Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-04
BUILDING FIRED BY THIEVES.
Robbery Mt Eugene wyatt's Store Followed
by a Blaze Witch Was Quickly Extin-
Duishad. .r|

Robbery at Eugene wyatt's Store Followed
by blaze Which Was Quickly Extin-
guished.
Eugene Wyatt's dry goods sstore. at
the northwest corGer OF Second and
Orange streets, was visited by burglars
at midnight last night week, who, after
making an unsuccessful effort to crack
the safe, set fire TO the building. The
flames we're discovered about ~. 10
O'Clock by Policemen McGillon and
Winthrop, who called out the Fame
Fire Co., which Is nearly across the
street, and turned in an alarm from
box No. 90, at Second and Shipley
streets. The Fame engine was soon
playing on the fire and in short time
the district companies were on the
scene and the chemical engines Of the
| Washington and Weeeacoe companies
we're 81 at work. The blaze, which
was on the floor of the second story
and had rot gained much headway
when it was discovered, was extin-
guished in short time. but the lower
| floor of the store was pretty we'll flooded
with water.
AZ soon as the fire was out Police
Captain Black and Chief Welsh of the
Fire Department, accompanied by
several policemen and firemen, began
an investigation aud they had not gone
far before they discovered the fact that
thieves mad been about and had esi
IDENTIFY set fire 10 the place. A ladder
was found leading to a trap door in
the roof, which had been removed after
the fastenings had been torn away,
and on the roof near the trap door
opening was found bundle of silver
ware, which had been carried from the
store. The thief had evidently been
: frightened upon reaching the roof and
droppsd the bundle. There were also
evidences of an attempt to crack the
safe, as the hinges and handles of the
door had been mutilated and hatchet
and hammer used about the store were
found nearby. The thief or thieves
r had not succeeded in opening the door.
: They had concealed themselves from
people on the street by placing hoxes
t between the safe and the front door.
The electric light wires had beer
tempered with, ard rs they had beer
torn away and some OF the insulation
Q removed, it is possible that the fir,
+ may haze been started in that manner
q place in the ceiling of the mali
. storeroom near the cafe had beef
1 ignited, and the condition of thing
v when Ill6 ulbcONeiy WAS iudub lUJhot
9 very much as il the plaster had beef
r removed SO that the woodwork could b
fred more easily. Only small mol
It was burned. thanks to the quick worl
:. of the policemen and firemen, and tn
o entire damage will hardly exceed $500
a which is covered by insurance. Nearl
o every drawer in the ace was ransacke,
before the fire was started, but n
! money was found and it is believe
h that vety little of value was taken.
IS The store has been damaged by fir
If four times during the past few years
g and it is suspected that thieves wer
responsible for each fire. The polio
have no clue, but are hard at work U
d the mystery. 1t is said suspicion
% characters have been seen in the neigh
y borhood several times lately, and it
10 reported that q man was frightene
e off the roof one night recently.