Evening journal., 1921-12-22

proudly boasts or lreldna a. q hAi ~
place. and whose home adjoins the
burned buildings. said he got up at
r6 O'Clock this morning and went' TO
the store to get a loaf OF bread.
Everything was right when he lett'
but upon his return with the bread
a few minutes later, the street was
filed with smoke. and thinking his
own home was on fire he dropped
the bread and ran into the house and
began arousing the occupants.
As soon as It became apparent that
the fire was a big one, Captain War
die assigned every available officer
to the hre territory. Ropes shut OF
the streets leading to the fire and
while every one desiring to witness
the work OF the firemen had ample
opportunity to do so, the crowd was
kept out OF danger and the fremen
given plenty OF room for work. That
this was a wise precaution was soon
apparent when the roof Of the main
building burned fell in with crash
and bricks we're hurled some dis
tance away. The ice-covered streets
near the FIRE also made 1t hazardous
for automobiles or other vehicles TO
traverse that section. The bed Of
Tenth street. from French to Wal
nut streets was soon covered with
ice, while IL was not in what might
be termed the danger zone, the po-
lice stretched a rope at the top Of
the hill for fear OF accidents.
Trees and walls OF nearby build
ings were covered with ice and when
the sun rose presented a beautiful
sight
While the real origin viii possibly
never be known, It has been sug-
gested that it might have been
caused by the fire from the Mercan-
tile Printing Company's heater, di-
rectlv below the Miller Brothers
warehouse. II this be true it can
readily be seen why the fire commu-
nicating with a large stock OF mat
tresses and other infammable mate
rial stored there, got so much head
way Every piece OF fire apparatus
was at the fire before Z o'clock ana
their combined efforts could do no
more than prevent the spread OF the
! flames for the first three hours. Al
10 o'clock the fire was practically
under control, but was still blazing
in places early this afternoon.
Chief Iutz directed that two com
panies remain on duty the rest OF the
aay and a watch will be placed there
tonight to give the alarm II the
fire should show any tendency 10
break out again.
Tho aremen this afternoon are
engaged in tearing down the DITCH
walls which are deemed UNSAFE ana
a number of bremen Narrowly es-
capped serious injury by falling
bricks and while walking over the
ice-coated roofs Of adjoining build
inqs one fireman. this afternoon
engaged in pulling down the walls
ON tho wilson street plant slipped
on tho lev roof Of the adjoining
huilding and for a few SECONDS
ewing over the edge Of the root
fortunately his grasp was suihelen
~ hold him until he could be puue'
to place OF safety by a eonl'a',e 'i'
During the fire the heat on th
wilson street side Of the fre hec.lh
so intense that paint was burned OF
tho shutters and other wood worl
ON buildings on the east side OF th'
street. a.
II was reported around the hr'
tbat one fireman had been caugh
NV falling roof, but after inVes
Hgation Chief Lut declared TINS t'
he a mistake. Shortly before one
roof fell in a number OF tiremen nae
. heen working under IL, but Wer
we're warned in time MADE tne'
escape. , =,
Hundreds OF persons visited IN
, scene this morning and many favor
b able comments we're heard on IN
s work OF the new iremen. Ther
e was a noticeable lack OF shoutin
r and disputes among the hremen' a
Y some times witnessed at previou
S fires. Every man seemingly kne'
who was boss" and acted accord
c ingly.
70 chief Lutz said at noon that h
N had no unfavorable comment
d make and that he was delighted
m the manner in which the men ha
IS worked.
f. William r. Megear a Director
Is the Department Of Public Safet
IF visited the fire and for a time watcl
r. ed the men at work. He express'
he himself as feeling much pleased
r. the way the fire was handled an
said he felt the men should be cor
is mended for their excellent services
& From all report" said
" Megear from the time the alar
le was turned in from box 6, at q
s. corner OF Tenth and Walnut stree
s. the arrival OF engine companies 4.
r. / and truck company 3. In respon
he TO the first call. until the fire W
Is declared out. every man in q
90 Bureau OF Fires and those membe
s- of the Bureau of Police assigned
"a fire duty gave a good account OF hir
10 self and 1 feel that wilmingt,
,r should feel gratihed az the splend
l. showing made this morning by bo
hremen and police"
ts S. X. Smith and l. p. wicke
n sham, the two other directors OF Il
p Board OF Public Safety, were al
: on the scene and expressed ther
n selves as being well pleased with q
"a work OF the new department.
s. John p. Dougherty. 919 Lancast
D. avenue, who was on his way to wo
10 and saw smoke pouring from q
Id Miller Brothers warehouse, was OF
o. Of the first to discover the fire. I
l. ran to the corner OF Tenth and W
e. nut streets, where he met PatrC
man Quinn, who already had se
he the fire and who turned in q
We alarm.
on