The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-12-24
HEART OF CORK
RAzED BY FLAMES
Municipal Buildings, Corn Ex-
change and Carnegie Library
Destroyed; Loss s15,0oo,o00
REPRIsAL FOR BOMB ATTACK.
Flames Spread Through Business Dis
trict and Destroy Long Blocks Of
BuiIdinas-Military Now In
Full Control.

London.-Incendiary fires, thought
to have been set by the military in re-
prisal for a Sim Fein ambuscade,
swept the business district of Cork and
spread into the residential sections,
devastating large part of the city.
The City Hall, all other municipal
buildings, the Corn Exchange, the Vic
toria Hotel, other public buildings and
many stores have been reduced to
ruins. At least two persons died in
the flames, besides others who were
shot down in wild pandemonium of
firing that continued in the streets
throughout the night. The damage is
estimated at more than $15,000,000.
The correspondent in Dublin tele-
graphed that the fires were understood
finally to have been brought under con-
troll. He said that an unconfirmed ru
NOR was current that the auxiliary po-
lice had clashed with the military. who
are now in complete control in Cork.
A special train bearing fire appa
ratus and ambulances was being rush.
ed from Dublin to Cork at the request
of the lord mayor of the stricken city,
who telegraphed that the Cork bri-
gades had been exhausted.
Saturday was the date Of the proc
lanation of martial law throughout
southwest Ireland under the govern
ment policy announced Friday by Pre-
mier Lloyd George. Proclamations had
been posted in Cork and In other cities
Of Munster of the Inauguration of mill
tary rule, Early Saturday a body of
new auxiliary police arrived in Cork,
where they were to be stationed. 1t is
reported that they acted in a provoca-
tive manner, firing their revolvers like
a group Of cowboys as they entered the
town.
The day was peaceful, but in the
early evening twelve auxiliaries who
were riding in motor lorry were am
bushed by Sim Feiners close to the
police barracks. The Sim Feiners,
standing behind bluff overlooking the
thoroughfare, dropped bombs on the
passing motor. All twelve of the po-
lice were wounded. several of them dy-
ing later. The assailants escaped be-
fore the reserves which came to the
assistance of the auxiliaries could ar
rive.
Within an hour after the ambuscade
fires were started simultaneously in
dozen parts of the city, some of them
in adjoining buildings and others a
quarter of mile apart. A strong wind
famed the flames, until in short time
the whole north side of the city SEEM
ed to be a 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 being on the streets after
the curfew hour. In frantic fear they
ran back and forth. Shooting began
and continued all night.
All day Sunday the flames spread.
The heart of the business district was
quickly wiped out. Eighteen large
business buildings, of which seventeen
housed drapery firms, were among
those listed in an announcement of the
catastrophe issued by the Irish Office.
Five solid blocks of business buildings
had been wiped out. Cook and Maylor
streets. the main commercial streets
Of the town, with their fine department
stores and hotels. were smoldering
ruins.
;e
dead, unemployment is everywhere.