Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-29
OUTLET STORE WRECKED BY FIRE:
APARTMENT JEWELLERS TRAPPED;
Loss IS ESTIMATED AT 100000
Blaze Which Started at About l.3O o'clock Was
Of Mysterious Origin Fnemen's Splendid Work Saved
Adjoining Property; Two Members Of No. 7 Co. In
jmed; Some Thrilling Rescues.

OF APPROXIMATELY SZOOOOO were de-
stroyed. two firemen were injured.
Chief William j. Lutz and ten of his
men narrowly escaped being crushed
10 death and many lives were en-
dangered by smoke and flames this
morning about l.S0 o'clock when fire
occurred in the Outlet store, at Nos.
800. 3o2 and S04 Market street. The
cause has not been determined, none
OF the parties interested in the store
or the other buildings that were
burned being able today TO say what
might have started Il, but the origin
Is being investigated by the Fire Bu-
reau officials and II is understood the
Underwriters association will institute
special investigation of its own. AS
far as could be learned. the loss on
everything is covered by insurance,
with the exception of the household
effects of the several families living
IN the apartment house at No. : East
Third street at the rear of the Outlet
property. The Lippincott store. ad-
joining the Outlet on the north. was
closed today. as result Of damage
to stock on the second floor, when
the heat set off two or three OF the
sprinklers. The loss TO these goods
could not be determined.
A general alarm brought every fire
company in the city To the scene. the
second time since the new department
was instituted last December that the
entire organization had to be sum-
mOned TO combat a blaze Nothing
but praise for the work Of the firemen
was heard today, especially from the
fire insurance underwriters and their
inspectors and 10y adjoining property
owners. When they got TO the place
a few minutes after the first alarm
came in they found the whole interior
of the store a seething furnace, but
they managed 10 confne the fire
% the building and with the exception
Of the apartment at No. East Third
street there was practically no damage
20 any OF the other structures in the
block. II wa. conceded they did re-
markable work throughout and they
proved their efficiency beyond a doubt
Numerous Thrills.
Many were the thrilling escapes re-
ported by the people living in the
ing None Of them was any more ex-
citing than that Of Samuel Thompson
and his wife. who have apartments on
The third fioor Of the building at No. :
East Third street. Their bedroom Is
on an inside air court just across a
narrow open space from the rear Of
the Outlet store When they awoke
the heat had broken the glass in the
single window in the room and the
mattress and bed clothes under them
were actually on fire. They lost no
time in getting out, saving only a few
articles Of clothing and practically
all of their household effects were de-
stroyed and they have no insurance
on the goods. They were grateful TO
be able TO get out with their life. for
IN another minute or two they un-
doubtedly would have been burned to
death.
Firemen Have Close Call.
Fire Chief William J. Lut=. with
Deputy Chief Edward Donohue and
ten members Of Engine Company No.
were on the third floor Of the build
ing AZ SO2 Market street, when the
them. They made their escape down
ladders and some Of the firemen
climbed down the electric light sign
In the front of the store. They had
Just cleared the building when the
balance OF the roof caved in and the
weight was SO great that Il forced out
the upper portion OF the front stone
wall and this morning this section
was hanging suspended over the side
walk. The street had to be roped of
80 IN case Il did fall. no person would
be hurt. The firemen had hardly got
ten away from in front OF the build
ing when mass OF stone toppleo
over and broke in half the very ladder
down which they had made their
escape.
IL was here two OF the men were
hurt. Fireman William Lynch OF
Engine Company No. had one OF
his hands badly cut. Fireman Joseph
Russell. also Of Engine Company No
:. sustained a sprained back WIEN q
part OF the roof fell on him His fel-
low firemen helped him 10 safety anc
ne was sent home. On March / Chief
Lutz was badly hurt when a brick
wall fell on him and this was the flrr
fire he had attended since ne was in.
3ured. He had not even reported foI
active duty. but left his bed and hur
ried 10 duty when he heard the gen.
eral alarm that was sent in.
on the second floor OF the house al
No. East Third street w. r. Lat
tomus. his wife and their son anc
daughter make their home They hsC
all gone 20 bed except the son. Frank
aged 20 years. who was sitting IN
the front room, when he saw a re
fection through the kitchen. He rar
back and discovered the fire in tn.
Outlet store. the rear portion Of which
is against the back OF the house wher.
the Lattomus family lives. He arous
I'd the members Of the family and go
them out in safety and then sounde,
the alarm. The first alarm came IL
az l.32 o'clock and three minutes late
a second alarm was sent IN. for IN,
iiremen Who were first TO reach tn,
scene saw that the entire interior O
the Outlet sore was a seething fur
mace and that II they were going {,
he able 20 save adjoining properties
which was sll they could then hop
ConlnUed on page 6.