Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1909-08-20
MILTON NEWS.

by Wesley COVerdale, night Waterman az lht
Royal Packing Company works. This was about
one O clock and the fire was inside the bacE part
OF the "big store" corner Federal anc Front
streets The alarm was given, and the fire en-
Fiue was gotten out and citizens gathered from
all quarters TO fight the flames u soon became
apparent that II was going to be O big 1re as
everything was dry and the flames gained rapidly
and began 10 extend 20 other buildings The
post Office was soon on fire, &. A. Corners store
end the whole Of lower Front street, into Union
aud 10 the bridge all was wiped ont. When the
'big store" fell S. j. Wilson & Sons undertaking
and furniture store caught and notning could be
done 10 save The whole lower part OF the town
Help was phoned for to Milford Lewes and
Georgetown. AT O'Clock the Lewes fire CONE
pany and many other citizens arrived on spec
fall train; but the fire was under control This
company has efficient worker and did good SER
vice on putting out the smoul1ering remains;
pulling down the prick wall OF the Ponder Hotel
telephone poles and removing other dangerous
distractions At six O'Clock mass OF ruins
marked the spot where a few hours before thous-
ands Of dollars worth were congregated. The
buildings burned are as follows The big store,
corner Of Federal and Front streets. occupied by
Markell d Hartman, W II. starkeys drug store,
and Mason & Davidson general merchandise,
post Office with its contents. C. A. Conners store
Black & Lingo, C. A, Corners second store,
Carey d Darby, Joseph Walls meat store W.
stephens wheelwright shop, william Maull,
blacksmith shop, Mrs Mary fields confectionery
and ice cream parlor Here the fire was stopped
1y the river. s. ]. Wilson d Sons undertaking
and furniture store, northeast corner Fed eral
and Front streets. The Ponder Block, owned by
James Palmer, and occupied by his family
James Clendaniel's meat store, William War
ren's pool room, and the justice oithe-peace's
Office. The National Bank south west corner Of
Federal and Front streets, money was saved
the central telephone office William Mears bar
Der shop and dwelling house. Here the flames
ran against the S.S.T.T.6 ID. Co, which building
being OF brick with metal entablature and finish
arrested It's frey tongues. At Sunrise scene OF
desolation hung over and around the business
portion Of our pretty town. The telephone poles
were lying across the streets, where they had
been cut and fallen, and the wires together with
the electric wires, were mass that made navi-
CATION along the streets peril0us. Most OF the
day on Friday the FIRE hose played on the
Emoulderiug fire which was by no means extin-
euished. The hose threw a iOrcelul stream; II
being attached TO the steam pump OF the steamer
Maria Thomas. This burned district was roped
of. but a crowd Wss lettering around all day.
Many OF them being persons from contiguous
towns, drawn hither by curiosity. The telephone
and electric light companies had their employees
on the ground, gathering up the twisted wires;
and the phone company delivered load OF new
material on this day TO replace the old which
was unfit to use again. We had forgotten to
mention the Georgetown hook and ladder COM
pany which came over, and many other George
town citizens amongst them, the Mayor, all OF
whom did efficient service The Mayor Of Mil
ton. IN the name OF the town, extends thanks 70
the Georgetown friends, the Lewes friends and
last, but by no means least, TO the Volunteer
Fire Company Of Milton, for their indeihtigaole
labOrs which has merited them laurels, al this,
the time Of Milton's terrible disaster II the men
did their duty, what OF the women They, who
would 90 a common occasion get frightened &C
a mouse dropped. for the moment the epithet
Of lady" and assumed the role Of the heroine
and with hands blackened, and faces begrmed'
worked with zest and zeal, in removing goods
carrying water. and lending hand to anything
that needed. We are not writing this account
sentimenally nor for rhetorical effect but re-
lating the stern logic OF facts.
BY perculean efforts the residences Of c. A.
Conner. Mrs. Hazard and the store of William
Warren on the west side OF Union street were
saved though slightly on fire. several times
The upper part OF Federal street and the eastern
part Of Front street on Friday morning presented
a quaint scene OF loaded vehicles, carriages and
other running gear, all ready for a further move |
should il have been necessary. The disaster is
great The damage being estimated to at least
100000 But great as ii is, had not the night .
been comparatively calm, il would have been
greater.
Most Of the property and goods were Insured
for a nomiRal amount a few saved part Of their
effects. -Four families were made homeless, but
are fortunate in having found vacant houses
and moved therein. James Palmer and family
have moved to the farm Of W. W. Conwell, near
town; Mrs. Mary Field has gone to the Eli b.
Carey property in the suburb Of town; and VIII
liam N ears occupies property Of Captain Hun
ter on Atlantic street.
The merchants have already secured what va
can't places were around, and viii soon have
stock of goods and try to retrieve, in part, what
they have lost C. A. Conner has temporarily
rented C. H. Atkins vacant storehouse corner
Front and Chestnut streets. Carey & Darby
have secured the Davis Carey storehouse Cor
Union and Broad streets North Milton. VIII
lam Mears has removed his tonsorial business /
INTO the LOhand stOrehOuse on Federal street. !
James Cleudaniel has opened his meat Store in
he Milton Engine House. Joseph Walls takes
bis meat store to the corner Of Federal and Null
berry streets place which, fortunately fol him,
ne had under rent for the year. o, it's cramp' ,
ID up time but the men are doing all they can
Il is reasonable to predict some Of these build
ng sites will be built on again, and it is just as
reasonable to predict some OF them will not for q
long time, or as long as the land is held by is
resent owners.
Postmaster Black has opened another post
,hice corner Chestnut and Wharton streets,
south Milton; and by the way, Mr. Black wa
iurt during the fire. He was burned badly on
he face.
Joshua Gray, who occupied part Of the build
ng with the National Bank, has moved into
property OF Captain Frank Lacey on Federal 81.
Telephone communications with the outside
World were re-established on Saturday; an out
building back Of the S. s. T. +. & d. Co., being
mprovised for central office.
The electric lights were rehabilitated the early
art Of this week, ana the general maneutia Of
Town affairs have resumed their wanted role.