Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-08-09
Fire at Berlin.

Fire destroyed the town of Berlin, Nd.
on Sunday evening last, burning about
seventy FIVE of the best buildings in the
town. The fire originated about s. sc
O'Clock in a stable from a spark
from a lighted cigar which G. w,
! Henry was smoking. The total area
burned was about six acres. The total
loss IS about SI75,ooo, with only about
| S25, 900 insurance III amounts of $1,000
to 50 900, mostly in mutual companies
There were few people i'll town, Ocean
City and campmeeting having called
away nearly all the fre-fghting inhab-
itants.
The FIRE brigade did good work in
checking the progress of the flames
toward the west, but toward the north,
south aud east efforts we're unavailing,
though only gentle wind was blowing
The flames spread with rapidity, and
soou the large Atlantic Hotel and all the
buildings on Broad street, as far north
as the residences of ]. R. Puruell, were
enveloped The flames leaped across
Broad street aud ignited the buildings
on the opposite side
The progress of the FIRE was checked
near Bells store, the post Office and DR.,
7. A. Frauklin's drug store. leaving these
buildings standing, though badly
scorched and with much damage to stocks
by water. Though checked in this direc-
ton the flames spread to the south on
both sides of maiu street, destroying in
their course the large storehouse of Ed
ward s. Furbush & Co., DR.. Levin Der
ickson A F. Powell & Co. ]. T Keas
& Co. Pnrnell Bros. P B. Lane DR.. S.
K Marshall, H. T Penny & Sons the
Adams Express Office, with contents,
Clay Conway, I. s. Hammond T. Bro
Henry TiRgle, R. Z. Parsons, Wise &
Powell, Peter Parker, John Mullford,
John Cropper, Henry Anderson, Charles
CULLEN, Miss Mary Anderson, Miss Liz
zie Tighman, c, z EYaus
In addition to these there we're manv
people of moderate means who occupied
portions OF stores as dwellings All of |
their possessions were taken from the /
houses oHly 10 be consumed III the streets. /
A great many articles from the stocks in /
stores were carried safely FROM the build /
imgs, but owing to the general confusion, I
were heeped IN places where they were /
5vertaken by the flames and consumed. /
Whole stocks OF goods we're placed IN (
3 brick building which was presumably /
fire proof, but which soon succumbed,
iGulllE up III oulohG anu AoAAS9 Au(
goods which were thought TO he secure.
The fire extended in all directions with
great fury, only stopping When there
was no house. close enough for 1t to reach.
The insurance companies after numer-
1us heavy losses in towns Of this descrip-
ion in this vicinity, cancelled all other
leaving the town with only
pittance of insurance. Only four stores
we're lait standing in the business part of
he town, aud they were separated from
he burning blocks BY c wide street.
The post-office, Odd Fellows Hall. c.
B. Tayior's bank, DR.. 7. Y. Fraukliu's
Emery Bells and ]. A Boston's stores,
ichool houses aud all the churches still
-emain.
The heaviest losers are Z. S Furnish
( Co., stock, SIC, no insurance ]. E
r. Keas. stock, $4,000. no insurance;
A. F. Powell, store and stock, $40 600.
10 insurance w. R. Purnell, store aud
took, So, 600, no insurance II +. Har.
Monsoon, hotel aud stables $4,000, in !
urauce, $4,000.