Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-16
FIRE CAUSED EXCITEMENT
The Thrilling Experience of Mrs. Rachel
NJ. Chandler and Her Daughter.
DANGEROUS VENTURE OF MOTHER
Ran Some Distance on Steep
Slate ROOF.
HOUSE DAMAGED TO EXTENT OF 5000

HOUSE DAMAGED TO EXTENT OF $500
Mrs Rachel NJ. Chandler and Miss
Esteile Chandler, vile and daughter Of
Philenma Chandler, had thrilling
experience at 4 O'Clock Saturday morn
ing at their residene, No. 901 Monroe
street, and tho houae and furniture
were damaged by fire to the extent Of
about 5000. The origin OF the fire is a
mystery.
Shortly before O'Clock Miss Chan
tller, who was sleeping in tho second
| story front room, vas awakened by the
oior of Gas She was about 10 begin
ar investigation, WHOM she heard a
noise resembling the gnawing of mice
| in the front wall. After listening for
"a few seconds she realized that instead
Of mice FIRE was burning in tho wall
and tho presence Of gas was becoming
more apparent. With great presence
of mind, although nearly stifled, the
young woman throw open ono of the
front windows, when volume of smoke
entered from the outside. She believed
escape was cut oil from that direction
ind started toward the rear of the
house. at the samo time alarming her
father aud mother.
Mrs. Chandler, who is about 10 years
Of age, ran rs quickly as possible to
her daughters room, and, although
dense smoke was pouring in the win
dow from the outside, She leaped to
the root of the porch, which is slate
and is pitched at an angle of about
45 degrees, and, apparently, without
realizing the great danger of falling
Off, made her way quickly to the front
window of the adjoining house, No.
H0j Monroe street, which is occupied
by John Wallsmith and family, and
gave the alarm by knocking on the
window and shouting.
Mrs. Chandler was hastily admitted
to the Wallsmith house and Warner
Walsinith ran out in scanty attire and
had an alarm Of fire turned in from
box No. 28, at Ninth and Madison
streets. Although Mrs, Chandler was
much excited, she did not swoon and
by daylight had recovered flom her
fright Miss Chandler, by her timely
awakening, probably saved the lives of
the entire family. She had also re-
covered from the shock when reporter
of Every Evening called at the house
about 10 o'clock
AS soor as Miss Chandler gave the
alarm her father made hasty investi-
CATION and finding flames eating their
way through the parlor floor began
fighting them with water. In q short
, time the district fire companies were at
the house and streams were put on tie
blaze from tine Water Witch and Wecca-
coe chemical engines, and by iudicious
and systematic work the firemen SUBJ
y tlued the flames without the necessity
of turning water into the house. The
, fire originated in the vicinity of the
!, gas meter, which is in the front part
Of the cellar, ind although they found
, their way to the second story, follow
ing the wall, did net extend more than
! u foot from the wall at any one place.
. The firemen showed wonderful head-
work and discretion and tie result was
, exceedingly gratifying, as the flames
had great headway when they arrived.
When Mr.. Chandler and the other
: members of the family were seen this
! morning they were loud in their praise
of the firemen and also the policemen,
who were on the scene soon after tht
i alarm was given and assumed complete
' control of tho promises. Mr.. Chandler
!. said the work Of the firemen and police
men was revelation to him and he
n felt very grateful to them.
: Mr.. Chandler is of the opinion thai
: the fire resulted from gas escaping from
n the pipes and being ignlted in somt
manner, although he did not know
there was leak and cannot account fol
the presence of lire IN the vicinity o.
leak If there was one. 4esterda,
after noon, at his request, an employe o
q the Wilmington Coal Gas Co. visitet
! the house and made an examination tt
!. ascertain the cause for poor light
n which had been reported at the office
! The plumber disconnected the mete
and found the service there all right
y and believing the trouble was in th
/. burners put on five new burners,
was learned at the office of the ga
o company this morning that tho plumbe
= did not use any light in doing th
/. work About O'Clock last evening Mr.
i. Chandler was in the cellar cleaning th
! heater. While there he lighted ga
Jet and used candle. hut said he ha'
4 no fire in the vicinity of the meter
;. Consequently nobody is able to accoun
- for the fire. The blaze evidently startet
Il in the vicinity Of the meter.
ii The meter was wrecked and the pipe
n around it were BADLY burned. Th
escaping gas after ono of the pipes ha
been burned off added to the fuel, bu
the flow was soon stopped by shuttin
h the supply OIL from the house.
Y The parlor furniture, including
" piano, and also several valuable picture
It we're badly damaged, and tho furnitur
l. in the front chamber is also in ba
IN shape Mr.. Chandler places his los
I'd on furniture and effects at about S40C
s. OH which ho has aD insurance of 500
ID in the Farmers Mutual Co. The los
rs on the house, which is owned by job
"a Craig, will amount to about $500. Th
I'd house IS insured with the Equitabl
es Co. of Providence, +. l., Of which {
e. Pierson is the local agent, for S2.00C