Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-08-31
FLAMES THREATEN A TOWN.

Cecil County's eat Visited BY Disaa-
trous Fire Wilmington Furnishes As-
sistance.
ELKToN, Md, Aug. 3i.-The most dis
astrous FIRE In Elkton for years started
at 4 30 o'clock Yesterday morning on the
south side OF Main street. and for while
threatened to destroy some of the prin-
clpal business places of the town. The
Gre broke out In the three-story frame
building owned aud occupied by William
Heatzig as a furniture store, and by
Michael Powell, q shoemaker, and his
family. Despite great effort to prevent
the fire from spreading, the flames,
forced by q southwest wind soon
reached the adjoining three-story
frame building owned by Hon John
A. j. Creswell, occupied by DR.. John H
lamar as an Office, and by Thomas Green
and family. Then the fire spread to the
two-story double brick store owned by
Miss B. Mary Mcintyre and occupied by
William J Dickinson and family as q
bakery, and by Miss Susanna May on the
west side On the east side the flames
caught small frame building owned b.
Mrs Jerrie Pierson and occupied by
Edward w. Taylor as a livery office, and
houee OF The Caleb Parker heirs, occupied
by Mrs. Shippers and Emma Craw.
The people made desperate efforts to
save The buildings with the defective fire
apparatus and bucket brigade, but to no
avail. The buildings were totally
destroyed, and some OF their occupants
merely escaped with their lives Some
saved their household goods,
~ -
or Howard the first floor occupied by
Frank J. Kerr & Co, tsilore, aud the up
per floors tenanted by henry M. Nichols
and family on the west side was threat
ened by flames from the adjoining brick
store, and was only saved by wet blank
cts and carpets being placed on the roof,
large supply OF water and small alley
between On the east side the cornlce Of
the vacant two-story store and dwelling
owned by the Lort heirs caught FIRE, but
was saved. Had these two buildings not
been saved several other dwellings and
stores would have been destroyed aud
perhaps all the south side OF the town,
George A. Blake, president Of the
board OF town commissioners, realizing
this danger sent the following telegram
to the chief Of the Wilmington Fire De-
partment please send me help. Afraid
our town will burn down. Answer quick.
An hour afterward Chief Robinson,
with the Phoenix and Weccseoe fire en-
giaea. hose carriages and 100 men were
at the scene, having made the run by
rail, eighteen miles, ia nineteen minutes.
The FIRE had then been gotten under con-
troll but the chief put the engines TO
work, forcing the water out OF ths Elk
river on to the ruins.
The origin Of the fire Is unknown, but
| II is thought to have been the work OF
an incendiary The estimated losses are
as follows: Two story frame dwelling Of
the Caleb Parker heirs, 81, 600S no in
surance 0ne-story frame building OF
Nus Jennie Pierson, 5000; no insurance
w b. Heaizig, store and stock $3, coo ;
| building insured In Fire Insurance
Company Of York Pa, for 81 900, with
$500 on stock in ths Mutual Fire II +
surance Company of Uesil county, and
| $500 on the building and contents in the
/ Fire Association OF Philadelphia Frame
dwelling house Of Hon A. Cres-
we'll. loss 50, 500; insured for 1850 10 the
| Mutual Fire Insurance of Cecil equity.
Brick tore OF Miss Mary b. Mcintyre,
/ loss az. 500; insured Ia the Baltimore
Insurance C,mpany for 81, 500, and in
Mutual OF Cecil county for 81 600. Will
liam Dickinson, stock and furniture, loss
| S40O. no insurance Michael Powell,
stock and furniture. $3.50; no insurance
Thomas Green, furniture, $50; insured
in Mutual OF Cecil county. Frank
Kerr, damage by water 10 stock S25i
Insured In the Mutual of Cecil county.
Miss susanna MAY, $3.50 in money
NJ. Nichols, $25 oamRge no insurance
The scene Of the fire was visited by a
large number Of strangers from neigh
boring towns The different churches OF
the place dismissed their congregations
without services and the people rem
dered what aid theylcould to the sufferers
Wilmington ''Laddies" in Service
The Wilmington FIRE companies did
very effective work at this fire After
they arrived at ElKton. the engines were
soon unloaded and put in service. II
order to geL supply Of water 1t was
necessary TO run the Ph@aia
steamer to the side Of
| Elk river, TO force the water through
several hundred fees Of hose 60 th'
Weccacoe engine. which played two
streams of water upon the fire, prevent
ing 1t from spreading to adjoining build
ings, and ultimately extinguishing ~
After he eng ines went out OF service TIN
firenen were given breakfast at tn
Howard House, and received mAuy con
gratulations from ElktOnians, who's
homes we're endangered by the lame