Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-06
MANY Of THE RESIDENTS
TEMPORARILY HOMELESS
Origin of Fire, Which Started in
Ice Cream Saloon,
is Unknown.
TRADE NOT INTERRUPTED
All Whose Homes Were Burned
Were Cared for by
Neighbors.
Special Dispatch to Every Evening

CHINCoTEAGUE, Va, SEPT. 6.
The business section of Chincoteague
was visited by serious fire early yester-
day morning. which destroyed the new
Marine Bank, the Atlantic Hotel, n
number of business houses and dwellings.
The loss has not been estimated, but It
will probably reach 100000, with some
insurance.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but il
is thought by some TO have been caused by
electric wires, which. however, may never
be determined. 1t started in the ice cream
saloon of Lewis Doughty, and as nobody
WAS about at the time, there is no wav of
telling Just how it did start.
The following buildings were DESTROYED .
New Marine Bank Building, which had
not yet been occupied, having Just been
completed.
Atlantic Hotel.
William c. Bunting's general store and
dwelling.
Charles Burton store and dwelling
G. W. Bradley's store.
Charles Jefferis' home
Several small dwellings owned by Mr..
Bunting.
John Mears' home
SOME HEAVY LOSSES.
Mr.. Bunting is believed to have been
he heaviest individual loser, his loss
,eing estimated at S25, 600 How much
insurance he carried is not known. There
sas $1,000 insurance on the Atlantic
Hotel
What was DESTROYED comprised one
block on the east side of Msin street, and
while If makes hole in the business sec
tion of the town, IT will Vet interfere seri-
ously with trade. Due to the good work of
hrcmen and coast guards, who helped
them, the blaze did not reach across to
the west side of Main street.
A number of guests were asleep in the
Atlantic Hotel. but all got out safely and
they were able to save their belongings
DIR. Emery T.. Bell, who lives opposite the
hotel, fearing for the safety of his home,
moved out temporarily, but was back
this morning, his place having sustained
no damage.
HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS.
Although many persons had their
homes burned, they were taken care of by
neighbors or other rssidents OF Chinco-
league.
Only one injury marked the nights fire
fight Elmer Watson, pilot, fell from
the roof of his home and fractured his
skull. His condition is critical.
One of the picturesque incidents of the
paratus of the United States coast guard
service. The nearest station Is on ASA
league Island, two and one-half miles
further out TO sea.
From his lonely post at the ASA
league station the lookout on duty saw
the flames and notified his commanding
officer, Chief Petty Officer Henry NJ.
Taylor. Ordering a general alarm turned
in TO the other two stations, Taylor called
out all the available men and got the
fire apparatus In boat. Then they start
ed the long grind to Chincoteague.
1t was back-breaking work at the oars,
with the wind and tide against them; but
they rowed tirelessly toward the island,
lighted only by the flames from the burn
ing town. All three detachments arrived
simultaneously and did what they could
TO halt the fire.
Chincoteague is the principal settlement
on an island across the bay from Franklin
City, the island being seven miles long and
two and a half miles wide. OF the 1000
inhabitants most of them live IN the town.