Smyrna times., 1910-08-03
FIRE DESTROYS CAMBRIDGE
PROPERTY WORTH $25O,OOO
EASTERN SHORE TOWN VISITED
BY BIG BLAZE SUNDAY
Supposed to Have Starred From a
Spark From a Merrf-go-Round.-
40 Buildings Were Consumed

40 Buildings We're Consumes
One of the most destructive fires
in the history of Cambridge. Md,
broke out at two O'Clock Sunday
morning and laid waste about forty
buildings in the business section OF
the town and entailing a loss of up
wards of $3.50, 900. Discovered at
an early hour, it burned savagely tor
four hours, threatening for time
the destruction of a great portion OF
Cambridge and was checked only
after the finest business section OF
the town had been left heap of
bricks and ashes. Eight big brick
stores and the best of Cambridge and
as fine as lcan be found in any country
town, now lie in ashes; half dozen
handsome dwellings are a total loss;
Zion Methodist Episcopal Church.
which was the finest or the Shore is
a mass of ruins; telephone and tele-
graph poles and wires are down and
there is no wire in service out of
town except that of the Postal Tele-
graph Company. The property loss is
about $3.50, 00O perhaps twO-thirds
being covered by insurance, ard scores
of peoples are out of positions and
business will be stagnated for months
to come. The people of Cambridge
retired Saturday night on the
eighteenth anniversary of the big
Cambridge fire of 1892-July 30
proud of the progress of their town
since that confagration. At 2
O'Clock they were reused from their
slumbers by the wild clang of fire
bells and the shrieks of the fire
whistle, and called to witness fire
scene that caused all thoughts or
memories of the fire of 1892 to pale
into insigniicance.
Originated From Spark In Stable Loft
The fire was discovered first in the
stables of LeCompte & Harper in
the rear of their store and is suppos-
ed to have caught from a spark from
a merry -go-round. 1t jumped quickly
to adjoining stables on the rear
street, and in few minutes half q
dozen buildings were in flames.
Four warehouses belonging to j. Ber
Brown; two dwellings owned by hin
on Muir street, and the dwelling
on the corner of Race and Muil
streets owned by William M. Fletch
er and occupied by Mrs. Mary Win
terbottom, were among the first de
stroyed. The Cambridge Fire De
part nent at this time was doini
heroic service, but the flames wer
beyond control and raging NOR
fiercely with each succeeding minute
Mayor George M. Phillips, telephone
to Salisbury, Seaford and Wilmingto
for assistance, but all trains weI
out preparatory for excursion work an
prompt compliance with the appeal
of the Mayor were impossible. Tt
flames next enyeloped the Brow
Building on Race street, all
frame, one occupied as a boardir
house by Miss Lizzie Lithell, al
two occupied as stores, one by A.
Brown, jeweler, and the other
A. L. Leonard & Son, gentlemen
furnishings and shoes.
Methodist Episcopal Church Destroy
The handsome Hooper building a
joining, occupied by Lecompte
Harper, furniture and undertaken
and by w. H. Hooper & Co., har
ware and vehicles, was the next TO
for the flames. The flames ne
quickly jumped to Zion Church,
handsome brick and stone structur
and leaped across Race street a
started a raging furnace in the har
some new brick building of H.
Wright, dealer in automobiles, and
the brick block occupied by Woo
wards fine 10 cent store; Harringt
& Co., gents furnishings; Harrir
ton & Bayley, dry goods, and
Phillips Hardware Company.
this time there was grave DAM
of losing a larger portion of
town. Adjoining Zion Church v
the frame building of Cornwell
Bowdle Co. and there are solid fra
blocks from this point. The Phil
Hardware Company building adjo
frame blocks fronting south and es
and this portion of the town seer
in imminent danger. But here
fremen took their most determi
stand and succeeded finally in gett
control of the fire. The direct p1
erty Joss is about $3.50, 600.