Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-12
Big FIRE At BLuHENTHALS
The Reed Street Factory Par
TALLY Destroyed.
LOSS WILL. BE ABOUT $4,000
Six Hundred Men Temper
alrly Out of Work.
The Firemen Did Great Service in Saving
the Rest OF the Million Dollar Plant-Re-
pairs VIII be Made After the Insurance,
Which is Ample, Has Been Adjusted.

The Reed street factory of f. Blu
menthal & Co. g immense morocco
plant was partly destroyed by fire of
unknown origin last week, which entails
loss of about $3.50, 600, fully insured,
and throws 600 employees of that and
other parts of the plant out of work
until repairs can be made.
1t was just about o'clock when the
fire was discovered in the oiling, off
room by Waterman George McGoyern.
At o'clock, he had been in that de-
partment which faces on Adams street,
and then nothing appeared to be wrong.
Thence McGoyern continued on his
tour of inspection, the regulations of
the underwriters requiring registry of
his tour at certain periods. He was
near the Monroe street end of the long
building, which occupies Reed street
between Monroe and Adams, when he
saw flames issuing from the oiing- off
room. Waterman Frank Wigglesworth
saw the flames about the same time
and the two mon ran to the scene. A
glance was enough to convince them of
the need of quick assistance from the
Fire Department and they ran to the
saloon of William Cole. Maryland
avenue and Chestnut street, where they
secured the key of box No. II at the
corner of Maryland avenue and Monroe
After the alarm had been sounded,
calling out the district engines, Friend
ship Fame, Washington, and Weccacoe
and the Washington chemical and
Delaware and Phoenix trucks, general
alarm was sent in calling out the rest
of the department. After some delay
in getting water, the firemen were soon
fighting the flames with tremendous
energy. 1t proved to be fire worthy
of their best efforts and they arose to
the occasion, standing by their excel
lent record of the past. Chief Engineer
George w. Sasse and his assistants,
Joyce and Purcell, were in charge.
The Reed street factory lies back of
the main factory which occupies the
block bounded by Front, Reed, Monroe
and Adams streets, and occupies about
one-half of the square bounded by Reed,
Chestnut, Monroe and Adams streets.
The two structures are connected by
overhead bridges. Reed street. it will
be remembered, was vacated in that
section between the two buildings, for
the benefit of the morocco company
which has a Wilmington & Northern
siding In the street, and keeps the
section shut off by large gates. The
itVcA obtVot ARNbcA1 10 bhIbG u,
800 feet long and 100 feet wide, wifi
an L extending to Chestnut street, a
distance of 80 feet. In the burned
section were the beam room on the first
floor or cellar; the putting out shay
ing, coloring and striking out depart
ments, with $40, 900 worth of machinery,
much of itNnew, on the second floor, and
the oiling-off and steam or driving
rooms on the third floor, which con.
tanned 1000 to 5000 dozens skins, the
work of four or five days, valued at
about 100000.
FIREMEN FIGHT vAL1ANTLY.
Reed street was vantage point for
fighting the fire, and the Washington,
Weccacoe, Water Witch and Liberty
companies had lines of hose there.
sending great volumes of water into the
flames. They were able to keep the
flames within section of It's by 30
feet, that is from Adams street, some
thing over half way towards Monroe,
They saved the Monroe street end in
which is the engine room ard 144, 900
dozen skins, representing two weeks
work. Had the whole Reed street fac
tory been destroyed the loss, according
to General Manager Richard Patzowsky,
who was early at the fire, would have
amounted to $500, 900.
The aerial ladder of the Delaware
truck was used with success in getting
water above the flames, the Reliance
throwing the stream. Two members
OF the Delaware company found their
way to the roof of the building and
pulled the plug from the large water
tank there and allowed its contents to
run into the fire. The supply Of water
in the city mains was entirely annie
for the purposes of the firemen, who
were able also to get convenient plug
connections. The engines were located
as follows: Friendship, MARYLAND
avenue below Front; Reliance, Front
and Adams Phoenix, Front and Jack.
son; Water Witch, Second and Adams
Fame. Maryland avenue above Chest.
nut; Washington, Front and Monroe
Weccacoe, Chestnut and Adams
Police Captain Thomas A. Kane was
in charge of the police. who had little
trouble in keeping outsiders away from
the hremen. Thousands of persons
were attracted by tho fire.
In the first half hour, it looked as Il
the whole plant might become involved.
Fortunately the wind was light.
Then, too, the structure had been
equipped with fire doors and fire walls
SO that the flames found their way less
easy than otherwise would have been
the case. Tho people living in the
Chestnut street end of the block were
apprehensive that the flames would
reach their houses and they were pre-.
pared to move out, but happily, were
saved that trouble
Thesfre was under control within an
hour and half, but the firemen con.
tinued their work an hour or SO longer,
the out signal being given at u, l(
O'Clock this morning.
The origin OF the fire is unknown.
According to Manager Patzowsky, ar
electric wire, from which insulation
may have been worn off, is possible
cause. No fire was allowed in the fac.
tory and employees were not allowed tc
smoke there
The whole morocco plant is insured
for $1,000, 600. About every agency il
the city has insurance on ii. The com
panies represented by Courtland d.
Pierson hold about S100, 600. Some 81
these policies were renewed only yester.
day. Ferdinand Blumenthai, presi
dent Of the company, is in Par is
Victor Ullman, "a member of the firm
residing in New York, was informed q
the fire by wire last night by Mir
Patzowsky.
Upon the order of Mr.. Patzowsky
A: I. Ainscow served coffee and sand
witches to the firemen.
While the fire was in progress, Mr.
Patzowsky had sudden attack O
illness. He was attended al the com
pany's Office by DIR. j. Paul Iuken
and was afterwards taken home.
William pfiarirlx a Fnra,,,n,, Al.