The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-06-17

; started at about 1915 o'clock. and
being on Main street in the yery
heart of the town in few minutes
assumed such proportions as to
threaten destruction of almost the
entire business section.
Calls for aid were Immediately
telephoned every nearby town with
apparatuses and to Wilmington. re-
sponses coming from Oxford, Elk
ton, Port Deposit, Perry Point,
Havre de Grace, West Grove. Ken
nett Square, Newark and Whining
ton.
The fire was checked after it had
destroyed a four-story frame busi-
ness building, two-story frame dwell
ling, second story of adjoining brick
business and dwelling structure, all
the property of Scott Wilson; the
large two-story brick Methodist
Episcopal church, and big auto
mobile truck. The loss will total
fully $60,0OO
The fire started in the alleyway
between the four-story frame garage
and plumbing establishment of Scott
Wilson & Son. and the M. E. church,
where big auto tank-truck, belong
ing to the American Oil Co., of Bal
tlmore, in charge of George Harri-
son, OF Bel Air, was engaged in
filling an underground tank with
gasoline, and was beyond control be-
fore the town apparatus could be
brought into play, the attempt to
extinguish the blazing gasoline at
the truck with small hand extin-
guishers proving futile.
The flames spread with such
rapidity that at first it was thought
the town was doomed. Surrounded
buildings, however, were saved by
the work of citizens and the $50 or
more firemen who came from adioin-
ing towns after pleas for help had
been sent.
The Oxford Fire Company was
flrst to arrive, getting on the scene
in twenty minutes from the time of
receipt of the CALL They were fol-
lowed in rapid succession by the
Elkton Co. and others named, Will
mlngton sending two companies
with apparatus, the Fame and the
Water Witch, the former making
the run of about 80 miles in SIS
minutes.
The blazing gasoline at the truck
in very short time caused an ex-
plosion that blew the cap of the
manhole off, flames squirting high in
the air and setting the entire side of
the garage on fire, as we'll as the
frame work on top of the bellfrey
tower of the church, 70 feet above
ground, and too high for, the streams
from the town hose to reach.
The fire spread with great rapid |
ity throughout the four-story garage
building, there being a second ter
rifle explosion of gasoline and oils
in the back part of the building that |
threw burning embers far and wide,
endangering property all about.
With the collapse of the garage
structure the flames had spread to |
the frame dwelling and soon ate their
way along the second story of the |
brick store and dwelling adjoining
to the brick dwelling of Mark Ely.
The thick walls of this old, suhstan- |
TALLY built structure enabled the |
firemen to check the confiagration at |
this point, before it reached the |
gents furnishing store, a frame |
structure, OF M, Ely & Son and the |
Maryland House, large four-story |
brick building. An army of willing |
workers had been hurriedly carrying |
household goods and stock from the |
dwellings and stores to places of |
safety and much was saved, but in |
a badly damaged condition.
AS the fire spread to the westward,
the brick church structure, directly ]
to the east, across the narrow alley |
from the garage, fell prey to the /
flames.
Fearing the fire was about to |
spread to the three-story furniture
store and the four-story department !
store, both conducted by E. r. Buff
fington & Son, streams were direct
ed on these frame structures and |
the two-story frame parsonage in
the rear of the church. These prop
critics were all saved.
The church, which had but recent
ly been refitted at a cost of $4,000,
was completely gutted, the piano
and few chairs only from the Sun
day school room, being saved.
The garage and plumbing busi-
ness of Scott Wilson & Son. with a
large stock of auto and plumbing |
accessories, tools. etc., was COM
pletely wiped out, their dwelling |
and most nf THAR h0uoohold OOndo