Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-17
IN ASHES
a Sussex County Town
Destroyed.
LOYAL CITIZENS RESPOND.
A $500 Draft Sent Down Imme-
diately From Wilmington,
LOYAL CITIZENS RESPOND.

Hundreds of People Viewing the Ruins. /
Citizens Pass AN Uncomfortable Night |
Work ofCieariug Away the Ruins Be
Prompt Response TO Appeals for
Aid-Fcw Persons spent the Night out
doors-T.e Town WIN BE Rebuilt as
soon as the Insurance Is Adjustc ed.
stan Correspondence Evening Journal
DELMAR, Aug. 1.-THE most disastrous
fire in the annals Of Sussex county,
visited this place today. The business
part of the town is totally destroyed, fifty
dwelling houses are in ashes and the loss
viii be from $50, 600 to SO, ,00O.
Not more than one-third of thisamount
is Offset by insurance.
Work ofa Cigarette Fiond.
The general supposition is that the fire
originated in the post Office corridor by
n small boy throwing lighted cigarritte
into a basket OF waste paper Another
theory is that it had its ori-
gin in the upper story of the
Knights of pythias hall Be this as IL
may. the fact remains that one of the
most prosperous manufacturing towns on
AlAN Az % 4 o. AVE- NttNAf AA NAiN Nf'NtAi
ern part of tue peninsula, is almost
swept from the face of the earth.
Brave Railroad Men.
The first general alarm was rounded
at - 80 o'clock when the engines in the
railroad roundhouse here set mp a series
of unearthly shriexs The men first saw
the flames as they burst through the
roof of the Knights Of pythias
, hall As soon as the alarm
was given the railroad men rushed TO the
scene, thinking. that they could eXtin-
guish the flames, but the absence of feXtin-
/ gushing apparatus rendered &c impossible,
and the building was soon enyeloped
| in sheets of flame The strong
north wind that was blowing
} simply gave impetus to the coniagration.
and drove the flames TO the arge store
of Cooper & Wilson. and towards thc
closely built part of the town.
The inhabitants then realized that
the town was doomed They became
G panic stricken and rushed hither anS
q thither carrying their household effects
L to places which they believed to be secure
= In many instances the goods were burn
e ed even after they had b cen taken from
Z the houses.
e Telegraphing FOR Aid.
While the railroad men and inhabi
? tants were battling with the fire some
= one had presence of mind to telegraph Ia
T Salisbury for aid. IN about forty
minutes the volunteer department OF
that town responded bringing will
them their engine.
No water for tine Engine.
d The only thing that could have save,
t the town was rendered useless by The
q fact that the only water that could b'
=, had was i'm private wells and the neares
., mil-p and river was three miles
Y. away.
y Seeing this to be the condition of affair
u the volunteers Joined with the citizens
p who had formed bucket brigade. Every
J. thing that would hold water was Gale,
4 into requisition.
Locomotives 10 the Rescue.
When the flames were at their hoigh
happy thought struck the railroad men
The facilities of the large railroad pump
,r ing house were called into use an,
. all the locomotives in the round hous
We're put into line. As fast as the ten
al der of one engine was filed at the pump
lt ing house il was run down 20 q point a
10 near the fire as il was possible to get il
10 and the plug hose of the fire engine wa
ID thrown into the tank. This, in a measure
le checked the progress Of the fire, but jus
is as the fremen were congratulating them
f. selves upon the solution Of such griey
le Gus problem, the handsome frame rail
I'd road station took fire. and wa
If entirely consumed before anythin
We eiIectual could be done t0war
st saving it. The operator telegraphed O.
the Clayton headquarters a few minute
before depot and wires went down, an'
from that time until the arrival of Su
perintendent Holiday with hi
8 staff from Clayton. telegraph
k communication was entirely cut of
N. Many documents and much property @
10 great value TO the railroad company wer
va destroyed with the depot
m wiped out In Ten Minutes.
The flames gained headway, the breez
increased, and soon a wall OF flames wa
sweeping southwark with resistles
-. force
" Above the roar Of the fire and tn
at hoarse cries of the men, the excite
screams of weeping and homeless
women and children could be heard.
In some instances frame houses an
st their contents were entirely consume
his i'm ten minutes The flames leaped eI
tirely across the streets, and but few
persons even had time TO save food an
zee clothing
over Fifty Honses Burned.
The town is on the state line whic
II divides Delaware from Maryland, and
70, portion of the town is in each state
- hence its name
e' On the Delaware side about tweni
DIV houses were burned, while on the Mar.
Ter land side between thirty and forty wei
an consumed Those burned were as follow
le Knights OF Pythias building.
~ Cooper a. Wilson's store.
Post Office
AT Railroad station.
he Freight station.
l,o Adams Express Office.
-N Delmar Union store.
Fps W. B. Elliott. barber shop.
at Mrs. Ida Hayman, millinery store.
,, perdue a. Parker. millinery store,
Ca MarVels blacksmith shop.
T.. J. Nelson. confectionery store
James Mills shoe shop.
Benjamin Ereeny, butcher shop.
T. S. Stevens & Bro, lewelry Store.
W. T. slmnus's store.
raj i A. Ncasry Delmar Hotel
~ Bland kCcr, barber shop.
vac Residence. Joseph lllLs.
of Joseph NenablCs.
IN - ~fpVpr1