Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-04
Not Very Destructive, But 1t Created
Considerable Excitement.
SEVERAL HAD NARROW ESCAPES
Man and Two Women Had to
Climb Out of Window.
LOSS ABOUT $4,000, FULLY INSURED

Eastwood Dark III the basement OF the
building, under that portion of the
ground floor occupied by Samuel
Hawkins, Cigar manufacturer, and
damaged the building to the extent Of
probably $1,000 and Mr.. Hawkins' raw
stock, stored in the basement, probably
\ $1,000. There was no actual damage
above the first floor, and admirable
work by the firemen prevented the
N flames from spreading hey ond that
portion OF the building In which they
N originated. The building Is owned by
H Charles A. Sparks OF Philadelphia and
is insured, as is also Mr.. Hawkins
stock.
Tho fire was discovered about q. 90
O'Clock by g. j. Biichler superin-
tendept of the local office of the pru.
Dental Insurance Co., which is in the
northern half of the second floor of the
building. Mr.. Biichler had occasion
to go into the hallway and noticing
that there was great deal OF snoke
III coming from below, FASTENED to the
ground floor, notified the employees of
Mr.. Hawking cigar factory, which is
located In the rear Of the store. Tho
foreman made a haHty examination.
A Going to the cellar he discovered fire
q AMONG some bales of tobacco, and the
& alarm was Immediately given from box
No ~, 10 front Of the City Hall.
"a The district fire companies were soon
upon the scene, as were also all OF the
etioers OF the Fire Department, Chief
Welsh being In command. The chemical
6hgine Of the Washington Go. made
\ remarkably quick time and Immediately
began playing on the fire. Afterward
WIT became evident that matters were
Ayvery serious in the basement and it
lIywas found necessary to turn a stream
of water in that portion of the build
ing. The fire was soon under control,
notwithstanding the fact that the base
mont was very dark and ii was with
nsdifiioulty that the firemen and officers
METprKed. The alarm was struck at 8. %
NA O'Clock, and the first tap, designating
Fssthat the fire was under control, was
sept in by Chief Welsh at 10. 90 O'Clock.
Uhe fire was then practically ex-
tlnxuished, but some of the apparatus
rdmained until there was no further
danger of au outbreak.
40 well was the fire managed that it
did not even got across the hallway
n from Mr.. Hawkins store, and Scott 4
n Col, who occupy the northern half of
NJ ths ground floor, sustained no damage
Nm whatever. 1.-THE fire was sp,eudidly
N managed, said Harlan q. Scott of
Scott & Co., "the tiremen succeeded
ID sputting it out without damage by
water, using the chemical apparatus
ABOVE the basement - Mr.. Scott gave
IA the officers and members of the Fire
| N department great praise.
"a fter Superintendent Biichlei Of the
Fkndential Insurance office discovered
that the building was actually on fire
he returned to his Office, which is on
the second floor, and quickly informed
nj "a ~
Edith Parmalee, sand told them to pre-
bare to leave immediately. Mr.. Bitch ler
iii md the two young women started
through the hall door, intending to
iescepd the stairs or the fire escape,
which is in the rear, but the smoke
Mas 30 dense that they were almost
iyercome and found 1t necessary to re-
III Eeat. Upon entering the office they
| nalized that all avenues of escape were
bit off except the frcnt and rear win
WIDOWS, and running to the rear of the
DOM Mr.. Biichler raised one Of the
pFsindows and got out on ledge. which,
yCwever, was very uncertain, as it had
considerable slant, and was wet from
ahe ram. But he managed to get cut
and by holding on to the window frame
yujfted the young women, one at a time,
N 10 the tin roof of the one story back
VI building in the rear. This roof was
A steep, and had it not been for the
assistance of DIR. Hallett of the Ameri-
4, can Dental Parlors, on the south side
w, of the hallway, who got out of the rear
Z WI Window of his office and assisted the
A6 young women, they might have fallen
to Me yard, They escaped uninjured,
bqt were pretty badly frightened and
fokHA time almost overcome by smoke.
Mr. Biichler was salso badly CHECKED
Nhx the smoke and after he had made
Nlnn unsuccessful effort to reach the hall
NlV&a so nearly overcome that he could
||n4ly get back on his hands and knees.
M}ss Dolly. McCaulley OF Fifth and
beRres streets, an employee of Mr..
Yxwkins' upon learning that the place
VIA on fire, ran to the street and
liwepned Just as she reached the pave.
NNent. Police Capt. Black had reached
Mac building by that time, however,
cd caught her as she was about tC
PSAll, and carried her to a nearby store,
Al after she revived sent her to the
Mice station, where she was cared fol
NJ N Matron Wogan until she was fully
powered, when she was sent home in
nv Nbohch.
H. NJ. Wiley, first assistant chief Of
10 Fire DeaprtT emit, had thrilling
, tperienoe. He was one CT the first
yR embers of the Fire Department Il
itor the basement and went to the
cater to ascertain whether matters
K ere all right there. just as he an.
gpached the furnace, water which haC
asred the fire box caused an expo
Ipn, which blew the door open anc
Aocked Mr. Wiley across the room, tt
\ I'VE middle wall. He was stunned ant
4 4 lStuised, but not seriously injured Fl,
IN ion recovered, however. and resumed
ND Is work.
WI when the fire broke out Janitor Mao
IA 4 )tnnell was on the third floor ant
whep be started downstairs the smok,
n was very thick and he had a marrow
III eaoAps from being overcome. He sue
III cesaed, finally, in fighting his way t,
M the Htreet.
KIN There was absolutely no damae,
M above the ground floor, except from
snoke, whioh is trifling. In th
M American Dental Parlors, on the secont
w heor, DIR. Hallett and Willard brobs
@ were at work. They had time to ge
M outof rear window.
XVI The third floor is occupied by th
AM Machinists' Union, United Labo
M lengne and other labor organizations
Uni and also by the Young Mems Singh
Vii Tax Club. and the fourth floor b,
lodges. The rooms were pretty wei
hlled with smoke.
Chief Welsh of the Fire DEPARTMENT
n In epeaking of the fire said its Origin
IA Z Uo& MYSTERY To him Whab H.