Evening journal., 1899-06-26
THEORY OF MURDER
Crime May Have Been Com
mitted in Laurel PoUl Room.

mitted in Laurel Poul Room.
THREE PISTOL SHOTS HEARD
FRANTIC CRIES FOR HELP HEARD
IN LARRIMER's PLACE AND
FLAMES BREAK FORTH SHORT
LY AFTERwARD Fl POLICE
GUARDING THE RUINS-ATTOR-
NEY-GENERAL WHITE TO IN
vEsTIGATE-LOSSES.
Laurel, June 26.-This place is in a
state of great excitement over the ru-
NOR current that the fire that swept
the town on Saturday last may have
been started to hide the crime Of muir
der.
An old negro, known as Uncle
George" states that ne heard three
pistol shots and the frantic cries Of
man who was evidently being attack
ed short time before he observed the
flames. He went into the street to
learn what was the trouble, and saw
two men hurrying from the building,
and going in the direction of the wharf.
Soon after the building collapsed. At
torney-General White is expected here
to-day to make an investigation, and
the work of examining the ruins will
be commenced.
Policemen are guarding the ruins Of
the pool room, but refuse to talk on
the subject
The fire at Laurel Saturday, the
damage, the excitement and the condi-
tions which prevailed are described by
a prominent fireman of one Of the COM
panies of this city who was present,
and who. with the rest of the Will
mington fire-fghters, rendered valua-
bic assistance in saving that portion
of the town which escaped destruction.
He said: You of course know OF
our quick departure from here and OF
our fast run to Laurel. On nearing
Laurel. at every small town, there was
a large number of people, who beckon-
ed to us to hurry on. When about
eight miles from our destination We
could see large volumes OF smoke as
cending, and hurrying on in a few
minutes we were in Laurel.
"The tracks were alive with people
eagerly awaiting our arrival, and they
had horses ready to haul our engine:
to the scene of the fire. The Salisbury
| arT Dnoou,c1-o Cffr- opufpar .voro al
ready on the scene, but the POcomok'
engine was not in service. and did no
go into service during the fire, al
though the company worked hard. i
was $50 O'Clock before we began ac
/ tual service. both the Weccacoe anC
Phoenix engines being stationed at th'
bridge. We worked there for a shor
time and then found it necessary L
move further up town. The Wecca
, coe remained at the Nanticoke creel
to draw water, as all the wells wer'
dry. while the Phoenix moved furthei
up. We then had about sixteen feet o
hose. The Weccacoe drew the wate
from the creek while the Phoenil
; threw it. All of this time the Sails
b bury and PocOmoke firemen were do
ing excellent work. One team was KEEP
busy hauling coal for the engines. 81
. the fight went on, and the fire work
ed its way towards the NJ. u. Church
| which is Just between the business
and resident parts of the town. Tit
Salisbury people deserve great credi
for checking the fire at this point. Hat
they not done so the resident portion
as well as the business part of Laure
would have been totally destroyed.
"For three hours we worked hard
and finally got the flames under con
, troll. At about S.45 we were given al
elegant breakfast, and during tn
whole time were treated royalty b.
I the Laurel people.
There were of course many womel
II and children overcome, and tears wer
Y very much in order. Household good
Z and merchandise were piled on tn
4 outskirts of Laurel for half a mile
4 Things were stacked all together, re
I'll gardless of whose they were. Tn
= fire started in Larmans pool room
t which is near the new cannery. Some
one struck a lighted lamp with cue
d causing it to explode, and the buildin
e being very old, soon ignited. Had W
!, arrived two hours earlier the los
= would have been much less.
t "In speaking to J. w. WOoten, presi
+ dent of Laurel City Council, he sal
v that there were eighty-four building
burned and the loss would be abou
n S250.OOO besides the money burned 4
" the bank, which was probably s125,00
o more. Our first impression in arriy
d ing at Laurel was that we would b
d there all tonight, and that
o would be impossible to save any of tn
2, town"
a The Wilmington boys left Laurel q
21S o'clock Saturday afternoon, an
d speak highly of the treatment receive
q from the Laurel people. The Sails
y bury and Pocomoke iiremen left 9
:, about 11.30 o'clock Saturday morning
The following is q partial list of th
buildings destroyed:
The grocery store Of w. w. Jerma
n adjoining the pool room; loes, $4,000.
l. The grocery store of NJ. E. Culver