Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-10
Seven Buildings Destroyed by Fire Mon
day Morning; Loss, $4,000.
WILMINGTON FlREMEN CALLED
The Friendship and Liberty
Went Over.
PREVENTED DESTRUCTION OF TOWN

oontiagration, and probably total an
limitation, Monday morning Seven
buildings, oE the north side of Main
street east of Penn, about square and
n half from the steamboat wharf, were
destroyed, but the fire had been burn
Ing nearly three hours when the Will
mingtou firemen arrived, and when
they reached the town 1t looked as II
the entire business section was doomed.
The buildings destroyed we're as follows ::
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.. Boone's
dwelling. ta.~
The pcstolflce Of which j. D. Whit.
taker is the postmaster.
Joseph A. Robbins harness store and
dwelling.
The contents of the postoflice and
most OF the other buildings were saved
and nobody was injured. The loss is
estimated at about Sl0,0 COO partially
covered by insurance. The fire. which
is supposed to have been the work OF
,incsndiarieH, was discovered in an
alleyway between Fletcher Layton's
tobacco store and Robert Justis' butcher
shop. about $50 o'clock this morning
by William Pedriok, Waterman at the
pennsylvania railroad station, who hap
pened to BIO passing. Both buildings
we're then atire. Mr.. Pedrick gave the
alarm and the citizens were soon ON the
street. Daniel V. Summerill, county
solicitor, at once sent kilograms to Will.
mington and Camden, asking for assist
anoe, and the people Of the town, under
the direction of Mayor Torton. worked
valiaDtly with the limited means at
their command, but having no fire
apparatus they were badly handicapped.
The message sent TO Wilmington
arrived at the police station about 4. 30
O'Clock and Immediately Capt. Thomas
A. Kane, who was on duty, notified
Chief Welsh of the Fire Department by
telephone. Chief Welsh in turn de.
tailed the Friendship and Liberty COM
panies to go TO the fire and in few
minutes they were at King street wharf,
with their steamers and hose carriages
and 40 men, ready for service. In case
additional help was needed, the Wash
iogton Go. was also sent to the wharf
and that company's hose was added TO
hat taken by the other companies
making $500 feet in all, but it was de-
sided to send only the two companies
over.
ar bupu as bud hrs was ulSCONbFbQ "
messenger was sent to the steamboat
wharf 10 PENIS Grove and Capt.
Charles Osborne and Chief Engineer
Sherman Bristow of the steamboat
Ulrioa were asked il they would come
to Wilmington at once to take the fire
apparatus over. They were glad of an
opportunity to serve the people Of the
town and Immediately the members OF
the crew we're aroused and the work of
getting up steam was begun at onye.
AT 40 O'Clock the boat left for Will
inington, making the trip in Just 81
. minutes. The Friendship and Liberty
engines and hose and the 40 men were
ON the boat in very few minutes and
on their way to the score of the fire.
The run 10 PENIS Grove was made in
90 minutes, aud in Az minutes after
the arrival OF the boat the engines,
which were placed on the wharf, were
in service and throwing water on the
fire. a large crowd of people greeted
the Wilmington iiremen and oheered
them as they landed. Upon the arrival
of the WirniBs.ouians the fire, which
looked very serious, was turned over TO
Chief Welsh and he took in the situation
at a glance and got his men at work
without the slightest delay and 10 a
manner which excited the admiration
of the residents of the town. The
engines were in service about three
hours. By direction VI Chief Welsh,
the harness store and dwelling Of
Joseph A. Robbins, which we're in the
track of the fire, we've torn down and
the progress OF the flames was stay ed
in that manner. With this connecting
link out Of the way. the tiremen
! directed their attention to the burning
buildings and the ones nearby and soon
Y, the blaze was under control and at
O'Clock the re was out. Streams were
played on it for half an hour afterward.
The flo was directly opposite the
bank and residence of the cashier, John
Hare, of this city. Mr.. IIare's dwell
ing and the clothing store OF Ia. d.
Leap ~ Son we're slightly scorched, but
not seriously damaged. French's Hotel
is about square from the scene OF the
fire and was not damaged. NJ
Tho Wilmington firemen we're royalty
entertained by Mayor Joseph d. Torton,
Councilman Henry j. Bloom, George
ii. Elkintcn, Thomas j. Hunt and
George l.. Coombs, Hotel Keeper Joseph
l.. French; Harry A. Dolbow, promi-
nent citizen, and other people of the
town, including the women. Refresh
ments were provided in abundance and
the honses we're thrown open to the
firemen. Tho town was practically
turned over to them and the citizens
were exceedingly grateful for their mag
nificert work and their gentlemanly
conduct excited the admiration of the
people. After the fire Mayor Torton
called upon ChiefN Welsh and asked
what the bill of toe Wilmington fire.
men was. Ths chief replied that the
town owed them nothing, whereupon
the mayor could not lind words to ex.
preHs his appreciation. The people also
gave great praise to the officers and
crew of the steamboat Ulrica for their
quick work. t
There were no accidents. While
Richard Richardson of PENIS Grove
was fighting the fire from the Roof Of
Mrs, Title Smith g residence he tainted,
but was carried down by Harry A. Dol
bow and soon rAviyed.
Chief Welsh is delightsd with the re-
ception given the hremen and the man
ner in which they worked. lie thinks
the people Of Penn's Grove are entitled
to great deal OF credit fer their nos
pitality. In speaking of the FIRE he said
everything worked in an entirely satis-
factory manner. The engines we're placed
on the wharf and pumped water from
the Delaware River. The engines worked
nicely and the firemen had everything
their own way in fighting the flames.
Chief Welsh's plans worked we'll and
1t is due 10 the efforts OF himself and
his men that the fire was not more
serious. The iremen returned home on
the Ulrica at TO- 30 o'clock. "a