Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-04

they we're insured. Their machines,
which were most likely totally de-
stroyed, were worth between S4, 600 and
S., 600, while the stock, 1T is believed,
was worth at least 81 600. The com
many owned or leased the machines and
owned the raw and finished stock, the
workhouse furnishing and being re-
sponsible only for the light, heat and
power. In addition to machines Tor
making trousers, there were two Reese
buttonhole machines, which cost 9lo6
each to install; one machine for. hem
ming trousers so as not to show the
stitches; machines for sewing on but
tons, making hip pockets, winding
boohins, &C., making a very costly
outfit.
Albert Rothschild, representative
of the firm, was here Sunday and
made an examination of the ruins. he
regretted very much that the fire had |
Loccurred. just at present the company
Mis- overwhelmed with orders and VIII |
I,probably open shop in New York for !
use until the local workhouse sh op Is
| rebuilt. He said the equipment which
was burned was insured, but did not
| state the amount. There was an un-
/ usually heavy stock at the workhouse
at the time of the fire and much
finished goods, which would have been
shipped in day or two; Al vas
the damaged outfit will he duplicated
when the burned portion of the work
| house is rebuilt.
TO REBUILD At ONCE.
The work of rebuilding the east wing
will be begun at once.
The workhouse was insured for S2O.
600 The New Castle County Mutual
Fire Insurance Go. holds a risk OF
$40 600 and the Farmers Mutual holds
one for the same amount.
SHOCK TO THE TRUSTEES.
The FIRE was great shock to the
trustees, as we'll as TO Warden Meserve
Trustee j. Frank Ball, in Speaking OF
the fire while it was in progress, said
"This is a terrible loss. 1t Affects
ME as if is vera ar Individual one.
Here is this model institution burning
down Just at the time it was beginning
to demonstrate its usefulness. we can
not tell what caused the fire. As soon
as it started / received message and
arrived here on the first car. The
eastern wing was then burning fiercely.
We took the 20 prisoners from the
eastern section TO the main cell depart
ment Walking in among the prisoners
: who we're agitated Warden Meserve and
! | myself gave the men assurance that we
2 would keep them out of all danger. l
|, can never forget that volume OF fire
that swept from the eastern wing
: through the central section. Seeing
: that the fire was eating away the CELL
: ing and that the tongues of fire were
: coming our way, we decided to remove
- the prisoners to the stockade. Chiei
Black and his 80 officers are deserving
:, y of the highest praise for the assistance
= rendered. They were everywhere and
: willing to do anything from dragging
y ia line of hose to knocking down an
q : escaping criminal. The workhouse was
. built ut q cost of SITS, ,000 The MA
q chilery and stock in the work ane
store rooms are owned by Oppsnheim
/ & Go. of New York. They, no doubt
u carried insurance to cover their loss
I "But | cannot understand the chic
9 of the fire department We feel crate
: ful, of course, to the Wilmington Fire
! Department for responding to our cal
y for help, but / cannot see why he die
= not order one of the trucks to CONT
= here. You can see for yourself that thu
- roof is high. To get there. needs {
: ladder. Had there been ladder her'
! nothing butE the cast wing would havi
e been destroyed. But while every on
= lamented the absence of one of th'
:, trucks, the buildings burned and Chic
y Conway needed not. This a lesson fo
y US as to the value of water tower
y Seeing that the two companies in ser
% vice were unable to head oil the lire
q telephoned for the Washington com
10 pany to come here. an my opinion tht
companies could have done better worl
Z by coupling their hose as the, force o
y water would have been greater. 1t il
70 calamity to see the woEkhouse beinI
y destroyed.
- "A number of the TRUSTEES are de
. serving of special oommendaTion for tn
- manner in which they behaved. Whel
~ the fire broke out they were as willini
VI and eager as the guards and ourselve
:. to fight the flames. They helped U
II much tonight"
in MAIN CELL DEPARTMENT INTACT.
pe The main cell department, which i
j. in the west wing, islintact and no diff
so Guilty will be experienced in keeping th
III prisoners, although they will be put t
m different kind of work from that whic
they have done heretofore, the wor
shop being burned, and the routin
will be changed to suit the conditions
=. 1t will not be necessary to send tn
W prisoners back to the Jail at Ne'
70 70 be the natural result of the fire.
- The east wing, in which the fir
10 started, and which was gutted, cor
= tained the diningroom, workshop an
n n 20 cells, in which prisoners were keI
70 while awaiting trial Everything insid
40 the walls of this wing is total Loss
IS except the cells. The floors bein
as cement, the 10 cells on the first tic
were not damaged, but those on th
IN second tier will need repairing. N
ay other cells in the entire institution al
~ damaged. There are 200 cells in al
ne which are of the most approved tyI
"a "a and worth $500 apiece.
~ The roof was burned off the oirculs
~ room in the centre and also the mort
a and south wings. The north wing WI
badly wrecked. 1t contained the livin
- apartments of the warden and b
~ family, the main entrance, the meetin
'iu room of the trustees, the offices, guard
=. quarters, &C., all of which are almo
- beyond repair.
~ The south wing, which sustaint
'p nothing worse than badly damage
u roof and flood of water, contains
ne cells for women, the kitchen, pantr
~ bakery, laundry, officers diningroon
're bathrooms, &c. None of the breal
rs stuffs wore damaged and the prisone
-, received their regular meals Sunda
~ ~ The female prisoners, who were move
oie from their cells in this wing on Satu
y; day night and slept in the powerhous
n returned Sunday and slept there Sunda
- night, as usual.
.ts' . The west wing, which was not dar
rs :, aged, is the prison proper. In it q
Ia Located 160 cells, in which all of Il