Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-11-07
Mill SUPPLIES
licked UP IN
MORNING blaze
Exploding Oil Feeds Flames
in Atlantic Manufacturing
Co. Plant
LEATHER COMPANIES ARE
DAMAGED By WATER

Handicapped by the absence of the
Union Company apparatus and ade-
quate water supply from one FIRE
plug, the entire Fire Department Of
this city this morning battled with
one Of the most stubborn fires they
have had to contend with for several
years The fire Quilted the three
story plant OF the Atlantic Manufac-
turing Company. manufacturers OF
mill supplies. northwest corner Third
and Orange streets. water-soaked
leather in the factories Of the George
w. Chambers estate and the Del
maTvia Leather Company adjoining.
causing loss estimated az close TO
500 600. The losses are partly
covered by insurance The origin Of
the fire has not been determined.
Despite the handicap. the fremen
worked hard and prevented the flames
from spreading TO the morocco plants
Of the George W. Chambers estate in
West Third street adjoining. and the
plant of the Delmarvia Leather Com
many in West Fourth street. whose
building extends back TO the walls
OF the destroyed plant.
The loss on the Atlantic Company
property was estimated at 9 o'clock
nv Harry G. stanton. secretary and
treasurer of the company. az $4,000
divided as follows. property. 100000
stock and machinery. $4,000. lie
would not say that the plant would be
rebuilt
The water loss to the Chambers
leather plant will reach several thou
sand dollars Leather stacked in the
companys shipping rooms awaiting
70 he shipped 10 Philadelphia and Bos-
ton. was damaged In addition the
plant was nut out Of working cOndi'
ton
Similar losses were caused a. the
nlant o. the Delmarvia Company. but
On both plants FIRE walls. with the aid
oE the entire FIRE department. pre-
vented the flames from spreading ia
these buildings
THE FIRE was one Of the most spec
tacular the CITY fremen have had Ia
contend with for years. dense clouds
OF smoke rolling from the Atlantic
Company's building when they ar
rived. To make matters worse the
flames soon ate their way through the
roof and tongues of flame shot heaven
ward These were visible in the early
hours Of the morning. the fire having
been discovered at seven minutes past
3 o'clock by Grover c. Rineer. of No
616 South Van Buren, street. an en-
ploye OF the Wilmington Provision
Company. whose plant is opposite tho
destroyed building. The firemen who
responded TO the alarm from Box PIP
Third and Tatnall streets. sounded by
Rineer. found the blaze in a corner Of
the first floor near Fourth street With
In an instant, however. the oil soaked
floors communicated the flames 10 the
entire first floor. and Assistant Fire
Chief Donohoe. of the Washington Fire
Company, who responded TO the still
alarm recognized the danger and
sounded a second larm. This was
al 5.15 O'Clock. Fire Chief Golden. who
arrived before the alarm had ceased
striking. at once caused the third and
general alarm TO be sent in.
In a few minutes the entire fire de
nartment was pouring tons Of water
into the burning building. Tongues Of
flames shot skyward and the large
steel stack over the boiler room soor
fell TO the roof.
The fremen endeavored TO open the
doors Of the second floor Of the build
ing opening into Orange street but
were unable 70 do so the doors being
locked on the inside and the barrels
Of oil and rolls OF betting piled
AGAINST them. The flames in reaching
these barricades. had full sweep. the
fremen not being able TO play water
on them AS the windows were filled
with shooting flames the fremen were
prevented from entering the buildins
that way
To add to the difficulties. the Relt
ance Fire Company on their arriva
placed one of their three apparatus al
Fourth and Orange streets, where q
plug is located. They were unable e
Eet much water from this plug. how
ever, their apparatus fairly sucking
the water from the main. The engine
OF the Union Fire Company was ont
OF service because OF repairs
While the fremen were lighting the
flames barrels Of oil ignited and ex
ploded. Luckily none of these eX
plosions were Of sufficient strength &c
cause the walls Of the building to fall
hut they served 10 make the fremeI
and spectators cautious. The FIRE.
men poured tons OF water into tn,
structure. the water tower OF the Del
hware Fire Company being stat oneC
In West Third street alongside the
Chambers plant Through this APP
naratus, the firewall between the two
buildings was kept soaked and tn,
flames were prevented from spread
ing 10 this structure
The firemen worked hard unit,
7.35 O'Clock when one tap was sound
ed announcing the fire was under con
troll The final signal went in at 9.3t
o'clock
Traffic on the West Fourth stree
and MARYLAND avenue trolley lines was
tied up while the fire was in progress
Employees Of Lopers Cafe. in Wes
Second street. supplied hot coffee, p.,
md sandwiches 20 the members OF th'
Fame Fire Company while they were
doing fire duty
While the fire was in progress. III,
gas service in the cellar Of the plan
tsucht Gre and started 10 further
spread destruction. George High. ;
member Of the Washington Fire Com
oany, and an employc OF the Whining
ton Gas Company. waded into the Gel
Ter in water M 10 his waist. and Will
BAGS. managed 10 smother the flame
and saved the gas meter. He suffered
ln ugly cash his thumb and inhaled
hame. Gerald Farrell had 10 lift Higl
MT Of the cellar and took him 10 hi