Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-22
A MIDNIGHT ALARM
John Tweed's Stable on Wal
nut Street Destroyed BY Fire.
BUILDING GUTTBD LAST NIGHT

OhlON-7liORelcS All SAWED. |
NARROW ESCAPE OF REV.
BROCK, OF BETEEL CHURCH.
Fire broke out shortly after / o'clock |
this morning In the livery stable oc-
cupied 10y John Tweed, ON Walnut
street above Sixth, and completely gut
ted the structure.
The flames were first discovered by
Patrolman Mullin and Solomon at 1.20
o'clock, and these officers ran to box
No. 10, located at Fifth and French
streets, and sent in an alarm, to which
the district engines responded.
After turning in the call the officers
returned to the scene Of the fire and
got out the horses, of which there were
five in the stable. In this work they
were ably assisted by Daniel Dohl,
Joseph Neher and Joseph A. Rooney,
who were attending reception at
German Hall, and came out at the first
sound Of the alarm.
Adjoining the stable is the parsonage
Of B. thel "a. NJ q. Church, which is
occupied by Rev J. g. Brock. the pas
tor. The first intimatlon Rev. Mr.
Brock received OF the cOnflagration
was when he was awakened from his
slumbers by loud knocking at his
front door. Jane Brooks, a co,ored
woman living on Sixth street, was on
her way hcme from work, and noticing
the flames ran TO the door OF the par
lsonhge and aroused the inmates. when
Mr.. Brock awoke his house was filled
with smoke that was binding, and il
was with difficulty that the members
Of the family were able 10 find their
way out OF the house. They were as
sisted in leaving the building by OH
GERS Solomon, MCCLELLAN and other dis
trict patrolmen and Chief sasse and
Assistant Purcell
e In the mantlme the flames were leap.
q ing from the second and third fooi
e windows of the stable and the sky was
d lighted up for miles around. Through
= the heroic measures taken by the offi
: GERS and cltizsns all the horses wer
e rescued in safety and then the worl
4 Of getting out carriages and harnss
was looked after.
+ The burned stable Is al three-stor
r brick structure. having frontage q
p Walnut street or about sixty feet. Hor
As the fire originated is a mystery whic
Ne will probably never be explained. IN
al frames started in the hay lott OF th
d. brick building in the rear, which az
d joins the main building and Is a PAL
ie of the stable. There was but a sma
y quantity OF hay in tho loft at the tim
j. Mr. Tweed states that there was u
20 one in the building AZ the time OF th
~ fire, nor had there been for sometln
ri previous. The stove In the office COZ
s. tanned no fire in 1t. nor we're an
n matches about.
II was possible for tramps 10 emit
as from the rear, though Mr. Tweed do
OF not think this scarcely probable. In Il
er second and third floors Of the buildiI
tn were some fifty old paint cans, wink
20 had been used by the former occupar
or Hammit & Co., carriage builders, al
sct It was due to the combustible nature
as the paint that the flames we're so fer
and also that they were confined
is the second and third floors, leavii
nd the ground floor comparatively intact
rd, The two top floors were entire
nd gutted, and three sleighs, four wag
SO bodies and a dog-cart that were stor
81 on the third floor were destroys
There was but a small quantity
feed in the stable, which was CO
sumed, together with several sets
Sl harness.
'ls The fire finally spread TO the roof
pei the Bethel parsonage. and it is pre-
asl ably due to the nature OF this n
as that the building was not gutted al
una as the covering consists Of gravel
oui and tin, which prevented any gr
iF' spread Of hamss.
Shortly after the outbreak OF
fire a second alarm was sent In, I
after the engines got under way g
- work was done by the firemen, tho
gr at difficulty was experienced
~ getting sufficient water. The Relia
- engine took the plug at Seventh
Walnut streets, but could get no wa
~, and WAS compelled to move up
NJ Eighth and Walnut streets and ru
-. line az hose from that point 10
- fire. The hose burst once or tW
but their work was efficient
An amusing sight was Hop Lee,
III. Chinese laundryman, playing a str
3ap- from a garden hose on the rear CT
ated building.
Five Mr.. Tweed is not as yet able to
uiry culate his losses, but thinks he Is
are covsred by insurance. He has s.
uiet, upon the building and $500 on st
rrill. divided between the Royal and