Evening journal., 1899-06-27
The RUMOR UNPOUNDsD.
FIRE AT, LAUREL NOT STARTED
TO HIDE MURDER.

THE WORK OF CLEARING THE
RUINS BEGUN YESTERDAY AND
NO CORPSE UNEARTHED ON THE
SPOT WHERE THE POOL ROOM
sTooD-DETECTIvEs M'vEY AND
wITsIL MAKE A THOROUGH IN
VEsTIGATION.
Laurel, June 27.-The work of clear
ing away the ruins caused by satur-
days fire was begun in this place yes
terday, and workmen were busy all
day.
The first place cleared was the site
on which the pool room of ]. J. Lara
mar Stood and where the fire origi-
mated It was decided to begin the in
vestigation there, on account Of the ru-
mors that a murder had been commit
ted, and the building set on fire to hide
the crime. Several persons claimed to
have heard pistol shots in the pool
room a short time before the fire was
discovered. A careful search of the
ruins of Laramar's place failed to show
that anyone had perished in the flames.
It is now claimed that the fire did
not start in Laramar's pool room, but
in vacant room above. which was
used sometimes by party Of gamblers.
A poker game is said to have been in
progress on Friday night, and when
the players departed they left lamp
burning.
Detectives McVey and Witsil arrived
yesterday morning and worked indus
triously until late in the afternoon on
clues that seem to indicate incendiar-
ism, and that may disclose the identity
of the persons who caused the fire, but
lelicited no definite information.
Detective Witsil traced down story
that a deckhand on a dredge operating
in Broad Creek was missing, and was
supposed to be lost in the fire at the
lpool room.
There was a general belief that the
ruins would disclose the corpse Of the
dredger The mud digging machine was
located nearly two miles from Laurel
and to that point Detective Witsil pro-
ceeded Captain Harry Brown, of Nor
folk, who commands the dredge, said
that the rumor was untrue. All his
men were on the dredge, and had moi
been at the pool room.
The thirty-one families made home
less by the fire are being well cared for
A number of persons sent their chill
dren to neighboring towns to stay will
relatives and friends. while the par
lents remained in Laurel with othe
friends, and endeavored to secure wha
they could from what was saved. =
few Of the merchants who saved part o
their stock yesterday commenced bust
ness in such places as they could sc
cure.
Talk of rebuilding has already com
= menced. and there is a strong senti
. ment in favor Of erecting brick build
ings in the business part of the tow
to take the place of the frame strue
lures destroyed. Daniel J. Fooks,
is said, will rebuild his large bushes
block Of brick, as will also Thomas {
a Horsey.
Already steps have been taken fo
the relief of those who are PRACTICAL
destitute. At a special meeting of tn
Town Council held in the Methods
Church, the following relief committe
was selected: Rev. ]. L. Woodall.
he Methodist Church; Rev. Mr.. kleil
. II. ]. Wootten, H. B. Hitch, Obed v
Marvil and John W. Elliott. The pei
pie are not inclined to call upon Il
outside world for assistance until thel
is an absolute necessity to do so, b'
any aid offered no doubt will be glad
accepted A member OF the relief con
mittee stated that they hoped tn
- there was sufficient among those wi
saved something from the fire to su
u ply the needs of those who lost ever
thing. but all contributions could
used.