Daily Republican., 1886-10-19
sALlsBURY IN ASHES.
One Hundred and Twsnty-sig asuiid-
ings Destroyed and the Lose q Mil-
lion Of Dollars.


lone Hundred and Twsnty.sight ssuiyd
inss Destroyed. and the Lose q Mn
lion OF Dollars.
The Baltimore Sun to-day speaking O
the Salisbury IRE says: Salisbury Is Ii
ashes! The coDfisgration of 1860 wa
insignificant compared with that whicl
visited the town last night. The worI
OF destruction 10 As complete as it h
possible to be. The total number Of
buildings destroyed WAS 1873, as foil. We
One large planning mill establishment
and lumber yard, % stores, SO DWELLING
houses, A stables, 3 hotels, 8 churches.
newspaper offices, opera house, post
office, l bank.
The scene during the reign of the de-
vourtng elements beRgars description
The streets were filled with frightened
men, women and children burryinQ q
and fro, endeavoring to save what little
they could from destruction, Children,
parAly zed with fright, were SCREAMING
In their mothers arms, and NOTHING
could pAcify them. Ali the wagons.
carts, carriages and every conceivable
vehicle were brought into use to han
away what could bs saved from the
burning buildings.
COURSE OF THE FIRE.
The fire started In the stables of 8.
Frank Toadvine, on East Camden street
near Dock, at about 8 p. m, and the
| |fra departpent responded with ite
asual alsority, but the engine was found
to be In such bad condition that II
would not work, and no water could be
forced through the hose. Had this
m iafnrtnna pot rccy, urad bo n. ---II
probably have been subdued and the
terrible calamity averted.
Inc entire area, covering many acres,
is entirely devastated. It consisted oi
the entire business portion of the town.
and not place Of business remains.
The fire was stopped on Main street,
going west, at the river; was stopped
on Division street, going south, at
Henry j. Dashiell's; on Division street.
going north, at Mrs. Margaret Parsons;
on East Church street, ut Mrs. J. e..
Traders.
MILLION DOLLARS LOST.
The loss cannot be estimated, but ia
believed to exceed 81 ,000, 900. This is
about as low an estimate as Is put upon
1t. The insurance is probably between
one half and two-thirds the loss. 1t Is
impossible as yet TO learn the various
losses and the amount Of insurance.
THE COURTHOUSE SAVED.
The courthouse was saved only by
great effort, it being on fire several
times.
Nothing now remains of the best por-
tions Of Salisbury but brick walls and
chimneys, which are silent reminders
of the great destruction wrought.
A large number OF people are In des-
titute circumstances, having lost all
and having no insurance.
DISTRESSING SCENES.
Women and children were to day
roaming the streets without place OF
shelter, and the scene is q heartrend-
ing one. Winter is coming on, and the
suffering must necessarily be great.
Many losers are without the means of
rebuilding, and consequently the re-
building OF the town will be slow.
Several horses, hogs and cattle were
burned, and the cries OF the dying AMI
mails added to the horrors Of the con-
f1agration.
The streets are filled with iron safes,
where they were rolled from burning
timbers.
So many dwellings have been burned
and the hotels also, that hundreds will
be without homes, What the people
will do Ia q question that cannot be an
swered at present.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE UNKNOWN.
The origin of the FIRE Is unknown. s.
II. Toadvine's hostler was In the stable
q short time before 6 O'Clock and fed
the horses. but said he was not smok-
ing, and there was no fre about when
he left. 1t is the general opinion that
the fire was of incendiary origin. Mr..
Toadvine's three horses were burned In
the stable.
When 1t was seen that the town would
go kilograms were sent TO Wilmington
and Crisheld for fire engines. Both re-
spouded as soon as they could, but 1t
necessarily took considerable time 10
arrive here. The run from Whining.
ton was made at the rate of about q
mile a minute, Two steamers came
from Wilmington and one from Cris
field, and the firemen began at once;
but the fire was 30 far advanced that
little could be done, except to throw
water on the ruins.
Salisbury was visited by great Ere
August 8. 1860, and q portion Of the
same district burned over. Then about
sixty buildings were destroyed.
The Wilmington firemen have nothing
but the highest enconiums Of praise for
the manner in which they were treated
BY the Salisbury people. Nearly every
thing of an eatable character was con
sumed, but what was left was at the
service Of the firemen.
1t is believed the FIRE was of ipcen-
diary origin, and Winder Culver, q
discharged penitentiary convict, is aus.