Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-31
A SPARK ON DRY SHINGLES
Started a Costly Fire at Kings
Hotel Friday.
LOSS FROM $1,000 TO $500
Most OF the Damage Caused
by Water.
Mr. King and His Som who We're Aslerp in
the Second story, Awakened by the Cries
OF People outside-DurinE the Excitement
Boarder Wrote Letters.

A fire of mysterious origin late Fri
day afternoon damaged Harry King q
hotel, at the southwest corner of Fifth
and Shipley streets, TO the extent of
between 81, 600 and 81, 500. The build
ing is insured and Mr.. Kings per-
sonal loss will not be very haayy. The
roof, whore theffe started, was wrecked.
Much OF the loss resulted from
water, which was poured into the rear
of the building and found its way into
some of the best rooms of the house
and to-the first floor.
MIR. King, after thorough investi-
cation, believes the fire, which started
on tho exterior of the roof, which is of
shingles, resulted from spark being
blown upon it from a chimney some
where in the vicinity, but where tho
spark came from he hes been unable to
ascertain. He is satisfied it did not
come from his own chimney, as the
only fire in the house was in coal
stove in the rear portion and there
was scarcely any possibility of its
emitting sparks and If il had they
would not have been blown toward
the gable roof, as the wind was from
the south.
At the time Mr.. King and his young
son were asleep in the front room on
the second floor and did not know of
the fire until they were aroused by
cries of fire from the outside. Soon
after the fire was discovered tele-
phone message was sent to tho Phoenix
company and shortly afterward the
alarm box in front of the City Hall
was struck. The district companies
quickly responded and in short time
two chemical and two plug streams
were on the fire, but owing to the
shape of the roof and the fact that the
shingles were old and dry the blaze
was not extinguished forl nearly an
hour. While the fire was confined to
the roof and fourth floor, much water
found its way to ro, N on the floors
below, hence the great uanlnge.
Serious matters frequently have a
ludIcrous side, and there WIS feature
of this character during the fire.
Richard E. Lynch and wife, the latter
being known on the stage as Ada NJ.
Jewell, theatrical people who are to
appear at Shellpot Park next week,
are occupying the front room on the
third floor and were there when the
fire broke out. Both were very cool
opohL tiO al buo nob-
withstanding tho fact that the firemen
were working with hose and pickaxes
Immediately over theirs heads, and as
soon as Mr.. Lynch felt assured that his
quarters were not in immediate danger
he sat down to table at one of the
front windows and wrote letters, re-
naming there until the excitement had
subsided. He continued writing and
when the shingles and dust began to
fall in the direction Of his window did
not move away, but pulled down the
window and proceeded with his work
as if nothing unusual was going on.
His wife walked about the room and
peered out of the windows occasionally,
apparently as unconcerned as her hus.
band.
While the Friendship hose carriage
was proceeding to the fire it colided
with telegraph pole ut Sixth and
King streets and Albert Bradford, the
driver, was thrown off and slightly in
jured. The shafts of the carriage was
broken, but it was not badly damaged
Repairs will be made at once. The
carriage had started down Market
street, but went to King on Eighth to
avoid street cars,