Evening journal., 1920-12-07
EWES FIRE
LOSS $4,000,
NCENDIARISM
IS SUSPECTED
tcontinued from nrst pass)

u
The fire, which started in the de-
,artment store OF ]. NJ. Vessels. on
econd sire t. at 1 O'Clock. was dis
overed by Mrs. John B. Robinson,
vho notified the telephone exchange.
me operator there. called Fire Chief
aifton Maui and the tire siren was
ounded
Mr.. Vessels who was one OF the
lrst to reach the scene. tried to enter
hs store to secure his books but
When he broke in the door he found
he Interior ablaze IN three different
,laces. This gave rise TO suspicion
hat the place had been set ablaze, as
o fires or electric wires were locacd d
lcar the places where the fires were
cen burning
By the time the fremen arrived the
lanes had leaped from the vessels
tore TO the Masonic Hall, the nrst
loor Of which was occupied Dy fln,
ey L. Ross as a furniture store ana
q few minutes this place was teen-
ng with FIRE
Al Of the buildings in this section
fere OF frame construction and the
wing sparks soon ignited the adloin-
~ properties along Second street
nd towards south street.
Chief Maull realizing that the
ames were spreading, sent In a call
DR. help TO Milford and Georgetown.
L one time it appeared az II help
yould have 10 be called from VIII
lngton. The flames in the meantime
ad liclccd up the front Of the dry
oods store OF Mrs. Virginia Larri-
lore, the shoe store and home OF
ntrssfnn iln ETnF'lt =
et FIRE to the Rodney House.
The telephone exchange, a half
hook from the blazing business build
eigs, was a1re several times and
Y fhle the flremen bent their efforts
u saving that structure The operator
fiss Mary r. Schutt, remained at her
witchboard and sent out calls Tor
elp.
Miss schutt was asleep at her home
when the power plant sllen sounded
be alarm, The engineer having been
ptifed by the 1'ght watch at the
telephone exchange. Hastily dressing,
he hurried 10 the exchanse and re-
NAMED on duty until daylight for.
Varding the calls for outside help and
therwIee assisting the flrefghters.
The 1re. after llcking UP the Ma
Dnic Hall. leaped across Second street
nd ate away the front OF the home OF
Y frederick Burton, who was visiting In
4 Wilmington at the time. Mrs. n. Muir
! ~. his mother-in-law, was alone In
Il le house
When the flremen from Milford and
georgetown reached DtNves the flames
ad burned their way 10 South street
nd had lgnited the home OF Mrs. An
1ony Ingram, the dry goods store OF
frs. Bessie M. 0tt and The dwellings
E NJ Chamberlain and Ira Hazard
ne firemen from GEORGETOWN and
lllford devoted their efforts, along
nth the Lewes volunteers, TO COM
stting the flames and managed Il
old them In check. saving the Rodney
louse and other imperiled properties
earhy.
The fre was practically ont at
Aclock, although the firemen remain
pntk 6 O'Clock, playing streams o
a1er on the ruins.
During the fire many residents Il
outh street, fearing that their b omel
Nre doomed, moved their household
pods into the street.
No one was injured during the flre
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Burton, ol
ewes, were visiting their son-in-lav
nd daughter Mr.. and Mrs. r. Twins
Walls, OF 220i Shallcross avenue. last
ight when they received word OF the
re. Mr.. and Mrs. Walls and Mr. and
Irs. Burton drove 10 Lewes in MIR
Walls car early this morning