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


On Saturday night as soon as the
report reached the city that the work
house was on fire, people made rush |
for the scene and the Brandywine
Springs cars were crowded all the even
ing, carrying firemen, policemen and
spectators, and Sunday. notwith-
standing the rain, there was steady
stream OF spectators all day. The
cars of the Peoples Railway Go. run
ming in that direction were severely
taxed and had the weather been clear
it would have BEEN necessary to run a
large number of extra cars. As it was
extra cars were necessary. The doors
of the institution we're kept locked,
however, and the spectators bad to con-
tent themselves with remaining out
side. Many went out Monday. The public
will not be permitted to encroaoh upon
the prisoners who are clearing up the
debris.
THE coUNP9's LOSS.
1t is believed that the loss to the
county will not exceed Sis, ,0G0, OK
elusive CT the insurance, which amounts
to $40, COO. With the insurance money
the work of rebuilding can be begun
without delay and by the time that
money is expended the Legislature will
be in session and will have time to pass
hill authorizing loan to complete
the work of rebuilding.
COST OF THE woRKHoUsE.
The workhouse cost sl75. 900. 1t was
completed in November of last year and
the first prisoners were incarcerated
there on the 22d of that month. In
building the institution every effort
was made to have 1T as nearly hreproof
as possible. but in the workroom.
where the fire started, it was necessary
to have much woodwork, such as tables,
benches, chairs, &C., as we'll as board
| floor, to which the machinery was at
| tached, and at all times there is much
other inflammable material about, in
| finished and unfinished stock. The oil
from the machines creased portions Of
the floor, which made it an easy prey te
| the flames.
| STATEMENT BY CHIEF CONWAY.
Chief Conway of the local Fire De
partment made the following state.
ment:
when | got to the workhouse
suggested that horses be sent to hell
the firemen pull their engines to thu
scene, but none were sent, although
the workhouse is supposed to have
some horses. At this time the work
house force was fighting the flame
with small stream from their owl
hose, but this soon gave out ant
Warden Meserve told me the waite
supply tank had burned down.
1.-THE entire trouble was that th
trusteeI insisted upon fighting the fir
on their plans. AS soon as the flame
would go do 1n for time they woult
order the hose taken somewhere else
Then the flames would shoot up and
would be necessary to move the hos
back again.
"Trustees Gawthrop and Ball an
Warden Meserve asked US not to squir
water on the burning building for fea
that we would warp the walls. Thi
also hampered us. Mr.. Gawthrop an
Warden Meserve also tried to stop u
! throwing water into the main oorrido
because it was wetting some prisoner
who were shoveling out the debris. |
,, Lad stopped the streams then tn
whole building would have been de
, stroyed.
1.-THE prisoners were not release
. until after | arrived there and unit
the fire had been burning for NOR
than an hour. Had the building bee
properly equipped for fire protectio
the firemen from this city, who ar
supposed to protect property With
,, the city limits oDly, would never hay
! been needed.
81 want to thank Chief Black fc
the able assistance which he gave th
firemen He did everything from assist
ing to haul line of hose to helpin
us pull the engines out of the mud.
: also desire to thank the firemen fc
their services OF eight hours includin
! three hours in the rain. | also wan
, to thank the Peoples Railway Go. fc
leaving car there for our men,. -
In reference to the part the fireme
took in fighting the flames Chief Con
8 way said:
1.-THE message asking help came I
) me at 5.57 o'clock in the Weccacc
0 enginehouse. | ordered out the Wet
i cacoe and Water Witch, and also tol
/ the Union Co. that it might respon
8 il it saw fit, as it's hose might
needed and the company Willingly n
o sponded.
v 1.-THE companies named were on ii
grounds within three-quarters of a
hour, although they had to go ovc
o three and one-half miles on COUNT
! roads. At that time the workrooi
d wing of the workhouse was on fire an
It the flames were eating their way to tt
9 other portions of the building I'll
!, tiremen laid two lines of hose into ii
2 corridor or hub of the building. TT
i fire was soon practically under contro
o when at the request of the trustees
O moved the hose several times.
= l.L kkf. ntfO SzF .ttTtxa
|. flames more headway. Finally sa
e this would not do, and after tryir
all the various plans which the trustee
If suggested, determined to handle ii
h fire as | saw fit, and l stationed ii
3 men where l considered they would {
Q the mcst good, and saved the ia
s portion of the building, which vi
@ never on fire.
= .tSeeing that more than two engin
It were needed ordered John Fl. Shipl
to telephone for the Washington G
d He did so and the company was plaoI
d on the opposite side of the buildil
10 from where the Weccacoe and Wat
:. Witch were at work. The firemen we
j, kept at work until the fire was out.
l. 1.-THE Phoenix truck arrived viii
rs the fire was in progress, but it was
:. absolutely no use. The only use t
ID ladders were put to was when l us
r one of them to go into room on d
., upper floor and this could have be
" easily reached from the inside.
man can stand on ladder and hold
a. engine stream with the pressure niece
re- sary in this case.
le 1.-THE first message which | receiv
SO asked for chemical engine. / order
r out the Weccacoe Co. g chemical al
" started out in my own team. When
Is got to Front and Union l saw the bla
t. and knowing the chemical could n
g. cope with such a fire l ordered it ba