The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-01-23
FIRE CAUSES
$500 LOSS.

! Ine origin ol u IRE Is UNKNOWN
that caused a damage Of 81. 800 yes
tcrday afternoon in the stable and
! shed, Of Peninsula Lumber Company
! on South Market Street.
The first knowledge any one had of
he fire was when Special Officer Ed
wards of the Illinois Leather Company
which is situated on The western side
f Market street lopposite the yards
"ftllc Peninsula Lumber Company.s
saw flames leap up from the root OF
the stOrerOom and almost at the same
limc large volumes of SMOKE poured
from under the roof and out Of the
open windows. He ran to the Office
OF lhe lumber company, where were
several clerks and told them that
their place was on fire. An alarm
was struck from box No. 142.
In some of the engine houses the
box number came up all right on tho
indicator but in others another mum.
her appeared, and this sent some of
the companies responding to the
wrong box. The Fame Company
started for box No. AZ, at Head and
Lohdell streets At Market street,
however, they saw where the fire was
and then started down Market street.
At the railroad crossing shifter was
"throwing' cars about and this delay.
ed the engine for about a minute.
Meanwhile the gong in the Washing
ton engine house had sounded and
the chemical engine started down
French street for box l42, while the
hose carriage went down Third in tho
direction of box AZ. At Walnut street
it was turned about and came to box
142. The Phoenix truck was less for
tunate than the other companies ia
being set on the right track and went
all the way to Heald and LobdelI
streets before it was discovered that
they had gone the wrong way. IL
then came back.
When the engines were able to get
over the railroad they lost no time il
getting into service. and in shore
time two engines and two plug
streams were playing with all their
force on the burning building. The
Weccacoe engine did not respond and
the Liberty engine was stuck in the
mud while coming down Guthrie's
ane.
When Chief Welsh arrived the fro
appeared to be gaining much head
md 1t was thought that a general
llarm would have to be sounded to
ave the large quantity of lumber
which vas stored in the sheds and to
ieep the flames from spreading toa
ow OF framclhouses back of the hair
actory Of +, Blumenthal & Co. But
he streams Of water had a telling
fleet and in about ten minutes the
hief had decided thatno more engines
we're needed, and that the chemical
ngineS which had come on the first
.larm would be of better service to
he city if they were In their quarters
70 be gave the command and the
Washington and Weccacue elaeAsfcsiS .sss
cturned to their houses.
In an hours time all signsof fire had
cen made way with and the com.
anlcs returned to their homes. In
heir efforts to got to the flames the
rcmen were obliged to tear away
lmost the whole building to tn, Sec
nd story and the loss on the building
Ill hardly bo m)re than sl,jDJ
,vered by Insurance.
The Weccacoc Fire Company was
'lled on late yesterday afternoon to
;tingnish blaze in the house No.
81 West sixth street, occupied by
'hn Wright. The damage was slight
few days ago the Wcccacoe flremen
1t out Il b'a2ein the house No. S33
est Sixth Street, adjoining the place
yesterdays blaze.