Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-19
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE,
Flames in the Springer. Morley g.
Cause Building.

Machine Shop and the Champion Ma
chine Company's Works Damaged =
Heavy Loss--Good work by the gire,nen.
Fire broke out in the second story of
the Springer, Morley Is Cause building,
ut the northwest corner of Third ana
Orange streets, about 1905 p. IN. Thurs.
day and before the fire department ar
rived upon the scene the entire building
was threatened with destruction. The
| fire started on the Third street side. As
far as could be learned it originated in a
store room Of the macaroni factory OF
j. Frank Mccoy, which occupies the
second story, at time when most of the
| men were at dinner.
The bell On the Fame engine house
and box No. 2l2, Third and Tatnall
streets, were struck almost instantane.
ously. A few minutes later general
alarm was sent in. Fire apparatus was
soon on the scene and the firemen
hastily began combating the flames.
Many spectators hurried to the vicinity
and in very brief period ali immense
| gathering was assembled near the
doomed structure.
When the fire companies arrived
smoke was pouring in dense volumes
from the windows of the building and
the flames, which were then confined 10
the second story, were beginning to
spread westward and shoot to the upper
stories. A few minutes later people
| passing along the street were almost
blinded by the smoke and were forced
to retreat by the Intensity of the heat
produced by tho flames. The firemen
worked hard, but the fire continued to
| spread and soon the entire building was
| enveloped.
AT the height of the fire four streams
of water We're poured into the building
from the Third street front. The hose.
men stood almost in straight row, but
few feet apart, and the four solid
streams not only presented fine sight,
but did great service in drowning out
the flames. From the rear of the build
ing and from Orange street other
streams were thrown, with the effect of
eifectually preventing any serious spread
of the flames.
From the macaroni factory the
tlames eat their way to the establish.
men Of the Champion Machine Co., and
thence to the machine shops of Frank
Slocumb & Co. The workmen in the
machine shops confined themselves to
saving what property they could, while
Mr.. Slocumb saved many of his books
and valuables from the flames. The
machinery is valued by Mr.. Slocumb at
about $4,000, and is believed to be a
total loss.
The flames spread with such rapidity
that the tiremen were unable to save
the machine shop, and worked to keep
the flames from spreading to the morocco
factory of Charles Il. Fritz & Co., on
Third street and the factory of the
American Leather Company which
fronts on Fourth street, the rear extend
ing back to the burning building.
The Delaware truck being out of SER
vice, the tiremen experienced consider
able difficulty in getting at the flames
until the improYised truck of the Wash
ingten company was brought into
requisition, which enabled them to
reach the roofs of the adjoining build
| ing. by this means they were in
position to battle with the spreading
flames.
State Senator Pyle, who had left Mr..
AlcGoys Office about l0sminutes before,
was seen by a reporter. "When left" he
sand, there was no sign OF fire." lie
thought the fire broke out in the place
stated, but did not know what caused
il. Mr.. Mccoy, he explained, occupied
the front part of the building--a space
about 90 feet in depth and four stories
in heighth. Flo employed three men
and two girls. Most of the employees
are Italians. Senator Pyle thought MIR.
McCoy's loss would exceed $4,000. Mr..
Mccoy recently put in $4,000 worth of
improved machinery. The other fix
lures probably were worth 81 900 more.
There were in the building an engine, a
boiler and an electric motor. The motor
cost several hundred dollars. The
building contained SO much stock e
person could scarcely turn around in it.
There were in it $500 or 5000 worth of
flour, which could not be saved, Most
| of the machinery was on the ground
floor. The upper stories contained
packing boxes and drying cases. Since
he opened the factory last spring Mr..
Mccoy has received numerous orders
and he had IN immense quantity of
| goods ready for shipment. Senator PYLE
said Mr.. McCoy's property was insured,
but he could not tell the amount Of the
insurance.
A few bags of -four and o small
quantity of macaroni, all that could be
removed from the burning building,
were carried to the sidewalk on the
southwest corner of Third and Orange
streets.
At 1880 o'clock ropes were stretched
in the vicinity Vi the fire and people were
ordered oil Third street between Orange
and Tatnall, it being feared the south
wall of the building might fall.
The building is owned by the Security
Trust and Safe Deposit Co., which Sc
cured possession of il a few months ago
1t is insured for $500. The insurance
was placed by companies represented
by l.. p. Buck.
Warder Bushnell Il Glcssncr Co., Of
Chicago, ILL.,, and Springfield, Mass, j.
i, McWhorter, local agent, dealers in
| mowers, reapers and binders, whose
| Wilmington branch adjoins the burned
building, sustained loss OF about $500.
Their insurance expired last evening.
Michael Deylne, who had stable in
the rear Of the big building, sustained a
loss of probably 800.
Charles L. Fritz 81 Co., whose mo.
rocco factory adioins on the west, had
skins, sumac, &c, damaged by water
and smoke. Their exact loss cannot be
stated, but it is lees than $4,000.
The Harlan ~ llollngsworth Co,
.fearing the. fire might prove more disas.
trous than it did, sent its private fire
Departmental the scene.
The building at Third and Orange
streets was inspected by Building
Inspector DOLL on Friday. He saws
the structure is in bad shape but he
thinks part of the walls may be saved.
The ground floor was but lightly dam
aged.
Frank F. Slocomb of f. +. Slocomb &
Co. says the fire originated in the eastern