Milford chronicle., 1893-08-11

The goods removed were frst piled neal
the Court House, which was two b ocks dis
tant from the origin Of the FIRE. but they soor
had to be removed again.
The flames reached the First National
Bank and Odd Fellows Hall opposite the
Court House and in few moments leaped
across the street and set FIRE to the wooden
cupola Of the the Court House ITSELF
BY this time the whole centre Of the town
was a mass Of flames, aud II became case
of each man to look out for himself Sparks
were falling over the town in showers and
houses half mile away from the IRE were
set on FIRE, and only saved by the almost
superhumau efforts Of the people who owned
them. AT midnight, two hours after the
/ FIRE had started, every one IN the town was
| preparing to move TO a place Of safety.
Goods were hastily packed by the women
while the men fought the flames away from
/ their homes, but kept near lest they would
soon be compelled to move theiI own goods
to the opeu air.
At midnight the town commissioners
telegraphed to Salisbury thirty-nine miles
away for help. There was some difficulty
in the train men receiving orders to
move and word was also sent to Whining
ton.
The Wilmington fremen had long
way to come, I3o miles, but the people
hoped that they would reach here in time
to do good, and so they fought the flames
aud hoped for aid.
The spectacle of the burning town
made a terrible scene. The buildings
burned we're all of frame and they burned
like tinder.
The flames could be seen for miles.
They shot high upon the air and the fall
ing timbers sent up great showers OF
sparks. The heat was intense and no
one could stand it long at time. One
by one the best buildings i'll the town
were going, but nothing could be done
to save them.
It was exactly ago O'Clock when the
Salisbury firemeu arrived on a special
train drawn by P w. & B. Engine No.
70. The Salisbury engine of the depart
ment was put into service, but the fire
was then under control. The Salisbury
men worked hard until noon to-day, play
ing upon the burning ruins.
It was exactly SIS o'clock when the
special train Of three cars carrying the
Wilmington iremsn aud their apparatus,
drawn by engine No. So, arrived here.
The engines Of the Phoenix and Wecca-
coe companies were at once put into ser.
vice and played upon the ruins until
noon. The men were given their meals
by the citizens of the town.
When the Wilmington tiremen arrived
the town presented a pitiable sight The
entire centre of the town for an area Of
five to seven acres was mass OF smould-
ering ruins. From these rose volumes Of
smoke which could be seen all over the
surrounding country. In the midst OF
the ruins stood dozens of big old-iash-
ioned chimneys. The walls Of a few
brick buildings we're also standing.
From the piles of smouldering embers
the heat was intense aud people could
not 90 very near them. About the streets
were wagons loaded with furniture and
goods taken from the buildings. They
were being removed to places of safety.
Other goods were piled on the sidewalks
and in front yards of houses.
Women who had been working all
night packing goods and saving them
from destruction sat on the porches OF
their neighbors' houses, weary, homeless
and disconsolate.
Maryland people are always hospitable,
aud the ones who had homes left to them
soon found the homeless and took them
in charge. Many of the people did not
have much to eat, for all the stores had
been burned, and nothing could be
bought. Such as they die have they
gave to others who were less fortunate
than themselves.
From a close examination 1t was found
that the total number of buildings of all
kinds destroyed by fire was seventy
six. This included all the stores
in town except three, all the hotels -four
in number), the Central, National, Wash
ington and Franklin, the bank, the post
Office, the three newspaper offices, the
Court House, the Jail. the Odd Fellows
Hall and a number of dwellings and
stables
Not a person or an animal was injured
bv the fire in any way.
Business is badly crippled here, but
the merchants are already making ar
rangements 10 resume operations as soon
as possible. Some are of course embar-
rassed, particularly those who had no
insurance, but they will begin over again
and expect to make up for lost time.
The people here have but little, but
they are not suffering and not destitute.
So far no appeal for aid has been made,
and it is not expected that any will be
made. Those who have homes left them
are caring for those who have none.