Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-29

truth in the reports that the fire had
resulted from murder in the Lar
ramer pool room. The ruins showed no
charred remains of a human body. The
entire story of a probable murder is
regarded as purely imaginative.
Although the fire started in the pool
room building it may not have origi-
mated in Larramer's part. Above the
pool room was a vacant apartment
which has occasionally been used by
party of gamblers without tho lsnowl-
edge Of the owner of the building,
Andrew j. Horsey. 1t is said that
the gambling party was in full swing
in this vacant room last Friday night.
: The completion of the water works
now under way would have saved the
town. The well has been driven and
plentiful supply of water secured, but
the connections had not been made.
Alluding to this part during the prog
ress of the fire, Engineer York OF the
water works said: ''A two-inch stream
would have checked the flames and
saved the town. Ef
One of the heroic sufferers Of the
town is Albert Bacon. He worked
manfully to save the homes of Others,
but, meanwhile, his own property was
even pair of shoes. a fellow sufferer
supplied the shoes.
Insurance Commissioner Fowler's
house was destroyed, but he managed
to save all his official hooks and ac-
counts and most of his private library.
DIR. Fowler was one of the few fortunate
losers, as he has an insurance of about
1900 net. q
All the homeless people are being
sheltered and fed by tho people whose
homes were spared. In some instances
three families are quartered in one
dwelling.
BRICK FOR FRAME.
In all the talk about rebuilding the
general sentiment is in favor OF sub
stituting brick structures for the
frames that are nothing but heaps of
ashes. 1t is stated that Daniel j.
Fooks' block will be rebuilt in bricks !;
also the large block owned by Thomas
G. Horsey. opposite the hotel. Other
large buildings are likely to be rebuilt
of brick. There is also strong senti-
ment in favor Of the Town Council
enacting an ordinance prohibiting the
erection in the future Of frame build
| ings within the business section of the
that throughout the fire no lives were
lost and not single person sustained
u serious injury.
ASSISTANCE NEEDED.
Notwithstanding the tremendous loss
by the fire and the completeness of the
loss sustained by those whose property
was burned. the people of Laurel are
not inclined to call upon the outside
world for assistance. But all the samo
outside assistance is badly needed, and
if rendered will be gladly accepted.
Already there is a disposition on the
part of the sufferers to start upon the
work of rebuilding and resumption,
but many have lost everything and
have no means of procuring the needed
capital except through outside help or
generous extension Of credit.
Last night Town Council met in
special session in the Methodist Pro
testant Church to consider the situa-
tion. 1t was decided that assistance
was desirable and relief committee
was appointed to see what might be
| done by the citizens of the town. But
this will be very little, as SO many are
heavy losers. The relief committee
appointed by Town Council is the Rev.
MIR. Woodall Of the NJ. e. Church, the
Rev. DIR. Spaulding Of the p. =.
Church, the Rev. Mr.. Klein of the M.
p. Church, /. j. Wootten, ii. b.
Hitch, Obeu W. Marvil and John W.
Elliott Contributions of provisions
or money may be addressed to any Of
the above.