New-York tribune., 1920-12-13
Municipal Buildings, Corn
Exchange and Carnegie
Library Are Destroyed;
Loss Is Sl5,00O,OOO
Il Black and Tans
Wounded, Some Die
People in Terror as Fires
Drive Them Into the
Bullet Harried Streets
BY Arthur S. Draper

By Arthur S. Draper
From The Tribure's Europeom Bureo.
Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Dec. l2.-Incendiary
fires, thought to have been set by
the military in reprisal for Sim
Fein ambuscade, swept the business
district Of Cork last night and to-
day and spread into the residential
sections, devastating a large part o.
the city
The City Hall, all other municipal
buildings, the Corn Exchange, tho
Victoria Hotel, other public build
ings and many stores have been re.
duced to ruins. At least two per-
sons died in the flames, besides
others who were shot down in q wild
pandemonium of firing that con-
tinued in the streets throughout the
night the damage is estimated at
more than $15,00o,o00.
Military Control City
The Tribune correspondent in
Dublin telegraphed at 7 o'clock to-
night that the fires were understood
finally to have been brought under
control. He said that an unconfirmed
rumor was current that the auxil-
larry police had clashed late to-day
with the military, who are now in
complete control in Cork.
A special train bearing fire appa-
ratus and anlbulances was being
rushed from Dublin to Cork this af-
ternoon, at the request of the Lord
Mayor Of the stricken city, who tele-
graphed that the Cork brigades had
been exhausted.
Saturday was the date of the proc
lamation of martial law throughout
southwest Ireland under the govern
ment policy announced Friday by
Premier Lloyd George. Proclama-
tions had been posted in Cork and in
other cities of Munster of the in
auguration of military rule. Early
yesterday 4 body Of new auxiliary
police arrived in Cork, where they
were to be stationed. 1t is reported
that they acted in a provocative
manner, firing their revolvers like
group of cowboys as they entered
the town.
Bombs Dropped on Police
The day was peaceful, but in the
early evening twelve auxiliaries
who were riding in motor lorry
were ambushed by Sim Feiners
close to the police barracks. The
Sim Feiners, standing behind q
bluff overlooking the thoroughfare,
dropped bombs on the passing rotor.
All twelve of the police were wound
ed, several Of them dying later. The
assailants escaped before the -e-
serves which came TO the assistance
Of the auxiliaries could arrive.
Within an hour after the ambuscade.
or about $50 o'clock, fires were started
simultaneously in dozen parts of the
city, some Of them in adjoining build
ings and others q quarter of mile
apart. A strong wind famed the
flames, until in short time the whole
north side of the city seemed TO be
mass of FIRE.
The Fire Department was helpless.
People rushed panic stricken through
the streets. fleeing from the blazes.
yet fearful Of being shot down at any
minute for beirg on the streets after
the curfew hour. In frantic fear they
ran back ana -orth. Shooting began
and continued all night.
Five Blocks Wiped Out
Ali day to-day the flames snread
The heart of the business district was
quickly wiped out. Eighteen large
business bui'dirgs, Of which se-enteen
housed drapery firms. were among
those listed in an announcement Of the
catastrophe Issued By the Irish Office.
Five solid blocks of business buildings
h2d been wiped out at dawn this morn
ing. Cook and MAYOR streets, the
main commercial streets of the town,
"iti' tHCAi HE department stores and
hotels, We're smouldering ruins early
to-day.
Hundreds are homeless, business is
dead, unemployment is everywhere.
DUBLIN, Dec. g (By The Associated
Press,.-The fire in Cork followed an
an Of the military at P lions Cross
Saturday night in which four persons
were killed and many wounded
Three villains were taken from their
houses and shot dead after the ambush
CT the military. Then the fires started.
There were bomb explosions and firing
also was heard
The municipal bu ldings. the Car
negie Library and the Corn Exchange,
and eighteen other buildings which
cover large area, we're consumed by
the flames, wh 'ch we're so hot at places
that passing tramcars were set on IRE.
The fires extended to ST Patr.ck's
Street from Cook Street to Maylcr
Street, and swept entire lows of build