, 1880-07-26
The Destruction of Milton.

The Destruction of Milton.
Few calamities are more appalling
tn N one which in a single day destroy
d whole town. The Furnishing little
town of Milton, Per nsy lvania, was at
tackled by lire, and before another morn
ing had .iawned was transformed into
the heap Of smOldering ruins. Milton
is in Northnmberland cou"ty, on the
west branch of the Susqnehanna river.
It lies between the larger towns of Snn-
bury and Williamsport. being thirteen
miles above the former, and twenty
seven fellow the latter. Like them 1t
had great railroad and manufacturing
interests. A bridge crosses the river at
Milton. and the PhilaAelphia and Erie
and the Catawissa and Williamsport
railroads had their depots there. Be
fore the fire there were nine churches.
two national banks, newspaper Offi sc,
and about six miles of factories. The
last census showed the population te
be about two thousand souls, but sine
then the number has more than doub-
led.
Precisely how the fire originated is
not known. but shortly before twelve
o'clock in the morning smoke was seen
to issue from the roof of framing
house connected with the car-works of
Murray, Dougal 4 Co., adjoining the
depot of the Philadelphia and Erie
Railway, and in few moments the
whole building was ablazs. There was
a strong northwest wind blowing at the
time, which fanned the flames to such
an extent that they were soon beyond
control, and began spreading rapidly.
La less than an hour four of the main
buildings of the works were destroyed.
The course taken by the fire Was from
the Susquehanna river bridge, on Front
street, through that street to Broad
way (the main thoroughfare), and on
through the town, destroying in its way
the Academy of Music, the Armory,
the p esbyterian and other churches,
the Adams and Philadelphia and Read
ing Express offices, Western Union
Telegraph Office, Philadelphia and Erie
passenger depot, the Mtltonias newspa-
per office, the gas works, and all the
hotels, banks, places of business, stores,
factories, tanneries, and workshops
The fire reached its worst phase at three
o'clock, when the town presented the
appearance of sea of flames. A clear
swath of about one mile long, and a
half to three quarters of mile wide
was burned through the center CT the
town, aud by seven o'clock in the even
ing between six hundred and seven
hundred buildings we're in ruins AS the
resplt of the confederation.
AS soon as the probable extent of the
FIRE was discovered, kilograms were
sent out in every direction for assist
snce. The Fire Department from Sun
bury was the first to respond, but the
wind was then veering so that it was
impossible to place the engines where
they could do effective work, aud there
was danger in taking position anywhere
in the course of the fire. which made
its way toward the main business thor
Oughfares, and at the same time shifted
to and fro from the main to the side
streets in most battling manner. The
wind increased with the increase of the
flames, and soon all hope of saving the
place was abandoned, the efforts being
thenceforth directed to save life and
movable property. Trains soon brought
up the Fire Departments from Williams
port, Danville, Watsontown, and Lew
isburg, but they could only endeavor
to rescue some of the houses and build
ings on either side of the pathway cut
clean by the rolling flames, which held
their destroying sway until they had
burned through the village, and reached
the open country at its southern boun-
Diary.
During the fire the scene was one of
indesoribable excitement and confusion,
heightened by wild and exaggerated
stories spread about as to the number
of persons lost and missing. Trains
came from the north and south, bring
ing hundreds OF curious spectators.
Hundreds more came focking in from
the country round about, on foot or in
wagons and carriages. The trsins and
people alike were employed to save
household goods. Cars loaded with
movables of every sort we're run along
the track in both directions, and the
goods dumped proniscuously out.
The fields soon presented a curious
spectacle-people clinging to their scat
tered furniture and utensils, and pre-
pairing to keep night watch over their
household relics. During the confu-
sion thieves were not wanting to i'm
prove the excellent opportunity, and
many articles we're carried away, one
unfortunate lady being robbed of $780,
GOO in government bonds.
As soon as the extent of the calamity
was grasped BY the appalled, residents.
measures were taken for soliciting re-