Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-18
POCOMOKE CITY TO
REBUILD At ONCE
Continued from page 4.

|, Among the buildings swept were
one hotel. two banks, two department
stores. two drug stores, six grocery
stores. one garage.
Fires still were smoldering today
In many sections OF the burned dis
trict and narc-ups kept the nrcmen
busy, although several Of the out-of-
N town companies had been released,
whole Town Threatened.
At one time II appeared that the
entire town waS doomed.
In financial damage tho fire was
the worst which ever occurred on the
Maryland -Delawarc-Sirginia PENN.
sula. Fine business places and beau
I uful residences were consumed.
~ In few minutes after the alarm
was sounded the municipal authori-
ties realized that they would be un-
able 90 cope with tho flames. Prln-
Cess Anne. Snow I'm. Salisbury. Sea
ford. Dclmar and Crisfeld were asked
60 send their fighting equipment.
and all responded promptly with
motor truck equipment. but for the
prompt aid rSndered far greater loss
would have resulted. -
W. Il. Byrd Seriously injured.
Walter II. Byrd. aged %. bond
salesmen for Poo 4 Davies. bankers.
Baltimore. was painfully injured when
he fcll from the second story balcony
OF the Parker House while helping re
move furniture from the burning
building. Byrd landed on his head and
shoulders. sustaining conclusion Of the
brain and probably a fracture of "A rib.
He wAs unconscious for about An
hour Byrd. with his brother. orris
4. Byrd. ~ tho same firm. baltimore.
had just arrived I'm pocomoke city
from tho Eastern Shore OF Virginia
BY automobile when the fire broke
out, and both helped battle the
hamcs
The injured man was removed 10
the homo ot his brother, Otho l.
Byrd. IN Salisbury, where DR. Hun
ter Mann attended him.
Several OF the residents az s,oco-
mohe city and some of the fremen
also we're injured. hut mono eeri-
ously.
Three o. tho biggest blocks IN the
heart ot tho town were completely
wiped out. In this section was To-
Gated tho pocomoke city National
and Citizens Banks. both handsome
buildings: the postofnce. the Hargis
department store. the drug stores Of
Lloyd & Blaine and William II.
Clarke & CO. and other prominent
business flrms
In the eastern section bordering on
the river along Front street the fire.
burned Itself out. not a house being
lett
Tho Peninsula Produce Exchanee.
. threerstory brick building. al Mar
Net and Front streets. prevented the
spread Of the fire IN this section. the
salisbury Fire Department doing most
effective work al this point
From 20 TO so per cent of the damage
v said 90 10 covered by insuunoe.
Parker House Saved.
Alonk Willow md Maple streets the
other visiting FIRE companies were
stationed and Il was through their
efforts that tho Parker Tyou<e one
OF the prominent hotels was saved.
In southerly direction along
Market street the FIRE wac stopped
at Second street. the last building 10
burn. being the handsome residence
of Frank NJ Wilson
ranic-striCkcn women rushed into
then homes 10 save their belongings
and two We're saved from being
burned to death by neishbors forcibiy
carrying them from the burning
buildings.
With every physicians ONCE and
both drug stores burned. the town is
without medical supplies The cleo
trio light plant WAS not dest-oyt 4
but 50 many OF the poles have been
burned that 81 will be several DAYS
before the town win have lights
Csuse Is n Mystery.
!, Is not known just what caused
the FIRE. When discovered II was
burning In the Wilson stable. Thi,
was in the section OF the town In In.
rear OF tho department store Of Nil.
ton Neasey. known as the Harri,
store, one OF the biggesS Department
stores on the peninsula.
Some residents say n passerb,
Threw lighted cigar near the doc,
az the stable and IL was blown by tn,
nigh wind along the floor until II
reached n pile of hay. Others say q
small pie of rubbish was burning or
the street and that this was blown
into the stable
barn belonging TO Chester Young
over mile from town and across tn.
river was ignited and burned. Live
stock quartcred there was lost.
Troops Guard Ruins.
Members ~ Company ]. Maryland
National Guard. arrived last might
from Salisbury under command n,
First Lieutenant Ralph IL Dulane,
and Second Lieutenant Dewey II
Morris They were under orders is.
rued by Ccl. u John Narkev q,
Frederick TO patrol the streets OF POGO.
moke and guard against lootinp n,
the burned district. Captain James
= Russell, commanding officer wbr
was here aiding the e. q p. Telenhons
Company 20 re-establish it's lines. as.
sumed charge OF the guardsmen or
their arrival
200 Persons Homeless.
Between 40 and 30 dwellings wer,
destroyed and 200 persons were mad,
homeless. All OF these, however wsr.
cared for by residents whose home,
escaped the flames Not one homeless.
person was forced 20 spend the nigh
IN embarrassing surroundings. Navo,
James Tull declared.
outside telephone and telegram
communication was reestablished a