Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-06
THREE NARROWLY
ESCAPE DEATH IN
EAST SIDE FIRE
JOS. Dlugach, His Wife and
Father Had Close Call
Early Today.
AT s26 WALNUT STREET

Three persons were saved from pos
sihle death by fire shortly before
o'clock this morning when the grocery
store OF Joseph Dlugach, S26 Walnut
street, was discovered to- be in flames
Aroused by the smoke, which was rap
idly filing the building, Dlugach. who
slept in a second story room, dragged
his wife and 65-year-old father with
him through a window TO the roof,
Passing along the roof to an adjoining
building they were rescued by neigh
bors. who took them in through the
window.
The grocery store was veritable
furnace when Policeman Wilson broke
in the front door. lie attempted 10
grope his way to the stairs when he
discovered that the occupants OF the
room had escaped.
In the meantime C. p. Frazier, coll
orcd, 1116 French street, had seen
the smoke and struck an alarm from
box No. 6. at Tenth and Walnut
streets. The district fire companies
responded and quickly eytinguished
the blaze. The damage was estima ted
at about 81 zoe. covered by insurance.
Assistant Fire Chief John Nj. Towns
end this morning stated that an inves-
tigation would be made OF the fire TO
determine its origin. Chief Townsend.
who lives only short distance from
the Dlugach home. was one of the
first to arrive at the fire. He di-
rected the work OF the firemen and or
dered ladders put up at the rear OF
the house in case OF emergency.
The building is owned by Jacob
Sadler, 400 Madison street.
Newport Family Had Close Call.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph A. Dugan and
their two children, of LyndaIia. near
Newport, had a close call It / 80 o'clock
this morning, when their newly-buiit
bungalow was destroyed by fire, which
is believed TO have been started by
sparks from the chimney. The loss
is estimated at 5000.
The fire was discovered by Mrs
Dugan after the roof had been almost
entirely burned off. She aroused the
family. and all were obliged to hurry
from the burning building in their
night clothes. The fire had gained
such headway that no clothes and very
little of the furniture on the frs,
floor was saved. The Cranston
Heights Fire Co. ana The Newport
fire company were summoned, but
they could accomplish nothing. as the
nearest water supply was over .. 600
feet away. Chemicals were used freely
but with no result.
In the meantime the Dugan family
had sought refuge at the farmhouse
OF Miss Mary Lattirner. occupied by
a family named Ainsworfh, a shor,
distance away, where they secured
clothing. Mr.. Dugan is pipefitter
He and his family had resided only
six months in their new home.
The Newport firemen responded. but
their apparatus was mired at the en-
| trance TO the street on which the
burning house stood, the roadway
being torn UP while water mains are
being installed.
The hremen finding that they coult;
not reach the blaze with their an
paratus, devoted their efforts to saw
ing the furniture. but only a few
pieces were saved. the house aud most
Of the contents being destroyed.
The blaze was believed TO b.. due r.
a defective fiue
Owing 10 the Five Points aoparat,,s
being ar the plant of the United
States Fire Apparatus Co, in VIII
mington. receiving the finishing
touches, il could not be used al tha
fire