Evening journal., 1903-07-28
laze Which Started in
PaintIShop of Bowe Car
fiase Factory Sweeps
Through the Entire
Building
he Loss VIII Be About
.SI25 -Firemen Did
Good Work-raere
Were No Serious 40
|cidents

fter weathering the ravages of
E m for more than thirty years little
\ aims to-day of the Eighth Street
4 ket House, as it was familiarity
E wn, but a charred mass of masonry
4 great was the force of the fire that
u into the vitals Of the structure last
zht and swept it from end to end
S it may be impossible to repair IL.
an incredible short time the
q hes licked their way through the
re building. and almost before the
3 department arrived the roof fell in
= millions of sparks shot into the air.
esidents in the vicinity of the mar
house We're kept busy upon the
s Of their houses protecting their
erty. Garden hose, water buckets,
ers and various other vessels were
sed into service.
ople attracted by the general
m sent in and the bright glare Of
big blaze. which could be seen for
s. hurried to the scene, and in a
time half Wilmington had gath
in the streets closest to the fire.
lth street from Tatnall to Orange
roped off as was the latter thor
fare from Seventh TO Eighth.
number Of police under Captain
ls and several sergeants were on
and did excellent service by keep
he crowd back. giving the firemen
e room to fight the blaze.
@ fire department cannot be given
gh praise for its work. Chief
ray was early on the scene as were
saistants. Porter and starr Each
& }any. including the two new organ
ons, the Union and the Brandy
are deserving Of individual praise.
Pra, sed by Mayor.
heir work was magnificent" said
- or Charles d. Bird.
though there were no fatalities sew
narrow escapes were witnessed
or three firemen were hurt, but
seriously.
e building is owned by William
e and the Gregg estate. The for
conducted an extensive carriage
ufacturing business in the struct-
The lower floor for half the width
e building along Eighth street has
ears been used as a market house,
the second story Immediately over
& market house was recently rented
# ne L. 1. Du Pont de Nemours Com
to provide quarters for q 4arge
Der Of clerks of the auditing de-
nent.
n llagher & Runner, sheet-iron work.
also occupied a portion of the first
OF the building.
ce,arat ExpIosions.
ortly after the fire was discovered
-al explosions occurred, and it was
rst supposed that powder in the
s of the Du Pont company caused
ietonations. but it was later learned
the company had no explosives IN
building and that the explosions
caused by cans of paint and oil.
fred I. Du Pont had burned a fine
mobile which he was having re-
"a in the shop.
Estimates Of the Loss.
impossible to get more than rough
sates on the loss. 1t may reach $780,,
he building alone cost $4,000 owe
years ago.
y stock of carriages valued at $4,000
property Of the Bowe Company, wal
Il in the building.
DUPONT Loss $4,000.
money loss to the L. I. DUPONT d.
ours Company will not reach NOR
5000, but the Inconvenience caused
he connagratlon and the work at
d ito rearranging the records ant
of the different departments, will
IS in the building, will be the great
oss to the big concern.
zee of the company's department.
in the structure, the department o
ieering. of which A. ID. Hasbrouck
.e head, a part Of the auditing de
IS nent under the head of c. l.. Petz
tant auditor of the company, an
purchasing department with J. Is
as the chief of staff. Auditor Harr
ham, auditor. for the firm, has hi
in the Equitable Building.
put forty clerks were employed !
new Offices the purchasing depart
having only several days ago move
the building.
ch of the furniture was saved an
being revarnished, win again
d i'm use. The two large safes r.
y placed in the building for the firm
81 bed the flames and the books with
were found in good condition.
'til suitable quarters are secured, Il
of the three departments will
n on in the offices Of the concern
uitable Building.
Merchants Loss.
following produce and provisiC
~ occupied stalls in The Mark