The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-01
FOURTH edition
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.


and Market streets Badly Damaged
Tho fire Supposed 20 Have Been
Caused by nm Electric Wire.
About o'clock yesterday morning
lire was discovered in tho jewelry
store OF Charles F. Rudolph. north.
west corner OF Fourth and Market
streets. Shortly before that time Ser
geant Mari, who was at Fifth and
Market streets, saw two men in front
OF Rudolph's store gazing intently.
Upon going to the place the sergeant
saw something that looked like fog
inside the store. but had no idea that
there was fire. He. however. in
strncted Officer Floyd to watch the
place, and II there was any signs OF
fire TO blow his whistle.
Sergeant Chambers, who was at the
City Hall, was informed OF the singu-
lar appearance inside the store, and
took his place at box No. l2, 80 as to
be ready to strike an alarm II recess
isary. Officer Floyd had been at Fourth
and Market streets but few minutes
when he saw the flames and Immediate
ly blew his whistle. Tho sound had
barely ceased when Sergeant Chambers
struck the alarm. and leaving his key
In the box, In charge Of operator Wal
lace, hurried to Fourth and Market
streets. BY that time the ilremen had
commenced to arrive. and the sergeant
burst In the doors to give them a
chance to get at the flames, but no one
wps allowed to enter who was not pro-
lvlded with badge. Ropes were also
, stretched across the street to keep the
crowd back.
Chief OF the Fire Department Dennis
s. Shields. First Assistant James l..
lDickerson and Second Assistant Alex
Rnder Il. Cloud were soon on the
scene. Four streams were then going
into the building. Knowing the dam
ago that might be done by the reck-
. less use OF water, especially In such a
place, Chief Shields ordered two OF
them out, leaving inside only those
streams having shut OH MOBILES. These
streams were those OF tho Washington
and Friendship companies. The
prompt action on the part OF the chief
prevented the running of much OF the
stock. The police officers, who also
rendered good Service, were In charge
of Captain Exams. who was ably SEQ,
onded by Sergeants Ingram and Cham
Ibers.
There is nodoubt but the fire had
lbeen smouderlnE for some time
before 1t was discovered, and when
the drauUht the flames burst forth in
all their fury. The lie was extreme
ly hot, and at one time Assistant Dick.
lersons rubber bDots stuck to the floor
Water was thrown on the flames fol
about fifteen minutes. and as soon as
IL was shut on the officers OF the de
paltment assembled to the 3rd floor and
opened the windows, to allow the heat
and smoke to escape 80 they coulc
make thorough examiaation of the
premises.
Several times after this the flame:
again broke out, but were easily OK
'tlnguished, The iiremen did no
leave tho place until after O'Clock
. and had lines OF hose in readiness TO
immediate service. ..
THE DAMAGE,
The interior OF the store is q perfec
wreck, and is almost coverei witt
broken pieces vi lamps. clocks, Gu
glass. onyx and other articles. Tn
upper floor WAS burned through, ant
q case OF valuable Christmas goods
\ which was on the second floor, cam,
crashing down to the store, scatterin;
the contonts, consisting OF lamps
clocks, etc, among the other debris
Some OF the lamps In this case wer
- valued at $50 each When the ceilin,
fell 1t crushed several of the Iarg
show cases.
Another large show case WIS abou
the most completely damaged flxtur
in the store. The lire fell into it iron
Ithe burning woodwork. II was push
ed outside By the iiremen and the fir
in it eXtinguished. The glnss In tn
case was wreck, as well as its cor
tents. II contained silver cups, sal
land pepper shakers, napkin riggs. te
bells and generally small wares soil,
and plated. An examination showet
lsome of the articles dlscolored ar
partly melted. A smaller case o
lplated ware was cracked but its con
tents seem to have escaped injury. o
the northern side Of tho store wer
two large show caeas. The one neal
est the street was l1ndumaged. but In
other, which was underneath tho lire
was almost total wreck The glas
on top was 5-l6 of an inch thick.
The contents Of this case were soil
silver and some of il was melted wit
j. tho intense heat. On tho second loo
Il. were a number of paintings aad othr
~ valuable articles, ~ arly all OF whlc
4 were ruined. Tine most serious los
however among the painliiig5 II a pit
turc by Salvador Rosa tho Italian pain
@
10 fury. 1t was battle scene and WI
~ not only an artistic pieco OF work bit
. al5o very valuable. one of Hamilton
@ marine views, valued at 800, Is ais
4 among the wreclinge.
Il Another heavy single loss WAS TIT
n Of an oval slnb of Mexican onyx.
= was 20 by 80 inches. MIR. Rudolph ha
vt selected it IN the rough and had
dressed. Ills Intention was to 20
~ phila irlphia soon and have a tab
- mace especially for the slab, and I
" sell il in the holiday season for : -
J He said it WIS rnre piece and couI
y, not be replaced for $500.
.ll, A number OF line nnl valuable cIoel;
were also ruined, and while MIR. K
dolph cannot. as yet fully estimal
,p tho amount OF his loss, ho IL pasiti,
% that II Will reach at least $4,000, {
which there is the followlng,insuranc
ON Stock and Fixtures : Royal
London 5000; NIAGARA, New YorI
$1,000; Farmers Mutual, $4,000; Ne
= Castle Co. 5000; North America
300. Total So, 600
On Building - German America
IA So 600: Niagara, 5000; North AtusI
can, $500. Total u, zoo. Full amour
$50, 40.
THE CAUSE or TIE FIRE.
While IL Ia not known to q certnIut