Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-10-21


houses that within the limits of the
burned district but two escaped-Trader
Brothers general store, at the south end
of Division street, and Jordan's
liquor store opposite. The post-ofiice, on
Main street, was burned, but the post
master saved all the money, stamps, letters
and other valuable effects. The Salisbury |
National Bank, handsome brick struc-
ture, will have to he rebuilt, as the roof |
il gone, the walls are shattered, aud the |
interior completely Quilted. The fire proof |
safe, however, withstood the effects Of the |
flames, and Its contents were not dam |
aged in the slightest degree. Both the |
bank and the post-office are now doing |
business in temporary quarters estab- |
tablished in the courthouse.
But despite the awful calamity, sails |
bury redivivuR" appears to be the aim
and object of the principal sufferers. |
Before the embers cooled active prcpara- |
tions for rebuilding wero inaugurated.
Nearly every property contains notice to
trespnssers to keep off until the insurance
has been arranged, and several announce
ments of firms who propose to commence
business at once in temporary quarters
are already posted mp. The town yester-
day, was a scene Of great activity, in
addition TO the hundreds of visitors
who came simply to view the
ruin wrought by the fire. The debris
was being carted away and safes removed
from the burned buildings Every avail
able lumber team TINT could be secured
was brought into requisition, and more
than dozen frame "shAnties," for use as
temporary business quarters. were in
course of construction. Most of the
burnad-out business men are men young
in years, but they are possessed of in
domitable energy and will soon have the
town on it's feet again, though the full
effects of the awful visitation will be felt
for years.
A feature of the affair is the apparently
providential escape of some houses
directly in the track Of the fire, that now
| stand forth like cases in desert waste.
A conspicuous feature is found in house
south of Main street, occupied by colored
people. The fire ragged all around il but
they stood by and drenehed the roof and
walls with water from buckets, and sue
\ ceeded in saving it without even being
scorched. Other houses were saved
simply by slight changes in the
wind that diverted the flames
in other directions. From burning
houses and others threatened furniture
was thrown promiscuously, muohof Which
was afterwards burned or damaged SO Ms
to be useless Many household effects
/ were removed to the court house, Which
building was saved only after hard
struggle, during which men went up into
the tower and fought the flames with
buckets of water until success finally
crowned their efforts. Among the cffocts
moved to the courthouse yard was very
handsome bird house, a fixture at the i'm
posing residence of Il. ii. Powell which
was entirely destroyed.
While most of the burned buildings
were insured, some of the owners were
not so fortunate, the location of their
properties in proximity to the lumber
mills making the rates too high to be pro-
fitable. A sad instance of an entire lack
of insurance is the M. e. Church, of which
the Rev. w. B. Walton is pastor. The
church, including the Sunday-school
library, organ and other Furnishings, was
! entirely destroyed, as were the parsonage
,, and contents. On the two buildings was
an insurance of $4, 700. The erection oil
new church was contemplated, for
which purpose the sum of So, 00C
! had been subscribed. Preparations fol
the new editice, which was to have par
: sonage adjoining, were under way, and il
view of this fact the policies of insurance
! on the old church and parsonage, which
lapsed in August Inst, were not renewed
il being deemed advisable to let then
drop and place sufficient amount on tn
new structures. By this fatal Oversight
tue church loses an insurance OF 81, ZOO
u xxtk,t oh nf OF
lance in putting up the new church AM
; parsonage.
About 2. 80 o'clock Tuesday afternoon
. quite an excitement was occasioned by
miniature whirlwind, which for awhil
threatened to assume considerable pro
!; | portions. It came up on the south sid
! Of the courthouse, apparently from tn
river, and moved along with grea
I rapidity. 1t was about feet in diamete
at the base, and of the same dimension
= at the top, contracting about one-hah i
1 the centre. 1t appeared to be about 8
: feet high, and as it moved alon
: not only raised great commotio
y of dust, but seized good-sized stick
! of charred wood and other light debri
and hurled them up into the air.
whirled across Division street like rae
horse and proceeded in south westerl
!, direction, moving in and out among til
u ruins end apparently gaining speed an
proportions, until it finally ran plum
), against stone house and was demolishe
. in an instant. Its course was witnesse
by large number of people, with an il
!, terest largely mixed with anxiety, and
general sigh of relief was heard when til
. stone house ended its career.
u As to the extent of the loss, estimat,
vary, and il will be impossible TO civ
: anything like correct figures until IL
merchants and others can get an oppol
. tunity of carefully computing the valr
= of stock on hand at the time of the FIR,
y The loss on stock and furniture wi
u probably equal, if not exceed, the loss Q
buildings. Here and there can be foun
Q men who sadly announce that they In,
= lost everything, the figures given in thet
Z instances ranging from 80, 600 to $40, 00'
y Joseph j. Bailey, deputy register of will
y speaking of this subject to GAzET1
y representative, said the loss woul
=, possibly not go above half amillion dollar
u although it might, on full investigation
prove to be more than o million. Il
u thought the insurance would cover abot
y two.thirds of the loss.
+ Although the loss to the business ii
CT terests of the town will be enormou
u many of the poorer people may prove Il
g. heaviest sufferers. True, their houst
% and personal effects were not destroye'
r their places of residence being distai
from the scene Of the fire, but the destru,
Dt ton to business may deprive them I
work during the entire winter. In th
:, event great destitution will ensue, and |
l t.sIs kntt
al commissioners have decided to accept q
as proffered financial aid and have appointe
ne n committee to receive and disburae Il
same. The sum of $l25 was raised
AZ Princess Anne on Monday night, al
~ other Eastern Shore towns will do lik
go wise if occasion offers, while the city
~ Baltimore, whose commercial relation
sS with Salisbury are important, will do
!. that is necessary If the occasion arises.
us The people of the desolated town n
10 loud in their praises OF the W1lmingtt
a. firemen. Despite the difficulties enCou
ne tered, the lateness of the hour md d
tiresome effects of tteir long ride, u
firemen worked like heroes, and prevent
or much greater destruction Of propert
ne In fact, it is doubtful II a vestige of d
as town would have been saved had it n
| Deem IOT tne Wilmington hiohIohi WIN
re- we'll directed efforts stopped the work
m destruction that fierce flames, aided by
is, stiff wind, were 80 successfully accoi
ng plishing. The people desire to return
ed Chief Sweeney and his nearly three sec
At of brave and willing assistants their hea
ne felt thanks, and to tender the assuran
de that the valuable services SO freely re
On dered will never be forgotten.
ne The area of the burned district,
ne bring IL down to limits intellioible to w