Middletown transcript., 1904-03-05
CAMDEN'S
BIG FIRE
Explosion Follows Attempt 10
Loot The Bank
ESTIMATES LOSS 500. 600

The people of Camden were aroused
IRON their beds at 4.15 o'clock Monday
morning by violent cries of fire and with
In half hour the whole heart of the
Town appeared to be-in a roaring blaze.
The big Sardes Hall, an amusement hall
at Commerce and Main streets was a
mass of flames.
Ihe Rescue Hook and Ladder Com
pany, of Camden summoned to its aid
the Wyoming Company and the Robbins
Hose Company of Dover, and soon people
were pouring in from all the surround
ing country to help the struggling towns
people, over 500 arriving from Dover
before daybreak. The town has no fire
engine and no public water supply, 80
bucket brigades were formed and the
water was passed from hand to hand.
The whole town was aroused and the
people focked to the scene, many in
scant attire, to help fight the flames.
The scarcity of water was great draw
back and one building after another took
IRE, through in many cases great deal
OF the stock of the stores was carried out
IN time to save it from the flames.
After lighting for several hours the fire
was got under control about s. 80 o'clock,
but not before whole block was in ruins.
The only provision the town has for
hghtlng fire is hook and ladder COM
pany, and the work accomplished by its
members saved the town from destruc-
tion.
The fire had started in the First Ma.
tional Bank and there is a well authenti.
Gated theory that it was of incendiary
origin, many asserting that burglars were
attempting to loot the bank and an ex.
plosion i'll front of the outside counter of
some material they were about to use
caused the terrific outbreak of flame be-
fore anybody could come to the rescue.
President William Ellison and the bank
directors and Cashier J. B. Menahan,
who declare that there was no fire near
the spot where the confagration broke
out, could only stand by and see the
bank destroyed.
II. A. Booker, whose fine shoe store
was the pride of all Camden, could not
save his books and had to turn around
md join the effort to save other places
while stock which he had selected all
over the country burned like kindling.
Col. Levi G. Sterner, member of the
Governors staff, broke into his store on
he corner of Main and Commerce streets
n time to save over 81 900 of his 5000
tock.
Levin Wilmer Hollis, whose meat store
vas destroyed has within the year lost
lis residence by fire, failed in business,
ound his brother murdered and Monday
lad to stand and see his store consumed.
President William Ellison of the First
National Bank, which has capital stock
# twenty-five thousand, as soon as the
'ank was destroyed at once began the
york of cooling off the vaults and opened
quarters on the opposite cor
Ter where the bank will do business.
tThe fire was certainly of incendiary
rigin, probably started by robbers in
he bank" said Mr.. Ellison.
The insurance companies place the
otal loss at between fifteen and twenty
housand dollars, minimum estimate
eing as follows:
Sarde's Hall, $1,000
Levi G. Sterner, $1,000.
First National Bank, 81 900.
H. A. Booker, Sc, 600.
Camden Town Hall, $500.
Camden is f1ourshing town of about
90 inhabitants and is the centre of
ich fruit-growing country. 1t lies few
niles east of the Delaware railroad.
Sales to Take Place
TUESDAY, MARCH 10th, 1904, at 10
clock, A. M.-Sale of horses, cows,
tc., by J. S. & w. Lattomus, on their
arm, one-half mile West of Townsend,
)el.