Smyrna times., 1948-07-15

joining dwellings. One fireman wa.
Wilson, Jr., president of the firm
unofficially estimated the damage
as better than $1,000,000. All the
company's records were destroyed
along with all stock parts in the
second floor stock room and pro-
ducts still on the assembly line
The company manufactures farm
milk coolers, home and farm freez-
ers, and other types of commercial
refrigeration and has 80 distribu-
tors, $500 dealers and 20 direct
factory representatives from coast
to coast. The export department
in New York City is represented in
most foreign countries.
Explosions Rock Building
Scores of explosions from her
matically sealed cans and barrels
containing paint and paint thinner
rocked the building from time to
time while firemen were attempt
ing to bring the blaze under con-
troll. Volunteers and company en-
ployes and firemen assisted in sal
vaging as much of the equipment
as possible including several COM
pleted freezers that were tempor-
arily stored near the front of the
building. Because the electricity
for the entire town had to be cut
off by James Warren at 7:30, the
electric pumps on the water sys-
tenn were rendered ineffective. A
hose was strung down Main Street
and water pumped out of Lake
Como. The fire which ragged for
three hours was finally brought
under control at 9:45 a. M, accord
ing to Horace David, Smyrna Fire
Chief.
Nine Fire Companies Fight Fire
Fire companies from Smyrna,
Middletown, Clayton, Townsend,
Odessa, Dover, Dover Army Air
Base, Cheswold, and Leipsic pre-
vented the blaze from spreading to
adjoining dwellings,. A frame
house next door to the plant, occu-
pied by William Pleasanton, caught
fire on the roof but was quickly
extinguished. The telephone switch
board and switch box were remov-
ed from the building undamaged
and We're set UP in the old Opera
House where the Wilson company
moved to temporary headquarters.
According to w. ]. Williams, cable
supervisor for the Diamond State
Telephone Company, telephone SER
vice was set up by mid afternoon.
Hoses from the nine companies
were strung along the streets for
several blocks including part of
the DUPONT Highway, Route 13.
State Police re-routed traffic on
the highway between Commerce
and South streets to the north
bound lane.
Fireman Injured
The injured fireman was Martin
Pryor, 20, who slashed his wrist
on a broken pane of glass while
dragging a hose into the building.
He was rushed to the Office of DR..
A. v. Gilliland by officer William
Kellum of the Smyrna Police force.
The wound required five stitches.
Aldan Robinson, %, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. George Robinson, Smyrna,
narrowly escaped serious injury
when blast threw washstand
down the stairs leading to the
offices as he was coming up, miss
ing him by few inches. Several
men, taking hoses up the office
stairs in an effort to save the Of
! five, were driven back by the in
tense heat. They were John e.
Wilson, III, son of the president of
the firm, Frederick Harris, Benja-
min Seward and Walter c. Dea-
kyne, Jr. They reached the offices
of the purchasing department with
the hose, but were unable to sal
wage any of the equipment before
being forced to retreat. Several
planes from nearby news agencies
lowered overhead at the height of
the blaze. w. L. Smith Orchard,