Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-13
FLAMES SWEEPING
RISING SUN, Md,
AF TER EXPLOSION
NJ. e. Church, Several Homes,
Garage and Store Reported
Destroyed.
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Following the explosion of two gnso-
line tanks In front Of the Central
Garage In Rising sun. Md. this morn
ing. fire broke out. which early thia
afternoon was threatening the com
plete destruction of the greater portion
of the town The pumping engines
of the Fame and the Water Witch fire
companies of this city were speeding
20 the place, TO do what thoy could I'm
helping 20 fight the flames. Calls for
assistance had aisso been sent to New
ark Elkton and Perryville.
The only means of communication
that could be established with Rising
sun was through the telephone ex-
change I'm that place. None of the
town officials, stores. nor homes there
would answer telephone calls. The
young women in the exchange stated
that the FIRE had burned the Rising
sun NJ. +. Church. that the flames had
spread 10 several houses and had de-
stroyed them and that one of the cloth
ing stores in the town was in flames.
At 2.30 o'clock the operator declared
tho fire was still burning and was very
serious. The Central Garage had been
destroyed by tnHt time.
Superintendent of Police George
Black shortly before noon received n
telephone message from Rising sun.
ga wing there was big flre there and
asking that this city send some assis-
tance. He Immediately teIephoned To
Fire Chief William j. Lutz who
ordered the Fame and Water Witch
engines 10 the scene. lie instructed
them 20 drive all the way. estimating
they could make better time than by
waiting to load their apparatus on
a fiat car and proceeding by railroad.
Both engines were started Immediately
for the Maryland town. Chief Lutz
advised the town also 90 call West
Chester, Pa. should they want ad-
ditionai engines. because he would not
permit more than two to leave this
city at the same time.
Gause Of the Fire.
Early this afternoon the home Of
Mrs. Eli T. Reynolds was reached by
telephone Mr.. Reynolds is drug
gist in the town and the president OF
the board of Town Commissioners. The
tire started directly across Main street
from his storv Mrs Reynolds stated
that q big truck was standing In front
~ Scott wilson's fCentraI) garage
loading gr -oiine- The engine was still
running and barkfired. which back
FIRE, it is believed. ignited the gasoline
and caused the explosion. The firsi
vas followed a short time later by a
second. when another tank went up
The garage, a frame building. was
earT1 rsfateis DESTROYED
The flames then spread to the VIII
son home. frame structure. and
burned il to the ground. The fire next
communicated to St. James VI. K
Church, brick structure. which was
burned to the ground.
Ely & Sons clothing store was or
fire Mt one tir1e. but Mrs. Reynolds
sta ted that the flames were extinguish.
ed there before the property was
seriously damaged. Bussington's gen
Ell Al department store was in flames
for time, but quick work on the par
os volunteers on the scene got the firt
81: before the store was damaged tC
any serious extent. The Reynolds
property was slightly damaged by tht
Is mes, bat not seriously. The front
a!Ttiow was cracked by the force
4 he first explosion.
oxford and Perryville sent fire com
raniea to the scene and they did splen-
IL work. Early this afternoon Mrs
E. uoIds stated the fire was under
.1ntrol and that the real damage
tram the flames had then been con
fned to the debris of the three build.
!Hgs mentioned above.
The parsonage adjoining the church
was not damaged. Mr. Reynolds wa,
reached this afternoon and stated thS
ire was then under control and thai
there was no DANCE of the flames
spreading. lie could not place an est.
mate on the property loss. He statet
that he, as town commissioner, had
seat out the call for help