Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-22
100000 FIRE WRECKS
MUCH OF BUSINESS BLOCK
AT. TENTH AND WALNUT
Photo by Green's Photo Shop.
Continued from page I.

Continued from page I.
While Mr.. Miller could not fix a def
rite loss when interview by a reporter
for Every Evening sthis morning. II Is
believed that IL will not exceed s75.-
600. and was partly covered by in
surance. This fire will have no effect
on the company's business, II was ex-
planned.
The total insurance of the build
irgs of the New Castle l. 'ather Co.
in the fire area was given as 5000. 900.
The contents of these buildings, ac-
cording to c. T. Bridgham, were in
sured to the extent of 100000.
Although IL is stated by officials of
the Hercules Powder Co. who occupied
a small building on Wilson street. ad-
jacent TO the stables Of the New Castle
Leather CO.. that they had not sus-
tanned serious loss, it is thought that
much of th@ir stock was damaged by
water, which was played on that par
ticular building. One section Of the
roof of this building was on fire. When
they first entered the building, the
fircmen discovered what appeared to
be quantity of dynamite in sticks.
stored on the second floor, directly
beneath the burning roof. 1t was later
found. however, that these sticks os
dynamite" Were imitation. and had
been labelled for exhibition purposes.
Near the imitation dynamite. how
ever, was stored 10000 rounds of regu-
lation pistol and rife ammunition. in
3 Af +s.,,,
and the danger in which the firemer
had placed themselves. it was only
under great difficulties that water
could be played on the fire.
Immediately after the fire was dis.
covered employees of the New Castle
/ Leather Co, under the direction o
/ Albert ID. Smith. started TO remove tn,
/ contents of the buildings occupied
by the company. Several barrels o
soda and inflammable oils were rolled
down Wilson street, between Eleventh
and Twelfth.
The stables used by the eompan,
were also cleared of their contents
the horses having been removed to
safe distance before the fire reache
them.
That the New Castle Leather CT
did not sustain a greater loss is at
tributed TO the safety doors separat
ing their store-room from a later i'm
proved building, the fire, being con
fined by them to the stock room only
Wind Caused Trouble.
Because of the heavy west wind
and the low temperature. the fireme
experienced much trouble in fightin
the fire. AT $50 o'clock, the entir
Miller warehouse was seethin
furnace. At o'clock the walls wer
seen TO buckle on the Wilson street en-
of the warehouse. and. although the
did not fall. the firemen We're ordere
to protect themselves from any pos
sible danger.
The building occupied by Mill
d Brothers is owned by the Mercanti
N Printing Co. II is q three-story briC
I structure, 135 40 feet in Size. Tn
entire building was laid to ruin.
On the Walnut street end of Il
block. the stockroopo .owned by II
New Castle Leather %. is 40 so fe
in dimensions. This building was al
totally destroyed.
The main plant of the Mercanti
Printing Co, extending from VAIN
street to Wilson, is a one-story fir
, proof structure. Because of rece
r Improvements, the firemen were all
, 10 divert their attention to the playir
= Of many streams Of water on the fl
from the roof of this building.
According TO +. T. Bye. treasur
of the Mercantile Printing Co, Il
building occupied by Miller Brother
: as well as their own building. w
I appraised at $4,000 The stockroc
contained not only the law-boo
mentioned above. valued at SIS 900, b
= $4,000 in other stock as well. T.
= building he said, is covered by inst
q ance.