Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-10

Snow HILL, Md, Aug. s.--The bust
ness portion of Snow Hill is in ashes.
At about 10 o'clock last night the alarm
Of fire was sounded, and in few min
utes the streets were filled with people.
The report that the store of G. Marion
Dryden was on fire struck terror into
the hearts of the business men of Snow
Hill, the store being located in the mid
die Of solid block of frame buildings,
with one exception--the confectionery
store of v. Payne. When discovered the
flames were gaining rapid Roadway in
The second story Of the building, and
within Is minutes from the time of dis
covery of the fire in burned through the
roof and rear end OF the building. Then
the mammoth drug store of P. D. Cot
tingham s. Co., on the one side, and b.
T. Smiths clothing store, on the other,
caught fire. Very soon all three build
ings were burning furiously, and the
people realized that the business por-
ton of Snow Hill was doomed and hard
work would have to be done to save the
resident portion of the town. Men,
women and children wrung their hands
in despair, and men who are noted in
less stirring times for their GOODNESS and
bravery, ran about in an aimless manner
and were so panic-stricken that they did
not know what they were doing.
Whistles were blowing, church bells
pealing out the fire alarm, and pande-
monium reigned. The town has no fire
apparatus and its only dependence was
the "bucket brigade"
BURNING OF THE COURTHOUSE.
Storehouse after storehouse was
licked up by the flames. Merchants
endeavoring to save such of their goods
as they could get out of their stores and
carrying them to places Of safety, every
kind Of vehicle being pressed into SER
vice for the purpose. The courthouse
yard was thought to be safe place for
storing goods, and thither nearly every
one ran with arms full of dry goods,
furniture, clothing and every conceiv-
able kind OF merchandise. But this
afterward proved TO be costly error,
for everything placed in the courthouse
yard was to go up in smoke.
PEARL srEET ABLAzE.
The flames leaped across to the big
dry goods store Of Richardson, Smith,
Moore g. Co. and j. S. Price & Co., on
the east and west corners of Green and
Pearl streets, and building after build.
ing on both sides OF Pearl street were
soon ablaze. The fire rushed on until
it reached Market street and began to
consume the Democratic Messenger news.
paper office on one side of the street and
the old National Hotel on the other
The hotel, large wooden building
rearing high up in the air and sur
rounded by porches furnished excellent
fuel and was soon all ablaze, the flames
from it shooting over to the cupola Of
the court house, which ignited and soor
the interior of the old temple of justice
was on fire. The building was destroyed
except its walls, which are standing.
Around on the north side Of the square
the Washington Hotel, owned by Lev
A. Purnell, was on fire. In less thar
one hour from the time the alarm of fire
was made the whole square between
Peare and Washington streets and Greer
and Market streets was in solid blaze
and the fire was making rapid headwa,
porthward from its starting point towart
the Pocomoke river and the saw ant
planning mills of Smith, Moore g. Co
and John James Collins, located alonl
the bank OF the river.
WORK OF THE BUCKET BRIGADE.
The fire was checked in this direction
by the heroic efforts of the "bucke
brigade" directed by Col. John Waite
Smith, who fought the fire until he wa
soaking wet and exhausted.
Register of Wills Thomas d. Purnelp
house, the residence of Lieutenant Top
pan, Wilson's Hail. j. Parker Smith
store, Burbage & Corners undertaking
establishment, Stephen L. Purnell'
store and W. D. Cofddry & Sons, manu-
facturers Of sash, doors, &C., were save
by this stubbornly fought battle of Co'
Smith and those who gladly listened {
his directions and promptly obeye
4 them.
But the fire still ragged to the south
4. east. r. j. McAllen 81 Bros grocer,
" and confectionery store, which was on
of the finest store houses in the town
n was ablaze and the large dwelling hous
OF Mrs. Ellen Robins near by, tenante
a by Walter w. Hurlock, was meetin
with the same fate. The Jail, which we
brick structure like the court houst
n caught on fire about the same time tha
the temple of justice was besieged b
the roaring flames and was destroyed.
CALLING FOR AID.
When the fire first started an effoi
was made to get telegram to Salisbur,
Il also to Wilmington for fire engines to
= sent down, but 1t was not until mic
q night when the messages were receive
by the fire companies.
II The Weccacoe and Phoenix fire con
panies of Wilmington, and the Sail
hurry fire department responded
Il the call for aid and arrived at the seen
about $50 this morning, after the heat
n way of the fire had been checked. The
IA Immediately commenced throwing watt
NJ on the vaults in the court house and tn
First National Bank.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
Mr.. o. NJ. Purnell no doubt save
e* many residences in the southeastern SO
ton of tie town by using force pun
4 in his yard to which was attached II
feet of hose. He kept his building we
wet with water and the fire was checks
M at his residence. The Mackenzie Memo
NJ ial Presbyterian Church caught fire Sc
WI eral times as also did the residences
IA L. Edward Bolton and Horace Payn
A but each time the fire was put out befo
1t did much damage.
6 WHAT is LEFT.
Only three stores were left in the TOW
~ those Of Captain j. Parker Smit
|s|& Stephen L. Purnell and William Your
7s but with commendable pluck and ei
4 ergy several of the merchants who 81
aM fered the heaviest losses have alreat
% telegraphed TO Baltimore for goot
which will be placed in private hous
@1| for sala until shantiaa mi he aracted