The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-16
FIFTH EDITION.
FIRE AT NEwPORT.
j. Ross Barrett's House. Barn and Saw
Mill Destroyed=-Loss $4,000

ID. Ross Barrctt's House, Barn and Saw
Mill Destroyed-Loss 81 800.
One of the most disastrous fires that
ever took place in Newport occurred
there on Monday afternoon from $50
TO O'Clock, the heaviest loss falling
on j. Ross Barrett, Il milk dealer at the
corner OF Market and John streets, In
the western pnrt OF the town. The lire
Ill the house was discovered by two
men riding by III IL carriage.
AT this time flames were Issuing
from side window III the second
story front room. The men imms-
diaJriy gave the alarm and soon the
neiAhborS We're running from all de
teetlons to aid In putting Out tho lire.
MI. Barrett himself was absent in
Wilmington at the time, and the only
occupants OF the house were Mrs.
barrett and Two small boys, Lewis
ANA Carrollton, who were twins Mrs.
Barrett was OF course very much
alarmed, but she and her children
We're taken TO u neighbours house aud
kindly cared for.
A bucket brigade was formed and
water WAS soon coming from all the
wtllS In the nelElborhood; but the
flames had such start, aided by high
southwest wind, that they could not
he quenched. Those who had no buck
cts were busily engaged in getting the
furniture out of the house, in which
they succeeded, with the exception OF
two or three pieces OF carpet, u bureau
and some small articles. The flames
leaped from the house to the saw mill
III the rear and from tho mill to the
barn, and in few minutes the whole
were enyeloped in sheet OF flame.
Before the bari was consumed the
neiyhbors succeeded in removing ali
OF MIR. Barretts stock OF wagons, cut
riagas and harness.
When the roofs of the burning
buildings fell in the hot cinders and
sparks iew high into tho air and were
waited by the wind to other parts OF
the town. While the crowd was trying
to hem in the fire tho frame dwelling
OF George Houck, some distance of,
on street leading to the railroad was
discovered to be ON lire. Thither the
bucket brigade ran, and with several
buckets Of water put out the fire. The
loss WAS small.
When tho crowd got back to the
Barrett fire an alarm was raised that
Cranston's house below the railroad
was on fire. Thither the bucket brigade
rushed and with the aid OF several
men from the iron works succeeded
Ia quenchlng the llames, Tho loss to
MIR. Cranston was about SIS. The
bucket brigade again returned to the
Barrett fire, but hardly commenced to
throw water upon the smoulderin9
ruins, when another alarm was raised
that the roof of the freight house at
the depot was on fire.
Tho blaze had Just commenced to
shoot up from the roof when 1t was
met BY tho bucket brigade and stop,
ped in its ravages. Had the freight
house fire got full under way the COM
sequences might have been disastrous
a. stored In the building were eiRht
barrels OF coal oil. Across the railroad
.were the large lumber sheds of John
A. Newbold ~ Co, q large coal shed
and other buildings, which were In
danger.
large barn belonging to William
Parkins, adjoining Mr.. Barrett's prop.
erty, ceught fire on the roof from fall.
ing sparks, but the bucket men were
always on hand Just in time to stup
tho spread of the flames.
Mr.. Barrett knew nothing OF the fire
until his return from Wilmington,
about o'clock, when he was very
much affected over his loss.
He estimates his loss to be 81. 900 to
$4,000. upon which he has insurance
policies for $4,000. Included in his
loss were four tons of hay 200 bushels
of corn. and his saw mill machinery.
He intends to rebuild Immediately,
during which time his family will take
n part of William Parking house. -
Alter tho tho fire was over and Mrs.
Barrett had time to collect her
thoughts she thought of SIS in money
in bureau that was consumed. the
fire IL generally conceded to have orig.
mated FROM "a defective ilue
At bio O'clock Chief Engineer Robin.
son received a telephone message from
Newport asking for aid. Tho chief im-
mediately detailed the Reliance and
Friendship fire companies to respond
TO the call. Both com panies respond
ed and at O'Clock wore on car ready
to run out to Newport when word was
received that the fire was quenched
and the engines were not needed.
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