Evening journal., 1904-01-27
PERCY BIRDSALL
STOPS FOR REPAIRS
Schooner Damaged by Ice
Puts in New Castle to
Renew Sheathing
MYSTERY Of FIRE STILL USSOLVED
Special to the Evening Journal

Special to the Evening Journal.
New Castle, Jan. 27.-The schooner
Percy Birdsall Captain Holmes. bound
from Philadelphia to Charleston. put in
here yesterday to renew the sheathing on
her bow. which was badly battered by the
ice during the passage down. She was
towed down by the John l. Brady and lay
here over night. This morning she was
picked up by the Atkins Hughes and towcd
on to the breakwater.
The Birjsall is a four-masted schooner
built thirteen years ago by the jackson
and Sharp Company OF Wilmington. She
is owned by Philadelphia parties. and has
been in charge Of Captain Holmes for ten
years.
The river is still full Of ice, but It is
giving some and the vessels are not ex-
perienclng quite so much trouble as they
did week ago. An casterly wind has
blown the zee from Off the Jersey shore
and ii is now spread all over the river.
Blames lncendiary.
Il am satisfied that my stable was set
on fire." said Frederick r. Eagle while
talking of his loss here yesterday after
noon. 'As TO the identity Of the person
who is responsible for it l have not tho
slightest idea" continued Mr.. Eagle, but
someone was in the stable on Sunday
night Of thar / am positive.
During the early part of the evening
officer Harrington told me one OF my
horses had got loose lin the stable.
went and tied him up ana while doing so
thought heard somebody in the hay loft.
| went up and looked about but could see
no one. On Monday morning another of
my horses had been moved ana tied up in
stan adjoining his own
"All this leads me to believe that the
stable was visited on Sunday night by
some person who had no business there.
The fire seemed TO have been started in
the loft where ! had about 1925 worth Of
hay and straw. When ] reached the build
ing the fire was dropping through from
above but we got the horses. wagons and
aa but a small part of the harness out in
time.
1T is now four years since / was burned
out or The other corner. so it is not my
ihrst experience with fires"
Mr.. Eagle had a sharp fight to keep the
flames from spreading to his store, for
there were communicating windows be-
tween. Some of the goods. however. we're
damaged by smoke but not to any great
extent.
The stable was insured for $3.50 and this
part Of the loss was adjusted yesterday by
an agent for the company that carried the
risk The total loss however, is much
more than this as Mr. Eagle carried no
insurance on that part Of the contents
which was burned.
1t was fortunate thing that the audi
lence attending the entertainment i'm X. Of
2. Hall had got out of the building before
'the alarm was sounded. for had not this
been the case serious consequences might
have followed.
A party OF men stood on the corner In
front of X. of p. Hall not more than five
inmates before the fire was discovered.
yet they saw nothing amiss and were
lgreatly surprised when they heard the
alarm.
Christine Kerr.
Mrs. Christine Kerr. widow of the late
John G. Kerr. died at the home Of her
daughter, Mrs. Eugene Feucht. Elkton.
Nd, On Monday, aged 76 years. Deceased
had been suffering from catarrhal pneu-
monia, the cause Of her death. The re-
mains were brought to the home Of
) Mrs. Kerr's son, George NJ. Kerr. New
Castle. from where the funeral VIII be
held on Thursday afternoon at 1.8O. The
services will be in charge of the Rev. S.
Beattie Wylle, pastor Of the First Presby-
teran Church, and the interment will be
made in Presbyterian Cemetery.
Kitchen Damaged.
A fire in the house OF Daniel Sullivan
on Clayton, between Seventh and Eighth
streets. damaged the kitchen last evening
! The FIRE department was called out and
distinguished the blaze. The house 4.
owned by James Brady.
News of the Town.
Miss Mary Pedrick is the guest Of Phila.
de.phia friends.
Miss Reba Ferguson Of Chester. is Wis
iting New Castle relatives.