Chester, Pennsylvania
Morton & Black's Chester Dock Mills Fire
May 14, 1884
A CHESTER DOCK BLAZE
The Mills of Morton & Black have a Narrow Escape
from Destruction.
The firemen of Morton &
Black’s Chester Dock Mills, on
entering the boiler house shortly before 2
o’clock yesterday afternoon, found the room
filled with smoke an a sash in a blaze. The
employees were notified and at once rushed to
the scene, while a message was sent to the
Telephone Exchange and an alarm sounded, and the
fire department started for the scene. The
Hanley’s steamer reached the dock in advance of
the Franklin and the suction hose was placed in
a well made for such emergencies, while the
Franklin steamer, which arrived soon after, was
placed close by and drew water from the dock,
the tide fortunately being high, and soon
streams were playing on the fire. During the
time between the sounding of the alarm and the
arrival of the fire department, the flames had
crept up the frame work to the roof, and
spreading along the rafters, threatened the
destruction of the main building. The Moya’s
clambered to the roof, and cutting away the
boards and pebbled covering, allowed water to
play on the flames below, and in a short time
the fire was extinguished. A quantity of
shavings was stored in what is known as the
shaving room, adjoining the boiler house, but
the flames did not communicate to them. No part
of the mill but the boiler house was damaged,
and $100 will cover the loss, which is not
covered by insurance.
Messrs. Morton & Black say that their
loss is much lighter then they feared it would
be when the fire was discovered.
Chester Times, Chester, PA 15 May 1884
Transcribed by
Carla. Thank you,
Carla!
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