The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-03-18
FIFTH edition.
GREAT FIRE THIS MORNING.

$4,000.
This morning at 90 minutes before
o'clock, police station sergeant Mar;
discovered flames issuing from thu
rear of the north side third story OF
the Snith building, Nos. 6i0 and 6la ;
Market street. He Immediately gave
the alarm and soon the fire companies
began to arrive the Friendship arriv-
ing first. There wns about Inches oil
snow and hail on the ground which re-
tarded i'll some measure the speedy
movements OF tho fire companies.
Tho lire spread rapidly fed by light
material in tho secret society rooms
in tho building. Several streams were
poured into the building, but in spite
OF all the whole building from the Sec
ond story to the fourth was soon COM
plotely enyeloped in flames. The
building ia double one, divided by
central hallway with society rooms on
either sido. Tho ground Hoor was oc-
cupied north side by Elliott Il John
son, bankers and brokers, and the y,
bacco and cigar store. Thcy had Just
moved into the store few weeks ago.
Ths second floor was occupied north Z
side by the Shields Library Associa-
tlon, and the south side by George
Diller as n billiard and pool room.
Tho third story was occupied south a
side by the Uniformed Division X. OF J
p, and north side by various societies,
amongst which was Champion Lodge,
No. q, that met last night.
The fourth story was occupied by
secret socities exclusively, amongst
which were Washington. No. 1; Dafay-l
etc, No. 2; Lincoln, No. 3iGiayton, No.
q; Champion, No. 0, and Excelsior, No.
z; Lo1gcs Knights OF Phythlas. The
Grand Lodge X. OF p, also had head
quarters in the building, and lost all
its naraphernalia Other societies
/ sa.NI inn In thA ind
stories were Alpha Council. No. /, L.
o. il. c.. Apo' 10 Castle, No. ., x OF @.
| E.; st. Georges Castle, No 8. X. OF q.
e.; Carpenters Union, No. 10; Prlnters'
| Union; United Division Locomotive
Engineers and probably other socie-
ties.
BY $50 O'Clock the roof of the blild-
ing fell In, sending great volume OF
sparks and cinders far up into the
heavy atmosphere filled with falling
hail. By 6 O'Clock the fire was so far
subdued that farther danger from the
spread of the flames to adjoining
buildings was over and by z O'Clock,
no fire was left but in smoulderlng
heaps. The morning was one OF tho
most disagrecaole for firomen, but
they worked with n will and determi-
nation that won the almlratian OF all
who saw them.
The streot covered with snow and
hail and the overflow OF water tearing
openings through the drifts at times
resemb!ed wild river. Street cor
travel was very much interfared with,
tho cars running each way TO and
from the fire, tho passengers exchang-
ing cars.
The building belongs to Charles A.
Sparks OF Philadelphia 1t Is assessed
at $50 600 but its real value is not less
than $4,000. The whole loss OF prop
erty it Is supposed Will amountto o.
,.,l,fy.h inrIpla,r httiIIinrr mud
tents
Elliott & Johnson's loss is entirely by
winter and is not heavy. Through the
courtesy OF Geo. Ii. Townsend, they
have removed temporarily into his Of
, lice next door.
Selak Il Young had a stock OF 81. 900.
insured for $500. George -Dtller had
an insurance OF $1,000 on his billiard
ard pool tables, valued at $1,000.
The uniformed ranks OF X. OF p.
were SO lucky as to negotiate an in
surance OF $1,000 on their property
through j. X. Mathers agency, the
policy Of which was handed to the
, members last night.
The Shields Library Association lost
+ about 1000 volumes. All they saved
was the crayon likeness of the late
, John j. Mealy Their loss Is estimated
ance or 9l3OO.
E Apollo Castle. X. of G. E., had an In
suranco for $500, and as far as could
: he ascertaned, all tho societies had
more or less Insurance. on their prop
erty. The adjoining building of Fred.
Gilpin was damaged about 5000, but
Is fully insured.
> The insurance on the burnt | u Id
Ing is $4,000 through GilpiI's agency,
: AMI $1,000 through Hnwkla4' agency,
, tO.ai $4,000. Tho origin of the fire
is uncertain Some suppose that ID
4 came from an overloaded stove in the
rear room o tho Shields Library Az
} sUciaiion, the heart of which SGT the
=, lluor ubo9e on fire. Pre- ient O'keeTe
II OF the Association WAS seen this M orn-
4 ing and lac refutes this origin OF tho
- lire. lie says lie knows tnat there was
c no iire in stove at 10 50 O'Clock last
night.
y The Delaware Fire Company desires
( to return thanks to Vim. Mccall for
coiteo and refrashments. Jordan A.
T. Wilson on King street also threw open
Ids house and furnished refreshments
G to largo numbers of tiremen.
Tie homeless Knights OF Pythias
hardly knew of their loss before the
n trustees of DnPont Post offered them
the use of thair post room two nights
It in the week and tlolr pariers third
! story of their building Tenth and Mar.
Il ket streets every night in tho week
|, free Of charge until they could suit
i themselves letter Tie Odd Fellows
+ also offered their rooms at Third and
hiES streets freq, but the Knights nc.
o ceptcd DUPONT Posts generous Oft.
/, Tho joint board OF trustees OF the
II Knights of Pythias and all members
). Of tho order are requested to meet In
Room ), Masonic Temple, at 7.30
L O'Clock this Friday evening. Tho call
is made by William Simmons, chair
Z man.
.e Tho Shields library Association,
10 which WAS unfortunate in having al
II their personal property destroyed by
tho lire in the Smith building thil
e morning, desires to state that theil
i contests will BIO decided aud announc
u cd, and the rewards presented at {
II o'clock this evening, in the hall OF The
= Ancient Order of Llibornians, HealC
c building, at Seventh and Marke'
, streets.
An ARREST MADE.
c. Martin O'Toole. young man resid
| ing ut No. ga Monroe street, was ar
rested at his home about 10 o'clocl
this morning by Officers Gum ana
Akin, and taken to the hall and lockes
up In cell on suspicion of having
I set fire to the Smith building.