Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-11
DISASTROUS FIRE IN CECIL
Burning of the Mccullough
Mills at Northeast.
A FUGITIVE CONFESSES FORGERY
The Canal From Pooomoke to
Sinepuxent Bay.
Government Engineers Begin tho Pre-
liminary survey--Dsath OF John Nc
Kenney of Centreviiie--The Mills of the
Mccullough Iron Co. ut Northeast De-
stroyed by Fire.

GEORGETOWN, Oct. 10.-Flags were
flying, bands played and people flocked
to town yesterday to take part in the
great Democratic ratification.
After disbanding on the town square,
there was nothing done, until after din
ner when at o'clock the meeting was
called tc order with Hon. w. l.. Sirman
OF Delmar as chairman. Senator Gray
was introduced as the first speaker. He
received. continued applause upon taxi
ing the stand and talked one hour and
a half, touching upon State and national
affairs. His speech was well received,
being broken every few minutes by APP
plause.
John Biggs next spoke for half an
hour and was followed by L. Irving
Handy. Samuel Bancroft, Jr., followed
and received rousing welcome. His
speech was we'll received. Robert @.
White, William IL. Boyce and others
also spoke, and the meeting proved q
grand success. It was attended by fully
1000 persons.
ELKToN, Nd, Oct. GA disastrous
fire broke out this evening about 8
o'clock in the mills of the Mccullough
Iron Co., at Northeast, six miles south
Of Elkton, on the line OF Philadelphia,
Wilmington - Baltimore railroad, which
destroyed the engine house, sheet iron
mill, charcoal sheds and portion of the
forge mill. The fire originated from the
explosion of an oil lamp in the engine
house. The burning fluid set fire to the
building and in short time commune
Gated the flames to the adjoining build
ing, the bar and water mill, which is
the largest structure destroyed. 1t is 50
by 100 feet in size. The entire plant is
constructed of wood except the sides
and roof, which are OF corrugated iron.
The alarm was soon given, and in
short time the citizens OF the town
turned out to fight the fire, which at
one time threatened the destruction of
the entire plant. The town being with
out fire apparatus, the only way to fight
the tre was by means of bucket bril-
gades, which were soon formed. After
time the fire appeared to be gaining
headway, and the company wired the
Wilmington Fire Department for assist
ance, but before the apparatus could be
transferred to the cars the fire was
gotten under control and the order was
countermanded. The loss ON the build
lngs and machinery is estimated at over
$50, 900, which is fully covered by in
surance. The fire will be severe blow
to the town, as the mills were running
full time and giving employment to a
large number of people.
oMoKE.sINEPUXENT CANAL,
Snow HILL, Nd, Oct. 9.-An APP
preparation was made at the last session
of Congress for the survey of canal
fnlfp from pNnnp,plra vi 60
ent bay. Yesterday Government Engi-
neers a. Sterile, Herman Schubert, NJ.
w. Gullett and j. r. Moreland arrived
in Snow Hill and began the preliminary
work to-day. The starting point will
be the river bridge in Snow Hill. From
this point the surveyors will go up the
Pocomoke river one mile to Purnell's
mlll-race. From the mouth of this race
to Sinepuxent bay is distance of six
miles. When the canal is completed it
will unite the waters of Pocomoke
river and Sinepuxent bay. This, with
the Covington canal, which is now he
ing constructed from Isle of Wight bay
to the Delaware bay, will form an
interior waterway from the Delaware to
the Chesapeake.
The engineers while here will make
an examination and resurvey of the
three cuts in the Pocomoke river, below
Snow Hill. An appropriation for this
work was also obtained from Congress.
These cuts were made some years ago,
and have been of immense advantage to
the town, but it is thought that they
ought to be made wider and deeper.
DEATH OF JOHN L. M'KENNEY.
CENTREvILLE, Md, Oct. 0.-.Mr. John
Mckenney died last evening at the resi-
dence of his father, Gen. William Nc
Kenney of Centreville, Queen Anne's
county. Mr.. McKeuney was 80 years
of age, and had been ill of consumption
for long time. He had recently re.
turned from the Adirondack mountains,
where he had gone hoping to be bene-
flied by the air, but since his return his
strength gradually failed.