
chancel walls is not injured in the slight
est degree.
At MIR. Ragey's store on Tuesday no
one could give any reasonable explanation
for the origin of the fire. It seems it must
go on record simply as an explosion of
benZine. In the apartment that caus hit fire
is large iron boilor, cask of benzine
partially empty, several copper watts for
dyeing, and on the second story large
stove.
Losses and insurance are as follows:
J.B. Ragey loss 81, 600; partially insured
Harry l.. Butcher, loss $1,000; fully in
sured.
Jesse X. Baylis, loss 5000 insured
Mrs. Sarah L. I.egg. loss $500; insured.
The loss on Central Church will be COW
cred by $3.50 for which there is full insur-
anee.