Evening journal., 1921-06-14
FIREMEN burn
HIGHWAY TRAIL
Dash to Rising Sun, Md,
But Couldn't Fight
Fire
HOSE COUPLINGS
FOUND USELESS


elements in mind. no doubt, but he
could have added the word fire, and
been just as correct. II not more so.
Any need OF necessary proof could
have been gathered aboard the Fame
and Water witch apparatuses which
went to Rising sun. Md. under the
orders of Chief Lutz. yesterday, TO
assist in extinguishing the fire in
that town The fire fighters figure
that way and they know from ex-
perience. il nothing else. In other
words, the blaze boys burned the
trail.
Leaving here almost on the stroke
Of y. the Fame and Water Witch
traversed three States, going by way
OF Kennett Square. West Grove, OK
ford and then down into Maryland.
Jimmy John. driver OF the Water
witch, said today that his speedo-
meter registered as miles as the dis
tance each way. The Fame, with
two stops, one at Kennett Square for
gas, and another at oxford, TO teie-
phone back to Chief Lutz for instruc-
tions, made the run in an hour and
fifteen minutes or better, no exact
time being kept. The Water Witch
with three stops for water. arrived
at the scene OF the fire in one hour
and twenty-five minutes A number
OF Fame members who went down
n a taxicab. arrived several minutes
ahead OF the apparatus. taking a
shorter but much rougher road.
The route taken by the Fame and
Water Witch was asphalt and con-
crete all OF the way. The former
company sent its combination wagon
while the latter sent its big pumping
engine at the direction OF Chief Lutz.
The road performance OF both was
remarkable and the crews that made
the trip were just itching to get into
action to show their pumping and
hre-fighting ability. Both the Fame
and Water Witch companies arrived
ahead Of some rural companies sta
toned much closer to Rising Sun.
The big pumping engine from the
Forty Acres with 900 feet OF hose
aboard stood up exceptionally well
under the severe test, and the stops
for water we're not out OF the ordi-
nary considering the weather and
other conditions.
Arriving at Rising Sun, both ap-
paratus prepared TO go into service,
but could not take the available
plugs as they would outdraw other
streams. The fire practically burned
itself out but the Wilmington boys
wanted to be ready for any emer-
gency and the pumping engine went
to a dam and mill pond about a half
mile distant. The 900 feet Of hose
taken by the Water Witch was laid
along with the 750 feet taken along
by the Fame. To this was connected
900 feet OF hose unreeled by the
Aetna Company OF Newark. but il
was found that company was still
about 500 feet shy. As other COM
panies with available hose did not
have standard couplings, the VIII
mington fire laddies we're disappoint-
ed by not being able to get into SER
vice.
At Nottingham, about six miles
from Rising Sun. the companies
passed a Cadillac car which had up
set and taken fire. 1t had just
started TO burn when the Fame
reached that point but Frank Ma
guire. engine driver was waved on
10 the bigger blaze by the natives
who had gathered about the wreck
ed car. No one was hurt in the ac-
cident but how the occupants Of the
machine escaped Is a miracle. When
the fire fighters returned that way
the machine had been reduced to a
mass OF scrap metal.
The fire al Rising sun village. was
caused by the backfire OF a Standard
Oil tank car while the operator wa
hlling the tank at Wilson's garage
destroyed the frame garage and ia
contents The FIRE communicated
to the ST James M Il Church, &
brick building erected in 1879, ad.
joining the garage on the north sid,
and left nothing but the four walls
The automobile establishment wat
one Of a row of about five frame
buildings standing on the west side
Of Main street, which is the Stat,
highway. The dwelling Of Oscar
Wilson, proprietor OF the garage
was leveled. and only the arrival OF
outside help saved the remainder oi
The buildings from destruction.
Nearly all OF the buildings in the
villages are Of frame and the occu.
pants fearing destruction, piled theii
belongings on the lawns and in tn,
roadways. They could not have beer
saved. however, If the flames hat
been allowed their full sweep. Pianos
old grandfathers' clocks and the like
We're strewn everywhere.
Several Of the buildings wers
scorched including the Maryland
House, OF which William r. Coone,
is proprietoy The guests had piled
all their belongings outside. Mr.
cooney, the Ladies Aid Society and ,
number Of other citizens Of Risin,
Sun assisted in distributing a lib
cral supply OF sandwiches. coffee. an,
drinking water TO the fire fighters.
Ia charge Of John A. Carr, tn
crew on the Fame apparatus con
sisted of Frank Mcguire, driver
Harry Chapman. Edward Corsoi
Howard Ryder and Frank Lyons. o
the Water Witch engine in chara
Of l. S. Pierce. the crew was con
posed OF James John. driver; Wa
&ter Wier. Thomas Seeley. Charll
Rougherty, William Montgomer
James Lennon, Raymond Campbe
Raymond Snyder and Harry
Ghapuan.
Phe Fame men who made the RI
in the taxicab we're Charles Rya
Jacob Hurst. Harry Kennar. Frar