Evening journal., 1911-07-25
FIRE LICKS UP
SPRINGS RINK
Communicates to Park Power
House Before City Firemen
ExtlnguiSh Flames
LOSS WILL REACH $4,000
WITH SMALL INSURANCE

Fire Of unknown origin, which
broke out in Brandywine Springs
Park yesterday afternoon, did damage
to the extent of about $4,000, with
but $4,000 Insurance. The park skat-
ing rink, owned by the j. G. Justis
Company, of Newport. was destroyed,
and had Il not been for the prompt
arrival of the Union and Water Witch
Fire Companies, particularly the lat
ter. with its automobile apparatus,
which made the run to the Springs In
ten minutes, the loss would have been
much greater.
Park policemen discovered the blaze
shortly after o'clock. The flames
seemed to be about the spot where
the big organ stood
The park fire apparatus was quick
~ gotten into service and meantime
word was sent 10 this city. Car No
| l01. used sometimes as a freight car,
! belonging to the company, manned
with firemen also was rushed to the
park by the time the Water Witch
Company arrived the big rink was a
mass Of flames. The firemen then
turned their attention to the power
house nearby, and by good work kept
the FIRE to the rink The building
collapsed within twenty minutes after
the fire started. The end of the
power house was charred. but none OF
the machinery was damaged The
wooden bridge connecting the skating
rink with the park land, and crossing
a small stream, caught FIRE, but was
cut by the iremen TO precent the
spread of the flames.
The contents OF the rink. including
the organ an outfit of skates, valued
al several hundred dollars, and a
large number of chairs we're con-
sumed with the building.
The origin Of the fire is not known
but It is thought that lightning enter
ed the building during the storm
previous.
While fighting the flames from the
roof of the power house Lionel w. Mil
Ter. operator at the moving picture
theatre IN the park, fell from the roof
to a smaller building adjoining, sus-
tanning many bruises and cuts.
Several thousand visitors I'm the
park at the time witnessed the fire
and the work Of the firemen. There
was no excitement and at no. time
The burned building had a check
cred career II was erected on ground
adjoining Brandywine Springs Park
anl though outside of park property
had come to be regarded as one Of the
park amusements. It was erected
several years ago by the Springs
Amusement Company, headed by the
late N. Dushane Cloward. For a time
Il did a good business and there were
some exciting games OF roller polo
played there, but roller skating wan
ed and business became bad Event
ually the building was seized by the
sheriff on a mortgage Of the j. G
Justis Company and was purchased
by the holder Of the mortgage. Mr.
Cloward was taken III and died sud
denly a few days after the sale.
For a time the rink was used as a
; place for boxing matches in the win
ter season. and Just before the sale
was fitted up especially for that pur.
pose, but the attorney general noti.
fed thsoe interested In the bouts thai
they would not be allowed. After tho
sale the place was repaired and i'm.
proved and again was started as q
skating rink
10 is not likely that the building vii
, be rebuilt. II was never a portion =
! the park and was built on land be-
longing to the owners. The buildinl
was valued at $4,000 and the contents
at $1,000. There was an insurance O
, $4,000