The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-03
the Corn alili and Passing Through the
Big Mill, Becomes Heated. and the
Structure Is X educed to Ashes In
Three Honrs-The Greatest PIro
For Many Years oriS of tho
Flrcp,en.

was ablaZe.
They underworld 10 remove the con.
tents which were movable but the
ilames continued to spread so rapidly
I hat the work had to be stopped. Be
fore they could send In an alarm.
Welsh, who was standin 4
at Twenty.Fourth and Washlngto on
streets, noticed the reflection and
knowing it to 10 caused by big fire,
cent in on nlarm flom box No. Q aI
Twentieth and Market streets, bring.
ing out the district companies.
Ii was Their l.5j o'clock and the
flames had gained such Roadway when
the companies arrived that Ii looked
as II nothing could prevent the de-
struetIon OF the whole plant, The
engines went Into service and Chief
Shields Immediately sounded the sec.
ond and third alarms bringing out the
entire department.. Then the work OF
lighting the flames began In earnest.
FIGHTING THr FLAMES.
Clouds Of dense smoke hung over
Tho building from which the flames
Ieaned high In the air. The emoke
made II next to impossible to get near
tbe building TO discover the main por.
ion OF the burning building, and when
The eight streams were poured on the
structure they seemed only to feed
The flames, but tEe tirem9u had work
before them and they worked as they
never have before. liy . 80 o'clock the
entire interior and tho valuable im.
proved machinery were consumed.
IL was only a few minutes later
when the flames burst through the
roof. To the south is a corn mill, to
he north the office and the storchonse
1000 barrels OF flour, and
opposite the burning building and
across tho Brandywne creek Ia tho
city pumping stations ami for a time
It looked as though these four stfuot-
urea would be consumed. The hremea
on each OF the buildings the
entire time, but their work did rot
prevent the Office corn mill and store
house being damaged to the extent OF
$500.
The mill wus connected with tho
by passngeway at the
second story, and II was by this that
the fire reached the storehouse. Tho
sight was grand one. and us the mill
was enveloped In flames, which leaped
Ilfty feet III tie air. rejecting in tho
water of the creek below. the thou
sands of spectators could not help but
look oil the burning structure with
Wher the roof fell in
shower OF sparlZ was carried by the
BRISK southeasterly wind, falling on
he roofs OF the houses In the neigi-
1orhood, Several sroors were ablaze.
out they were soon eXtinsulshed
oy bucket brigade, which was
'ormed.
So threatening did the big fire APP
pear that the occupants of the houses
began the work OF removing their
household goods TO n place OF safety.
Mayor Sholtlldge and Pronton Lea had
much OF theirs removed. but when thu
lremen conq uerod in their work thay
lad no fear.
ALI tho time the ilames ilerY tongues
Ihot out from tho building, keeping
lie tiremen many feet away The roar
II the ilamss could he hoard Ee;aral
qnaros away as they licked 40 the
machinery and milling prOiae,a.
THE WALLS FAIL.
At? 80 O'Clock tho big brick wall to
he fouth fell with crash into thu
ntorior. sending up "a shower of
phlks and giving apparent food
OF the flames. About3 minutes later
mother portion of the wall fell. At4
o'clock tie west wall fell. falling
gatnst the storehouse. but doing no
Iamage. At that time the iiro was
Indar control ana WINS being watched
" thousands OF people who crowded
IN The bridge.
Al 40 O'clock Chief Shields ordered
he Weeeacne, Water Witch, Fame
lose and Liberty companies to stop
work, as tho ilames We're under con-
rol. Ille Friendship. Phoenix, lie.
lance and Washington Companies
ontlnued the work and by o'clock
here was not a blaze In the entire
tructura. Dense clouds OF white
IN olie, however, rose from tile burned
llll and gave the impression that thu
Interior was still aiire. This companies
iere continued in sovioe until IL
CLOCK.
The fire was the most extensive one
ihich has occurred in this city for
lanv years. Preston Lea, president
I the company, this morning said To
EEruBlICAS repnrtsr that 1t was al.
lost impossible to give fair estl.
late OF Tho loss at such mn early time.
he 70 Ill was lifted out with the most
improved machinery valued at up.
ards OF $50, 900. THIS Is total loss.
he losD oil the building, contents und
lrrounding buildings would proba.
~ reach the same amount.
USING RAoE wAIER.
There beIng but fow plugs in tho
lelnity tho engliias drew their water
ON the crock. and by this mean.
'ere gotten nearer the burning build
~ than lhsy otherwise could have
one. At Z 80 O'Clock the Washington
ngine was within n hundred feet OF
le building and standing on the race
aux below the street. The remaining
Iree engines were doing effective
DIRK from the foot OF Lamotte
rect.
LUNCH FOR THE rIREMRS.
While the flames were licking up the
LIZ mill the iiremen we're being pro.
ided with lunch. Mayor Shoftlidgs
'rved hot coffee and sandwiches,
hilc Mr. Lea also had his home
pened to the llremen. A neighbor
MS so in sympathy with the liremen
they braved the cold. raw
md and drl2zling rain, as to pr, y.ue
opes were stretchel about the yard
keep tho crowd back and a squad
officers, under the direction of Ser
ANTS Black, Bliiey and Massey saw
lat 10 one entered, excepting tho
purters and ilremen.
pEaIsE FOg rnE piREMES.
lnmscives 10 more advantage. They
olksd as they never did before, and
eyewitnesses stood near by they
'uId not help but commend them
II their bravery and the presidency
,own while the fire was in progress.
!ey continued to work long after
cir respective companies had been
dered to stop working.
THE loss.
The building and contents were In
red In the foreign company, man
rcd by T.. A. Van Trump and GIlpin
Id company for TSj, coo In the New
iBtle County Mutual and FarIners
uluai Fire Insurance Companies
ere were policies for 5000 each. This
thought to be low ard tho real Ioes
III be about 100000
The mill yard this afternoon pre-.
Gts picture OF dcsolatiou. A por-
IN OF the wall of the ilg structure is
lly lott standing. Crowds of people
oked on the ruins all afternoon, as
orkman aud iiremen were cleaning
} the debris. Probably tomorrow
Q site will be again crowded. OF
urse the work Of rebuilding will be
gun at once.
Az tho company had large number
orders on hand, the work which
luld have been turned out In the A