Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-07


Is mass of blackened ruins; in fact, |
nothing but so mnch charcoal. 1t is a |
omplete loss. 1t was filled with expensive |
wardrobe suits and parlor tables, the total |
value OF which was 100000 The damage |
BY lire was confined to the fourth floor. |
The third, second and first floors, with the |
contents of the basement, are water |
damaged.
The third floor, filled with parlor suits
and hall racks valued at $4,000, has its
contents damaged by water and smoke TO
at least two-thlrds, possibly more, of the
value.
The second floor, which was the up
holstery and lace curtain department is
also badly damaged by water. A great deal
OF the goods, however, was removed, but
yet the most of it is damaged.
The first floor, which was the carpet de-
partment, Jared best. Most of the contents
were carried out. The basement, which is
stored full of duplicate articles, is also
more or less damaged by water.
The fire broke out within about five min
utes after o'clock on the fourth floor.
Nobody was there ut the time and it was
quite 10 minutes later before the fire was
discovered. This was done, it is stated by
colored employe, who noticed sparks
coming down the stairway. He rushed
upstairs and found all the rear half of the
fourth floor from the elevator to the centre
OF the floor atire. He ran down TO the
office and informed James Megary, The
latter hurried upstairs, but the binding
smoke and flames prevented his reaching
halfway up the fourth floor stairway.
By this time the flames had cnvcloped
the whole roof. Smoke was pouring in
dense volumes from the mansard caves
and tongues of flame burst out here and
there from the windows.
1t is not positively SO stated but all cir
cumstantial evidence attributes the origin
of the fire to the 5-horse power electric
theory is so far not disputed that sparks
from it ignited the adjacent woodwork,
the stair ratings or the elevator itself
The fire undoubtedly began closely in that
vicinity and ran along north to the centre
of the roof.
Meanwhile immense bllowy clouds of
the densest binding smoke borne down by
the heavy atmosphere enveloped the
building on its north and east side and
prevented any approach from that direc-
ton.
No. 80 alarm box in front of the Megary
building was struck but there was no
alarm sounded Messengers were immedi-
ately sent to the various engine houses
Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Frank
w. Pierson explains the fact of the alarm
not being sounded as follows
WHY THE BOX DIDN'T RING.
He said that ii was not because of any
fault in the system itself, but an unavod-
accompanied the storm of the early after
noon. 1.-THE trouble was confined to the
first circuit" he explained. At Justison
street, where this circuit crosses the roof
of house, the storm had blown an cleo.
trio light wire against one of our wires.
This crossing Of wires was indicated to IFS
by the burning of the wire on our SWITCH
board at the city hall. | opened the cir
cult; that stopped the burning; and then
went out to locate the cross. | had found
it: had repai red it, and was within square
of the city hall on my way back when the
box was pulled Ofcourse itcouldn't ring be.
cause the circuit was open; but had it been
five minutes later the circuit would have
been closed again and there would have
been no failure of the alarm to respond
II had not opened the circuit before going
out to look for the cross il would have en-,
dangered 8, 800 worth of fine machinery"
ON the alarm being brought to the police
station Chief Francis ordered Officer Wal
lace upstairs into the city hall tower, and
that officer struck the alarm with heavy
window weight, which was the first and
most suitable object he could lay his hand:
on He dealt the bell the heaviest strokes
he could and was successful nj least in Civ
ing the alarm. House Sergeant Mari i'm
mediately telephoncd toall the nearest sta
lions.
Meantime the Friendship hose car
md the Fame engine had arrived
md the other companies were on thu
ground as quickly as the long-dclayet
notice allowed them. 1t took, So il i
stated 80 minutes at least before the de
partment was on the ground i'll any
with will, but their efforts at least or
the Sixth street front of the building wcr
constantly discounted by the clouds o
smoke that blinded them. The Dclawar,
boys ran their big ladder ZIP. The tire an,
smoke drove them down, but with
a OF stvng Z ALL ,
put in tourth-story window, AT the rca
of the building the tiremeii, after tn
hardest work, managed to get control 0
the fire, but this was not until close to
O'Clock. By this time the whole building
had been drenched with water.
Immense crowds had gathered an,
damned every approach to the building
A squad OF police under command of til
chief at length roped off the streets, an,
after that the iirCmen were enabled 10 4
better work
From the windows Of the first and sccon
floors, facing 'fatnall street, the emplpye
had torn out the wire window protection
and were busily engaged passing out bale
of goods and rolls Of carpet to scores q
willing helpers, who bore the articles d
their shoulders to he adjacent uphustel
ing building of j. u. Reed and to the store
and cellars Of neighborng houses. In thi
ha" r. hion pretty nigh all of the cor
D. first floor were removed.
A before 1 O'Clock commoto
was Sc among the iircmen, when til
news SIP. lad that the Wilmington Buart
ing stable of Wallace & Truman ha
caught fire
In a moment the firemen were at wor
again with renewed effort. The stab
building runs parallel to the Megary mai
structure. The stable roof il lust belo,
the third floor A long, wooden siyligl
on the top Of the roof had caught liz
from the flying sparks. The straw nm