Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-08
serious Fire at Crihfield,

SEVEN oYsTER-nousEs AND A CLOTHING STORE DE.
sTRoYED-Loss s25, 000-THE OYSTER BusISEss
NOT SERIOUSLY DISTURBED.
Thursday morning, at seven o clock, fire broke
out at Cristeld, in Joseph Coulbourns oyste,
house, and soon caught to Brown, Coulbourn 4
Cos, and then to Milligan a. Sons oyster houses
and from there to Rayiield, Nisgin Il CO. then
across narrow dock to Jason Higgins, VIM
Bradshaw's, Conger Higgins, and to Dollard's
clothing store.
All were burnt down in one hour, in spite OF
the efforts of the citizens, who turned ont "a,
mass aud labored with great energy.
The oyster houses were occupied by many
families, in the upper stories who saved nearly
all their goods.
The loss will be about twenty-five thousand
dollars about half insured.
Inc oyster business will not stop, as these are
all enterprising firms and before the fire was
out some OF them were looking for place to re-
sume business. w. Y, S.
ADDITIONAL rAnTIcuLARs-THE WESTERN PART oF
THE Town uNINIUHED-HAsTY TRIP To PRINCESS
ANNE FOR LADDERS.
CRIsfIELD, Nd, Oct l.
The main facts in the conhagration W iich
swept the eastern portion of this town, this
morning, have already been sent YOU now
furnish additional particulars, AZ follows
The contemplating houses were nearly all two
story buildings, divided into rooms, and were
rented In suits to different families. The house
occupied by Mr.. Ballard as clothing store was
owned by firm in Baltimore. 1t had Just been
enlarged and had no insurance upon it.
The town is destitute Of any kind OF fire ap-
paratus, and has ardy ladder in it. Soon af-
te- the fire broke out Joseph Hyde, Master Me-
chanic OF the Eastern Shore r. H., started Oh an
engine for Princess Anne, tho county seat, for
ladders-a distance of thirty-eight miles. He
was gone fity-iiye minutes, and on the way the
locomotive struck COW, carrying her about a
quarter OF mile on the COW catcher when she
harmed.
Richard II. Loockerman had Just opened a
grocery store IN the building owned by Milling
ton d Son. and lost nearly all his goods.
About twenty large oyster houses remain
standing. This was the first day, under the law
on which dredging is allowable, consequently
but few boats were in the harbor. and tic mack
ers had small stocks on hand. A schooner,
which had been libeled, was lying at the wharf
and aground in easy reach of the flames. but A
hawser was attached to a locomotive on the rail-
Of danger. ''''
The fire was confined to that part of the town
which lies east of the railroad and all the build
lngs on that side were burned except the railroad
uckel once All the stores, except Lochcrmans
ard baiiards, and the business part of the town
generally, are on tho West side of the railroad.
and by the free use of wet blankets and water
everything on that side was saved
W.Y.S.
STILL FURTHER PARTI cUIARs--MR. HYDEs HAsry
TRIP TO PRINCESS ANNE.
From Joseph Hyde, Esq, who came up from
Crlhheld by the afternoon train, Thursday, we
have the following additional particulars
There were probably dozen buildings cast Of
tho Railroad. They were two-story structures,
the upper part being divided of into apartments
for families. The fire originated in ono of the
tenements in Joseph Coulbourn's building, and
is supposed to have caught from a stove-ppe
somewhere near the entrance to the tlue. This
building, like the most of its class. had no Chin
neys, but fiues supplied their places extending
down through the roof and resting upon the
girders. A strong wind was blowing at the
time, setting the flames in the direction Of the
other buildings, Mr.. Coulbourns being on the
outside, and the whole line was swept away
or Mr.. Hyde's hasty trip to the county-seat
he says left Cristield at 20 minutes before 8
clock on u locomotive with nothing attached
but the tender, and twenty-five minutes after
wards was in Princess Anne-l9 miles distant.
hurried INTO the town, procured the ladders
and started on the return, reaching Crisfied at
% minutes before o'clock, having been goae
So minutes. portion of the time was consum-
ed in waiting on the road for hot box to cool
on. When the COW WAS struck, the locomotive
was running at the rate OF about so miles an
hour. She was carried on the pilot about 700
yards when she rolled of and scrambled
up the embankment, and started away into the
woods, without limping or showing the least sign
Of hs wing been hurt.
Mr.. Hyde was the first to discover the fire, and
says that had he had ladd u and bucket of
water convenient at the time he conld have saw
cd the conflaRration.
Abont fifty families are left homeless by the
fire.