Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-09
One Building, Where Spikes and
RiVets Are Made, PraC.i-
CaIly Destroyed.
THE LOSS MAY REACH $4,000
But 1t viii be Fully Covered
by lnSurance--Good Work
by Fire Department at
Close and Hot
Quarters.

aNoHub anu IdacH SbTU6t, part Ol
the Old Ferry Mills of the Diamond
State Steel Go. was destroyed by fire
Of unknown origin. which started
about 3. 20 O'Clock yesterday morning.
Although $50 to 200 mon are thrown
out of work, the company will lose no
time, after the insurance is adjusted,
ih clearing away the ruins and starting
anew.
The same department was wiped out
by fire In 1891, and the building
burned yesterday was erected after
that fire. Tho spike mill had ground
plan Of SO to los feet width, by 66l
feet length. Its sides were of cor
rugated iron, and the frame work was
of wood. 1t comprised the spike and
boiler rivet departments, the carpenter
shop, cooper shop and the pattern
shop, all in the northern section, and
the rolling mill il the southern half.
All but the rolling mill were destroyed.
STARTED IN NORTHERN END.
The carpenter shop and pattern shop
occupied the second story which ran
for about 80 feet i'm the northern end
of the building, and it was in that
portion that the fire started. IL is said
that the watchman had been there only
| five minutes before the discovery of the
fire and did not then see anything.
Throughout the spike-making section
where there were "a spike machines,
| various furnaces had fire in them, but
were not in operation. In the pattern
and carpenter shops no tire was used
and although they are heated by
steam, it is only while the men are
working there, in the day time.
In the rolling mill, which provides
| the strips of iron that are after wards
cut into the finished product by the
| machines in the northern end. some
men were at work through the night.
| They were among the first to see the
sudden blaze in the neighborhood of
the carpenter shop 200 or 300 feet from
where they were working. They at
once gave the alarm. and while some
were fastening TO have the box, No.
AZ, at Head and Lobdel sti ieets,
struck, 10 summon the fire department,
others quickly put the company IS fire
time the firemen arrived, employees
were fighting the flames. The whistle
at the works was also set going and II
served as calling signal to a great
many wol kmen who we're in their beds.
|
cally to save property.
WHOLE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN SERVICE
Chief Engineer George W. Sasse Of
| the Fire Department, who lives on Fifth
street, east of Walnut. was on the
! scene a very few minutes after the first
alarm came in. when | got here the
whole place was afire." he said. He
immediately sent in call for the
whole department to respond, this
alarm following the first by only three
minutes. Meanwhile the fire was gain
lug increased headway. 1t lighted up
the sky and gave the Impression from a
distance that the whole plant might be
affected; the spike mill is possibiy
one-fifth the Old Ferry Mill plant, be-
tween it and the ChIistiana lying the
main rolling mill, and nearer Third
street bridge, several other buildings.
Among those who hurried to the
scene were President Howard T..
Wallace of the company; Charles j..
Phillips, general superintendent: Leslie
George, foreman of the spike depart
ment, and Chief Inspector Had
Lewis. They were more than pleased
with the work Chief Engineer Sasse and
Assistants Joyce and Purcell and the
firemen under them.
HOW THE FIRE WAS FOUGHT.
Chief Sasse saw at once that the
northern end of the building was
doomed and determined to stop the fire
from eating its way through the whole
STRUCTURE. In carrying out this plan,
holes were cut through tho iron sides
on Heald street, and stfeams directed
on the flames from several points; and
the firemen also fought the fire from
che yard side. 1t was q fire that re-
| quised fighting and it met its con-
| dueror. Although the burning build.
ing was separated from the main roll
ing mill by only about 30 feet, the
fire was confined to the building in
which 1t started.
| The various companies were stationed
as follows Friendship and Water Witch
were in the yard and drew water from
the Christlana; Reliance, Peach and
| Claymont streets; Phoenix, Heald ard
Lobdell; Washington, Commerce and
Dock; Fame and Liberty, Head street,
near side CT building.
wEccAcoE ENGINE DISABLED.
When the Weccacoe engine arrived at
the fire the members of the company
discovered that tube in the boiler
had burned out, thus disabling the
engine. The trip heating arrangement
at the eneinehouse had failed to work
properly and when South Wilmington
was reached there was a hot fire aud
no water in the boiler, with TIE result
as given above. 1t was necessary,
therefore, to return the apparatus to
the enginehouse, without going into
service. Repairs will be made at once
While working at the fire Chief Sasse
cut his hand Oh the corr ugated iron.
LIBERTY's HORSE BLIsTEREp.
The holiness of the blaze is forcibly
| illustrated by the condition of the
| Liberty hose wagon and Duke. the
handsome black horse which was at
tached to it. John p. Welsh, who may
be the next chief of the fire depart
ment, was driving the wagon. lie
drove along Heald street and then
1 turned around as the hose was being
payed out. 1t was so hot that Welsh
shielded his face with his arm. When
daylight came the side of the wagon
was found TO have been blistered, the
paint standing out in cracks, and,
worst of all, Duke, the horse, had been
soorohed on the side that was towards
the fire. He was clipped only yester-
| uay, ana MS otnefWlse smootn and
glossy coat is ridged with the blistels.
| But he does not seem to mind it.
Other evidences of the Tremendous
heat are visible today. The several
trolley lines, telegraph and telephone
scene are badly scorched and new poles
may have to he put up The wires
were broken by the heat and linemen
\ wora uniting nm pnru nnpc fhiS p,oruinr,
PROGRESS CHECKED.