Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-08

the Office tenants Of the building had gone.
A. $. l.. Shields. who has offices OH the
second floor Of the old building, rushed
back to his office, and, hastily gathering
up his most valuable pepers, hustled them
into his safe, with the remark that he
didn't care if he did lose his other effects.
James ii, Heverin, on the floor below, had
gone home but some lawyer friends broke
into his office and on his arrival helped
him to carry out his legal papers, which,
with many of those of MIR. Childs', were
stored in the second story of COvington IL
Winkler's oyster saloon, ut Sixth and San
som streets, where divorce cases and many
Other, legal secrets were Unfortunately
mixed with oysters and bric-2-brac.
The greatest efforts, however, were CEN
tired on Mr.. Childs' private office, and
many willing hands and feet rushed to the
rescue of the rare collection of curios and
brio a.hrac. Here was Joel Cook rushing
out with an arruful of bronze clocks fol-
lowed by Matthew Dittman with an
ancient helmet in one hand and a statue
OF Moses in the other while Clayton Fife
followed with Tom Moore's harp. An
army of Ledger employees ran back and
forth between Mr. Childs' Office and the
office of Counselor jenkins and the Pro-
thunutary's office loaded down with
pamphlets, pictures. clocks, rare porcelain
and Indian pottery ware.
William Henry Lex opened up the
United Security and Trust Company to re-
ceiye Mr.. Childs treasures. The last thing
rescued was a crayon of President HarIi-
son.
GETTING THE PAPER OUT.
The Ledgsr had duplicate plant of its
composing rooms at the annex. No. ilb
Locust street, and Foreman james Daley,
of the composing room, had 80 men at
work there by Z o'clock, setting up the
paper, which was issued as usual. Every
thing went ON like clock work at the
annex. The excitement incident to such
an occasion seemed to be absent In speak
ing of the fire Foreman DALEY said THE
announcement that the building was ON
fire in the basement reached the composing
room at few minutes after o'clock At
that hour the men are usually out at sup
| per and only few of them were in the
room. 1t has been a standing order from
| the managers, since the establishment of
| the annex, a little over two years ago, that
in case of fire at any time | was to order
| my men to the annex without delay. Con.
| sequentiy, had nearly 30 men at work at
I o'clock, the usual hour of beginning
composition.
THE LOSSES AND ASSURANCES.
| joel Cook, financial editor and business
manager of the Ledyer places the aggre-
! gate losses by the fire ut S2DD,UOO, distrib-
| uled rs follows! Damages to Ledger Build
ing, 3lpO,UO0; composing room and CON
| tents, S20,OJO machinery aud various
other departments. So, 0OJ: tenants i'll the
building, $4,000 The Ledger losses are
| fully covered by insurance, which was
placed by Bancroft Il Brother, the total
amount being 100000 on building and
$4,000 ON contents.
FAMOUS BUILDING.
The Public Ledger Building stood on
three lots of ground ut the southwest
corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets, the
old Howell mansion having formerly Oc
| cupied the corner lot. Work on the build
ing was begun July LIST, 1865, and the build
ing was formally opened June 10Th, 1867
the occasion beng made memorable by
the large number of distinguished men
present from all parts of the country. Al
that time the building was deemed the
finest newspaper office in the country. Ant
it has become famous the world over il
connection with its distinguished owner
improvements in keeping with the ates
ideas as to newspaper needs were made
and improvements aggregating fully
S5u,OOOwe approaching completion whel
the fire broke out. The building is o
brown stone, six stories high, with front
age of IS feet on Chestnut street and
depth of 30 feet on Sixth street. Among
the most notable of recent Improvements
| WIS lllt enlargement VI tue COlup tSllll
room, the fifth and sixth floors beinl
thrown into one, giving a space room o
6OxSO; 80 feet high and equipped with Ia
cases. This room, which was one of tn
most complete in the country, was com
pletely gutted, it being there that the fir
got in lis tiarcest work. The work of re
building will be commenced rs soon II
the insurance losses are adjusted, and Mr.
Childs is authority for the statement tina
the building will be restored to its torme
condition.
The most serious damage by the fir
was to the composing room, but the build
ing was completely soaked with water
The extensive library on the third foo
was damaged but slightly with water
while the handsomely -rciitted reportoria
and editorial rooms were filled with water
The publication office on the first foo
which was almost ready to be opened. AN,
which was located Immediately over tn
basement where the fire originated wa
damaged by fire and smoke, while tn
press ROOM in which are located the larg
pcrfecting presses, was flooded with severu
feet of water. As the fire did not reac
this portion of the building che only dam
age done to the presses has been by tn
water, and it is hoped that it is not suil
cient to prevent their use after bein
thoroughly cleaned and dried.