The sun., 1901-10-08
PENNSGR0YE
THREATENED
Inoerdiary Fire Destroys Block Of
Business Places.
LOSS PLACED AT $4,000
Wilmington Firemen Saved the
Greater Part of the Town From
Being Burned. Houses
Torn Down.

Early yesterday morning disastrous
fire broke out in Pennsgrove, n. j., and
for several hours it looked as though the
entire town would be wiped out. seven
buildings on the north side of Main
street east OF Penn, about square ana
a half from the steamboat wharf, We're
destroyed. But for delegation from
the Wilmington Fire Department II
command of Chief John L. Weish the
entire business section would propapi.
have been destropey.
The buildings destroyed were as foi-
lows:
Fletcher Layton's tobacco store.
Robert Justis' butcher shop
William Yeager's barber shop.
Sheppard l.. Boone & Sons ice cream
establishment and the elder Mr.. Boomers
dwelling.
The 'postoiiice. OF which j. ID. Whit
taker is the postmaster.
Joseph A. Robbins harness store ana
dwelling.
The contents of the postoffice and
most of the other buildings We're saved
and nobody was injured. The loss Is
estimated at about $4,000, partially GOV.
red by insurance. The fire, which is
supposed to have been the work of i'll
,endiaries, was discovered in an alley
way between Fletcher Layton's tobacco
tore and Robert Justis' butcher shop
Ia 3.SO o'clock by William Pedrick. watch
man at the Pennsylvania railroad station
Mr.. Pedrick gave the alarm and many
Of the citizens were soon on the street
Daniel V. Summerill, county solicitor
lat once sent kilograms to Wilmington
and Camden. asking for assistance. Resi-
lents of the town formed n bucket bri
,nte and worked hard until the fremel
arrived from this city. As the Camdc
department had not arrived when th'
iremen from this city got there. a tele
gram was sent to Camden counter
lnanding the order.
The message reached Wilmington a
1880 O'Clock and Captain Thomas Kan
Immediately notified Chief Welsh of til
Fire Department. He in turn detaile
the Friendship and Liberty eOmpanie
to go to the fire and in d few minute
they were at King street wharf, viii
their steamers and hose carriages and 4
men, ready for service. The Washin
ton Company was also sent to the wba,
, Dut 1t was decided to only send the tw
ompanies.
As soon as the fire was discoyerc
: Captain Charles Osborne ond Cb;af M,
Hvtr SHERMAN Bristow Of the steame
", ""'ch boat was mt the penn>
'''Ne wharf awakened the crew of tb
"oa' anu started to get up steam. A
''4o O'Clock the boat left for WHINING
ION, making the trip in just 81 minute,
ne Friendship and Liberty engines m
nose ana the 40 men were on the bou
l III very few minutes and on their wa
the scene OF the fire. The run /
ehtSgrove was made in 30 minutes. an
IL AZ minutes after the arrival OF th
n"at the engines, which were placed o
ne wharf. were in service and throwin
water on the fire.
\ large crowd greeted the Wilmingto
bremen and cheered them as they lande,
: The fire which then looked serious WI
turned over to Chief Welsh mt once.
by direction of Chief Welsh. the ha
= ness store and dwelling of Joseph !!
t Robbins. which were in the track of I'll
!. tire. were torn down and the progress ,
'. the flames was stayed in that manne
|, The firemen soon had the FIRE und,
I. control and by 9 o'clock it was out.
/, The Wilmington firemcn were royal
entertained bv Mayor Joseph y. Torto
Q Councilmen Henry ]. Bloom. George I
4 Ellington, Thomas ]. Hunt and Geor.
!. T.. Coomhs. Hotel Keeper Joseph
r French; Harry A. Dolbow. prominc,
0 'itizen. and other people OF the town. i
"luding the women. Refreshments we
+ provided in abundance and the hous,
{ r"rc thrown open to them.
After the fire Mayor Torton CALI
Hnon Chief Welsh and asked what IL
hill Of the Wilmington firemen was. ri
'hief replied that the town owed the
i nothing. whereupOn the mayor could n
:. End words to express his apprecatio
y Tho people also gave great praise to II
/ officers and crew of the steamboat 7
II rica for their quick work.
Chief Welsh is much pleased with Il
IL ccrption given the firemen and the ma
s nr in which thcv worked. Tn spcakir
/ " the fire he said everything worked
m entirely satisfactory manner n
ngines were placed on the wharf NJ
g nnmpcd water from the Delaware riv.
s The firemen returned home on the
+ -ica at 1890 o'clock yesterday mornin
There were no serious accidents. III
Ppnnscrove authorities are looking +
the firebugS.