Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-27
THE OBJECT Is NOT KNOWN
Inhabitants Were in a State of Terror
All Night.
ROBBERY PROBABLE MOTIVE
Kerosene Was Used and a Hotel and
Photograph Gallery Were
Set on Fire.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
WILMINGTON. Del. May pa daring
attempt was made to burn down the town
of Elkton, Md. sixteen miles below Will
m!ngton. late last night and early this
morning. fires having been started in three
separate places. at different hours, and
a result the night was one of terror for
the inhabitants. The object is not known.
hut robbery is suspected. and there is a
feeling among some of the townspeople that
a resident of bad reputation had hand in
the work.
In each of the three places where the
fire discovered surrounding buildings
were in danger. and as all are in the heart
OF the town the consequences would have
been even more serious than they were had
the first fire not been quickly discovered
and a watch kept after il was extingushed.
At each place much damage was done,
one of the three buildings being almost
entirely destroyed, but good work on the
part OF the fircmen and citizens saved ad-
Joining property.
The first fire discovered at about II
o'clock In building in the rear Of Frazer's
drug store. on Main street not far from
the court house. and in the heart of the
town. Few persons We're the street at
the time, but the blaze was seen by a
man passing along Main street, and he
sounded an alarm. The Singerly fire COM
pany. which is only short distance away,
quickly responded. and as the fire had not
gained much headwGy ii was eXtnguished
without difficulty.
Another at l A. M.
An hour later the town had resumed it's
usual tranquility. nearly everybody having
retired. although a few were suspicious
as 1t was said that kerosene had been de-
tected at the fire, which led some persons
to believe that thief had broken into the
building and purposely set it on fire.
At about 1 o'clock. however the resi-
dents were again Weakened by the ringing
of the fire alarm. the discovery having been
made by a Waterman that another fire had
broken out in a hallway at Walters photo
graph gallery. which is also on Main street,
nearly opposite Frazers drug store, in the
rear OF which the first fire was found.
Again the firemen were early on the scene
and extinguished the blaze before great
damage had been done and before it could
communicate to other buildings.
BY this time the population was thor
oughly aroused and suspicious and it was
resolved to keep watch the remainder of
the night. In the section of the town in
which both buildings are located there are
many frame structures, and if either fire
had gained much Roadway 1t would prob
ably have wiped out the heart of the bust
ness section before assistance could have
been obtained from Wilmington or Balti-
sent sufficient fire apparatus to check a
big blaze.
Blaze in Hotel
At about o'clock another fire was dis
covered. this time in the stable of the
Farmers Hotel which is also in the bust
ness part of the town and as
was the case at the first fire, there was
evidence of oil. according to persons who
were early on the scene. There was no
mistaking the fact that somebody had de-
signs on the town. BY hard work the fire.
men prevented the fire from spreading but
the stables We're badly damaged.
After this fire the inhabitants did not go
to bed Town officials held a curbstone
meeting. and six stalwart men were APP
pointed watchers for the remainder of the
night. with instructions to arrest any per-
son found acting in a suspicious manner.
Besides the six watchers there were many
volunteers. including many OF the officials
themselves, and the streets We're patroled
BY large number of persons until daylight
The watch Will he continued all day and all
night tonight. and it is likely that for
eral nights there will be special guard.
An arrest is looked for today.