The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-27
MISERY AT
LAUREL.
Fire Swept, Town Presents
an Appearance OF
Utter DeSOlatiOn.

Laurel, Del. June 26. .-Fire.-swept Laurel
ia day in condition too ptiable for
words to describe and tho wide Oxpanse
OF desolation finds It's reflection in the IA
ces of those bereft OF every dollar, who
wander among the still smOuidering piles
or land on tho bare and shadeless side
walks contemplating the rain OF their
homes
Utter destruction is on every hand. The
ruin is complete and but for the remains
OF the walls of the banks brick building.
n doz.n tottering. shattered chimneys and
a score Of iron Safes for tho most part
still too hot to be handled, little remains
above tie surface to max the site OF tho
six large blocks which practically com
posed The business section OF what was,
next to Wilmington, the richest town in
the State.
On few hsarthstones The stoves are still
laden with pots and kettles. scattered
about are bits Of curled and crnmpled tin
pieces OF iron and nails as numerous as
the pebbles on the ssashore. but scarcely
a scrap of wood. From the cellars there
comes thin cloud Of smoke. rising from
the still smouldarng coal piles. Desola-
tion every where
SAVED FROM THE FLAMES.
The stree ts are Uttered and the lawns
and porches filed with merchandise res
cued from he flames and the household
poods OF the sufferers from the conf1agra-
tiun, Misery is STAMPED on every race, Dut
bravcly md couragcously the more fortu-
nate ones are taking up the burdens OF
their homeless neigbbors and s.arcs q
house in town but shelters some whose all
ha. been swept away.
Yesterday not hand in this Sabbath =
observing town was raised to bring order
out of chaos. The churches were crowded,
and while the sufferers were listening to
words of comfort their less afflicted neigh
bors heard many invocations to that char
ity and heIpfuIness hat is being 80 un'
grudginTly bestowed.
Short evening services only were held
and the congregations rising, some from
prayers of thanksgiving for their own es-
cape and some from plaintive pleas Tor
sucoor, gathered in mass meeting tnat
filed The Methods Protestant Church to
the very doors. Hero committee was ap'
pointed to receive contributions for the re-
lief of the homeless and to minister to the
needs OF the suffering. and we'll and man :
fully are they doing their deeds ot
mercy.
A SCENE OF MISERY. =
This morning brought little cheer to The
hearts OF Laurel. Compassion Is here, but
courage seems gone, and to-day has passed
with scarce all effort to clear away the
still smouldering embels and the ruined
walls.
On the corners gather knots of citizens,
grief and hopelessness everywhere. The
loss to many seems irreparab'e. In some
cases the savings Of a lifetime have been
swept away, and many who few days
ago were men of wealth are to-day de-
pendent on tho charity of their follows.
OPENING THE BANK SAFE.
The walls of The Sussex Trust, Title and
Safe Deposit Company are standing sub
stantially, and the immense vaults arc
still unopened. An attempt was made to
force them to-day by Herbert Adams, who
used a crowbar, but he was unsucce ,stul.
His efforts were Witnessed by big crowd.
The officials of the institution have sent
for an expert iocksmith to open the steel
doors
On the front of the bank is the follow
ing bulletin: "The bank Is open to-day for
business at Rodney's store.' Business was
conducted as usual. :,
Postmas er Smith also 10 handling mail
from porch as II nothing Ind happened
He has tho private mail boxes in position,
and in plain view Of the public assorts the
different letters, papers, etc.
RELIEF COMMITTEE AT WORK.
On Sunday evening u mass meeting was
held in the NJ p. church. and u relief COM
uittee was appointed. Mayor Wooten is
chairman Of The committee, aud already
$3.50 has been secured. OF this 800 was
donat'd by Mrs. j.. A. EIlegood of VII.
lnington who was here Saturday. Asked
this afternoon II he had decided to make
an appeal Mayor Wooten said: "Ws do
not want to make formal appeal, but
anything sent will be acceptable and will
be distributed. Groceries. provisions and
money arc needed"
A summary of the loss follows:
Buildings burned ll2
Business houses AZ
Dwellings 20
Hotels
Stables. etc. W
O.her buildings 10
Families Homeless 36
Loss $25oOOO
Insurance 5000
Net Loss $2l, ,OoO