Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-29

denoy Of the diving fircs 20 renew their
disastrous course
During the blaze tho cars ~ the vii
mingten and Philadelphia Traction 20.
on the Brandvwinc Springs line were re-
routed from Front and CiroenhIll avenue
over Lancaster avenue TO dn Pont street
and thence north N Sixth and seventh
streets West Fourth street cars carried
thousands Of spectators % the acene oi
tho fro and considerable dif' cnltv was
experienced in handling the crowds
The blaze could he seen for miles around.
attracting thousands Of people 10 the
scene MANY came from long distances,
some from Chester and even IS far as
Philadea The bright red glare in the
skv IN tho northwestern direction snon
attracted Tire crowd and IN very short
time all trolley cars were iammed- he
no apparatus racing through the etreets,
also attracted hundreds who vert to the
scene on foot Il Is estimated that bali
the population Of Wilmington gathered
about the bla ing buildings
aHowTn or THE COMPANY.
The Wilmington Leather co. was the
outgrowth ~ tho Ford Morocco Go, and
was organized in 1905 with James J
0'Neill Of 2i03 Lane avenue as president
Charles r. Bkta, 1000 Adams street,
vicc-president, and James !. Ford, 703
North Broome street, secretary.
WELL CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS
The ten buildings of the Wilmington
! Leather CO. destroyed hy the fire last
night ware all of modern fire-proof brick
+ structure Even tho older building, the
! first 10 fall prey to the flames was Of red
/ brick. with freproof traps and doors This
/ building had been stardirg approximately
/ IS years. The second buildI K, on Second
/ street and extending 800 feet north on
J Greenhili ~ enUe, was a six-etoTy brick
/ structure with steel teamwork and was
| also presumably fireproof
+ The new building, erectedin 1917, was OF
slow burning cor structiou This building
SIX stories III height. was equipped with
All modern fire escapes, wired fire glass and
IRON support beams. THIS buildn & last
nlght was consumed M practicslly two
+ hours Il was on the first floor OF this
/ building. il the splitting department, that
/ the company suffered $4,000 loss by
/ FIRE on November 9 The fire broke out at
4. m, ard necessitated 4 second alarm
/ before il was brought under control by the
i firemen.
/ The ten buildings of the company
destroyed took IL the entire square from
j Third street OF GreenhiH avenue 10
Second street. to Webb street The frame
/ dwellings destroyed hay east of the plant
/ directly opposite the tracks Of the B. x 0.
railroad, on Webb street.
STILL PLAYING on RUINS.
AT noon today the Weccacoe and Water
/ Witch Fire companies were still PLAYING
/ streams on the smouidering RUNS Both
companies have been in continual service
! since the frs alarm Of fire shortly after 5
/ o clock last night
From $50 o'clock until II so O'Clock
last night the Ladies Auxiliary of the
Union Fire Co. furnished steaming pot,
Of coffee to the partly frozen men OF the
fire companies The coffee was made at
the home of Mrs. J. Smith, at $500 West
Fifth tTeet who opened her home to the
fremen. The Ladies Auxiliary OF the
Union Co, through the press, extend it.
/ thanks TO the Smith family for the hos
pitality and kindness accorded them.