Middletown transcript., 1893-04-01
GALENA ON FIRE
ALMOST WIPED OUT OF EXIST
ENCE BY THE FLAMES.
$50. 900 WORTH OF PROPERTY

Goes Up in Smoke-A Defective Flue
Canses a disastrous Blaze That is
only Checked by the Hard Work OF
fhe Citizens-Rumors of an Incen-
dfary,s Work at Mr.. Woods Store
old Landmarks Swept Away by
the Fire Fiend-Lfttle or No Insur-
ance.
A telegram at o'clock yesterday morning
brought the terrible news that Galena, Md :,
was suffering from disastrous fire that
threatened to burn the whole town. and
asking for assistance from our fire depart
ment.
When the TRANSCRIPT man reached the
town he found the place in confusion and
only the black standing chimneys and the
smoldering embers Of a score Of houses was
all that was left Of the houses and business
blocks that were situated at the four cor
ners or center of town.
The fire originated about o'clock in the
home of Henry Parr while the family were
eating their breakfast, and before assistance
could be rendered the house was in ashes.
While the citizens were fighting the fire,
at PARIS an alarm was again sounded. and
flames were seen issuing from the rear of
W. T. Woods hardware store. 1t cannot
be ascertained how this second fire origi-
mated as there was building intervening
between the two fires, but rumor has it
that it was set on fire.
The town hall, handsome large build
ing owned by the Odd Fellowship store
rooms being occupied by Mrs A. e Ireland
as drug store and Mr.. Parr as harness
shop and the public liabrary soon followed
BY this time the flames were spreading
rapidly and in quick succession, the dwell
ing of Asbury Ruth, the store of Frank
Ruth and the old Pennington Hotel were
soon mass of smoldering embers. Then
came the store of jeremiah Peacock, the |
unoccupied house of James Wall, the resi- |
dence of r. A. Briscoe P. J. Pearce's shoe
store, the unoccupied house belonging to
Jeremiah Peacock, the blacksmith and
wheelwright shop of ]. R. Hicks & Bro,
the house of the Misses Scott,a barn be-
longing to Carnelius Scott, the shoe shop OF
Mrs. Nichols, and the millinery store Of
Miss Ella Parr.
The old hotel was furnished throughout,
but was unoccupied, and the furniture was
saved.
The Scott residence was one of the Oldest
in that section having stood the storms Of
more than hundred years, and was left a
legacy to the two old ladies, sis ters, by their
father. 1t was an old landmark, and it
was here that Methodism had its birth in
Kent County. The Misses Scott are both
about 80 years of age, and keenly feel the
loss of their old home with its many pleas
ant association, their furniture was saved
The property destroyed was valued at
about $4,000 with very little insurance,
and leaves some of the families in destitute
circumstances.
The losses and insurance. so far as could
be ascertained are as follows
Frank Ruth, loss about s25oo; no in
surance
w. T.Wood, dwelling and hardware and
general store, loss about $500; insurance
$500.
jeremiah Peacock, loss on store and
dwellings about $4,000; insurance about
$4,000.
Henry Parr. dwelling aud store, loss
about S25O0; insurance about $500.
Asbury Ruth, dwelling valued at $500;
insurance 5000.
Town Hall, valued at about $4,000; in
snrance $500.
]. R. Hicks & Bro, loss on stock about
$3.50; no insurance.
Mrs. Ireland is a heavy loser on her drug
store. and had but small insurance.
DIR, Dickinson saved some of his drugs
but loses heavily insurance, $500,
p.J. Scott loses about $4,000 on bis build
ings; insurance $1,000.
William Hicks loses about $4O0 no in
surance.
A number of unoccupied houses were also
destroyed, making the total about 20 build
ings, or one third Of the town.
The public liabrary was situated in the
town ball building, bqt Yas saved:
The inadequate water supply was a great
detriment to fighting the flames,
Big Sale in Cecil.
The biggest sale ever held in. Cecil county
was that of w. O. Shallcross on Thursday.
His stock brought good figures, his hogs
alone bringing nearly thousand dollars.
More people attended this sale than were
eyer seen at Qne before:
Social Last Night,