Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-13
DEVASTATED BY FLAMES
The Large Morocco Factory Of Tadman
& Hickman GIFTED Friday Night.
LOSS IS ESTIMATED AT $4,000
Insurance $1,000 In Excess of
the Damage. a,
MANY PERSONS THROWN OUT OF WORK

MIAMI rEnouNO lHNuWN WI UT Wunk
Tadman & Hickman's morocco fac
tory, No. 20S West Fourth street, was
Quilted by fire Friday night, causing an
estimated damage to building, ma
hinery and stock of $4,000. The
insurance on the whole is s47, 900. As
soon as the losses have been adjusted
the factory will be again put in con-
dition for business. About 10 persons
are temporarily thrown out Of work.
Although it has been long time
since the fire department has had. a
large conflagration to fight, the hremen
covered themselves with glory in their
work Friday night. The fire was dis
covered by Messengers Howard Croft
and Albert Warner of the Western
Union Telegraph Co., while ON their
way home about 1920 o'clock. They
were on their bicycles and at once hur-
ried to the Fame enginehouse on
Second street to give the alarm. The
company Immediately responded and
about the same time an alarm was sent
in from box 2l2 at Third and Tatnall
streets, calling out four companies.
Chief Engineer George W. Sasse, who
is first lieutenant in Co. d, and just
furloughed, was soon on the scene with
Assistant Engineers Joyce and Purcell,
and they used good headwork in fight
ing the flames. The chief was in the
military uniform, over which he had
thrown rubber coat. 1t was soon
seen that it was a hard fire to quell
and general alarm was sent in calling
out the whole department. A large
force Of police under the direction Of
lei, sx,l raarasnfx
back the crowds which assembled.
The morocco factory is five story
building on Fourth street, between
Orange and Tatna1l, with three story
wing running back towards Third
street. At the eastern edge of the plant
is the boiler and engine room on the
ground floor with one story above 1t.
One supposition is that the fire started
in the engine room, although every
effort had been made to make it fire.
proof with brick and cement walls and
ceiling. The hottest of the fire in it's
early stage seemed to be In the neigh.
borhood of the boiler room. Another
theory is that the place was set on fire.
which is based on the improbability
that the blaze should have started
accidentally. The fire spread rapidly,
both towards the rear Of the building
and toward the front. In the basement
on the Fourth street front were the
watts and in the rear the colorhouse and
beamhouse. On the first floor were the
putting out and stalking rooms, the:
salesroom and office; and in the rear,
the shaving and skin rooms. On the
second floor were the glazing and
seasoning, the sorting and measuring
departments, and in the rear, the knee
stalking room. On the third floor were
the steam roomS and drying rooms ex-
| tending from front to rear. The fourth
| and fifth stories were used for the same
| purpose. 4. z
In spite of the Roadway which the
! fire soon secured, the fremen began to
| make winning fight against it throw.
| ing great streams of water from dozen
| pipes. The Phoenix, Water Witch and
Friendship were pouring water in from
Fourth street, and the other companies
were directing streams from various
points in the sides and rear. !.t /
| While the fire was in progress steam
| pipo connected with the boiler ex-.
l ploded and caused some alarm, inter.
| fering somewhat with the work Of the
| firemen who remained, however, at
their posts. The whistle on the boiler
also began footing in an ominous way
and there were fears that 1T might OK
| plode. A stream directed towards the
| whistle stopped its Shrek. III
Tho firemen removed two barrels Of
oil from the first floor of the building
to the street to prevent the danger Of
their exploding. 1
l. BY 11.30 O'Clock the fire was under
control, and at midnight the tout
signal was given. The fire was still
present, however, and some of the fire.,
men continued in service several hours.
longer. Once the flames broke out
again but were checked,
Robert w. Tadman and James B.
Hickman, who. comprise the morocco
firm, were, on the scene and worked
valiantly in removing articles to places
of safety. n
Some water entered the factory Of
Charles e. Fritz & Go. which adjoins
Tadfnan Il Hickman on the Tatnall
street. side but little damage was done
by it There are numerous residences
and business establishments in the
neighborhood, but the damage was
generally confined to Tadman Il Hick-
man's. 3s ~ ~
/ The building on Saturday presented
ia picture Of wreckage from basement to-
gansard roof. In the various depart
ments mentioned in another paragraph
much damage was wrought by fire and
water, with the exception of the Office
and sales room and sorting and measur-
| ing room, in the western end of the
first and second floors. Skins were
burned and scorched into complete
| loss.
Fritz & Co. kindly offered the usc of
portions of their plant to the firm
until able to resume business in the
burned factory.
| Tho value Of the morocco buildings
and machinery is placed at $40, 900 and
of the stock at $50, 600 or more. The
| insurance is placed by e. A. Van
Trump in the following companies:
4Etna, $40, 000; British America, Sc, 600;
Madgeburg, So, 600; Connecticut, a.
| 500; Caledonian, 50, 500, Manhattan,
so, 500; Phoenix, N. Y, $500; Queen,
1 $500; Aachen & Munich, 81, 500;
Niagara. 8, 500; United Firemen's,
1900; Pacific, Sl,500; Aachen &
Munich, "a, 500; American, N. ",
So, 600; total, SAT, 900.
The fire comes at very unopportune
time, when the morocco trade is pick
ing up and the firm has been readily
disposing Of its output. As soon as the
insurance has been adjusted, the neces-
sary repairs will be made and work
resumed.
kent COUNTY kE6UBARs.
They Have Decided Not 10 Fuse with the
Democratic Voters.
~. Fall -