The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-04-26
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
THE TOWN OF CHESAPEAKE CITY
SAVED WITH DIFFICULTY.
burgett's Steam Saw Mill, Dwelling House
and Drying House Consumed.

Last Saturday morning, about | o'clock
the large steam saw-mill of II. II. Burgrtt
On the south side of Back creek. in thesa
peake city, was simultaneously disco, ere,
To he on fire by Captain Layman, who re
sides a short distance east of il. and also b.,
John Harriott, who lives on an emnence OF
the north side of the creek opposite to tn,
mill. The Captain attention was directr,
to the fire by the smell of the smoke cause,
by the burning of the pine lumber. of which
the mill was composed. Mr.. Harriott was
aroused by disturbance among his poul
try, and jumping out of bed (" in, e>tirats
the matter, saw the fire which at that time
7 was not large. He fastened to the scene of
the contiagration. but his residence being
some distance from it. the alarm had been
gwen, by ringing the church and steamboat
bells, before he reached the town.
When first discovered. the tire-which
originated i'll the hascment-had consumed
about onc-half of the mill and it was i'm
possible to save any of its contents The
mill was large and commo,lious structure,
and contained large quantity of valuable
machinery used for planning boards. work
ing flooring and siding, making mouldings,
sash, nc. The machinery was purchased in
boston some years ago, some OF the ma
chimes costing much rs 81, 900 each in
that city. All of it, as well as 100 bushels
OF potatoes and 300 bushels of oats that were
stored i'll the basement, was consumed
Close by the mill stood the driving house in
which was stored about - 900 feet of oak.
pine, and other valuable lumber. which,
together with the fine office and large dwell
ing house, which stood close by, We're 10
tally consumed, nothing being saved from
them except an inconsiderabe quantity of
clothing belonging to the wife of Mr.. Mar
TIN Hurgett, son of the proprietor. who re-
sided i'll the dwelling house. and who Ill
rected his efforts to save the other build
ings, until it was too late to remove his goods
from the house. The account books, which
were in the safe in the office, were secured
but amid the excitement and confusion in
cident to an occasion Of the kind, young
MIR. Burgett forgot TO faStrn the door of the
safe and quantity of notes and bonds.
which were in it, were destroyed
Owing to the close proximity of the burn
ing buildings to that part of the town south
of the creek the flames We're, with difficulty.
prevented from communicating to it, and it
was only by the superhuman efforts of the
citizens aided by the moist condition of the
exterior of the buildings. caused by the
various rains, that much more disastrous
cont!agration was prevented. Strange to
say, the town authorities have made 10
provision for exigsncieS of this kind. and
Chesapeake City is destitute of any kind of
hre engines or apparatus of any kind: con-
the buildings of Captain Layman,
Jacob Huber, Thomas Nandegrift, and the
store house of Reese Il Bouchcll, were in
imminent danger of destruction: but the
by the use of buckets and such
,ther appliances as they We're able to I'M
provise, brought the devouring element I'M
Ter control and their persistent energy and
ong-continued eNertions We're finally re-
warded with success.
The saw-mill was built some Years ago by
K. II. Bayard who sold it some time after
ward to H. II. Burgett, the present propre-
or. Mr.. Burgett is largely interested iii
he lumber business in the lumber region of
and was absent at the time
If the fire in Steuben county. y. V, where
le OWNS much real estate
The origin of the fire is involved in OBJ
curity. The mill had not been running
or eight days before. during which the fire
n the furnace underneath the boiler had
'een extinguished. which leads to the opin-
on that it WAS the unprecedented work of
tramp, VIII" had sought shelter in it dur
ng the night The large stock Of lumber
'iled in the yard was not destroyed There
vas no insurance, and the loss is estimated
t S25,000. Mr.. Martin Burgctt, who, as
efore stated. resided in the dwelling, met
With a similar experience about four years
90, caused by the burning Of anotherd dwell
ne On his fathers farm. near Chesapeake
'ity