536 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer

“The usual doubts are expressed as to whether this tremen-
dous fire was accidental or the result of incendiarism. It may
have been either. We have not been able to discover anything
that will warrant us in saying that it was the one or the other,
if we except the astonishing rapidity of its spread, which does
look as though it were too rapid to be merely accidental, and
gives rise to suspicions of foul play, although the combustibility
of the materials the fire had to work upon could hardly have
been increased. We doubt whether any human power could have
arrested the progress of the fire when it had once gotten under
way, still we could not but remark upon the fact that even if
the fire had been within reach of control by the exertions of the
fire department, there was no fire department to be found by
which such exertions could be made. This struck us the more
forcibly because of our having noticed the activity and zeal of
the firemen on several occasions during the present year—we
had seen that they were practicing with their engines, and we
know that the town authorities had been making exertions to
increase the efficiency of the department and to have its appa-
ratus put in the best order. We believe they succeeded in
accomplishing both these objects. We inquired why the present
state of things exists, and were told that the white companies
are on duty as Home Guards and that the colored companies,
mustering 180 men in all, mainly free negroes, have had their
members either impressed or scared off by the fear of impress-
ment. Whether incendiaries are abroad or not, we shudder at
the thought of a fire breaking out in the closely built part of the
town, filled as every place seems to be with cotton—cotton is
our next door neighbor—cotton is everywhere.”

On Saturday night, April 11, 1880, a store building on Front
Street, between Market and Dock Streets, occupied by George
A. Peck, was burned. During this fire a volunteer fireman
named William Ellerbrook entered the building, followed by his
dog, a large Newfoundland. After the fire was over, his body
was found crushed by the walls and timbers of the building, and
by his side was found the body of the faithful dog. The dog
had hold of his master’s coat and was evidently trying to drag
him out of danger when the crash came. Man and beast were
buried together in Oakdale Cemetery, and a stone was erected
by the volunteer fire company, of which Ellerbrook was a mem-
ber, and by his friends.

About 1880 fire was discovered at Colville & Taylor’s saw-

Peace Restored 537

mill, at the foot of Walnut Street. The fire bell rang about
twelve o’clock Friday night, and the fire companies were dis-
missed at six o’clock Sunday afternoon, but while the sawmill
was destroyed, .a large part of the lumber was saved. The
Champion Compress, near by, was saved after a hard fight.

In the early part of 1886 a Fayetteville steamboat, while
drifting down the river, caught fire. Her tiller ropes burned in
two and she landed at the Clyde Steamship wharf, which is now
used by the Springer Coal Company. From this wharf the fire
started about two o’clock, February 25, 1886, and swept up to

the Champion Compress and destroyed that and the Atlantic
Coast Line warehouses; burned the Methodist Church, on the
corner of Front and Walnut Streets, and everything on that
block except the Methodist parsonage. Everything on the block
west of that was also destroyed. The fire crossed Red Cross
Street and burned Mr. Henry Nutt’s handsome residence, and

sparks jumped to Brooklyn, where several frame houses were
burned. The fire department was dismissed the next day, and

the military placed in charge to keep thi
é p thieves from looting every-
thing that had been put in the street. .

Fire Compantns.

The first Wilmington fire company was organized in 1847
and chartered in 1867, under the name of the Wilmington Hook
and Ladder Company. In 1857 the Howard Relief Fire En-
gine Company was organized and was chartered two years later.
The third company was chartered in 1869, and called the Wil-
mington Steam Fire Engine Company. 7

On the evening of the ist of February, 1869, a very fierce

and destructive fire occurred in Grant's public stables on the
southwest corner of Princess and Third Streets. The Wilming-
ton Hook and Ladder Company, of which Col. Roger Moore was
chief, rendered excellent service by tearing down the connecting
buildings, thus arresting the progress of the fire towards struc-
eal of eens importance. Unhappily, however, several mem-
: < of the company who ventured too far were caught under the
Lalling walls, In this accident Mr. John T. Rankin suffered in-
z = which it was feared would be fatal. He recovered slowly,
ms phe oe with a permanent lameness. Shortly after this
se < uring the convalescence of Captain Rankin, the first

re engine used in Wilmington was purchased by popu-

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