The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-12-30
THIRD edition.
Two FIRES.

Clsnriss s. Horns Dwelling House and
tho Old Ferry Rolling Mills Damaged
ny Fire.
While the rain was descending In
dashing torrents about $50 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, an alarm of fire
game In from box No. 2S at Ninth and
Madison streets. The dwelling house
Of Charles s. Horn, No. TO West Ninth
street, WIS found to be on fire.
The greatest excitement prevailed.
neighbors gathered, and while some
formed a bucket brigade others COM
1nenced carrying out the furniture to
places OF safety. The fire, confined to
tho rear OF the building, had gained too
much Roadway to he controlled by
buckets, and by the time the Fire De-
partment arrived the rear frame part
OF the building was completely envel
oped In names and devoted to destruc-
ton. The iiremen promptly got to
work and saved the other part OF the
building, at the same time preventing
the spread OF tho fire to other sur
founding buildings.
The fire was caused by the children
lighting the candles on a Christmas
tree on the rear second floor the com
bnstible material on the tree causing
the ilames to spread very rapidly.
The loss Is supposed to be about $1,000
and is but partially insured.
Chief Engineer Robinson met with
painful accident about the time the
fire was put out. A post supporting
part of the charred frame work Civ
ing way a plank fell on Mr.. Robinson's
right leg inficsing an ugly flesh
wound, but the plucky chief did not
leave until the fire was entirely extin.
guished.
OLD FERRY ROLLING MILLS.
The Old Ferry Rolling Mills, on tho
South side OF Christiana creek. was
early this morning put through another
flery disaster, but fortunately not so
great as the one that recently visited
them. II was about I.05 n. M, when
All alarm of fire came in from box No.
IL, at Third street and Railroad ave-
nue., and also from box No. % at Head
md Lobdell streets. A glance south
eastward showed II stream of light and
smoke penetrating the gloomy dark
mess IN the neightorhood OF the Dia-
mond State Iron Companys Works.
A closer view showed that the foun-
dry part OF the Old Ferry Rolling
Mills on the South side was on fire.
The fire was discovered by William j.
Shiles, foreman Of one of the North
side pudding mills. When he saw it
the flames wore bursting out of the
end OF the foundry next to the creek.
A mau on the South side discovered
the frs about the same time, hence
the alarm from two boxes. Plug
etreaps were Immediately put into
use by the employees. which did good
service In preventing the spread OF the
fire until the arrival of the Fire Dc,
pnrtment.
The ilremen found great difficulty In
getting Into service owing to the yard
being Uttered with piles of iron and
smother difficulty presented itself in
the fire plugs in the yard being lifted
| with smaller "reducers" than the city
plugs to enable the company 10 use i
smaller sized hose than Is used by this
xiremen. Some of the engines instead
OF using the plugs drew their water
from the creek, and whom they got into
service the heavy streams thrown al
once checked the fire,
1t was not, however, until some
time later that the fire was entirely
distinguished. The tiremen did all that
nremen possibly could do to extingusl
tho tlames speedily. The building was
~ 15xl60 feet and erected about two
years ago, The roof is almost entire
Iy destroyed and some of the inSldl
frame work 10 very much damaged
Adjoining this building is another
bbxl60 ieet but 1t was saved through
the exertlons Of the iiremen. The loss Il
estimated Mt not over 81, 500 and /!
fully covered withinsurauce. Az sooi
rs the alarm was struck all the horse.
In the south side stables were removed
TO place OF safety
No ON seems TO have any clue as e
the origin of the fire, but Officer chi
NOT has n theory and it may be u cor
rect one. He says that the crews Oh
two vessels anchored In the creek, tn
bows up close to the buildings, wer
drunk and carousing last night Ate
u O'Clock lie had to arrest man ant
take him to tho City Hall. He think
they may have upset a lamp on thei,
earousals and for their own safel
have thrown the lamp out where /
set fire to the building. II was in tn
emil OF building next to the cree
where the fire ragged the tlereest.