The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-04-21
POCOMOkE CITY HALF IN ASHES;
LOSS $2,0O0,000.
BUSINESS AND RESIDENT SEE
TION DESTROYED 5 SOLDIERS
ON GUARD.

Pocomoke City, Md, April 17.-More
han half OF the business section, IN
Guiding about fifty dwellings, OF TINS
city. we're destroyed by the most dis
astrous fire in the history OF the East
arn Shore yesterday. The heart OF the
business section including the tele-
phone exchange, poStoillce, NorcHeS-
Ter Democrat office, and TWO hotels
were wiped out. Fire companies from
A dozen towns, within radius OF %
miles, were called on for help. Inc
DANES were gotten under control
about G o'clock last evening and at
lime the damage was estimated at De-
tween 100000 and $3,00O,OOO.
The conflagration left the town IN
darkness. Shortly before O'Clock the
mayor of the town called on Governor
Ritchie for protection. The latter sent
word to Col. d. John Marley, this
city. commander of the First Regl-
ment. Maryland National Guards, ana
ne at once ordered Company /, OF Sal
isbury to guard the town until further
orders.
The fire started in a stable early in
the day and famed by high souther-
" wind spread with great rapldlty.
\ lmOSt from the start 1t was apparent
that the town was doomed unless as
sistance arrived quickly. 1t was then
that about a dozen adjoining towns
were called upon for assistance. AT Z
o'clock in the afternoon 20 buildings in
the heart OF the business and new
residence sections were in ashes. Last
night the burned area was surrounded
by soldiers.
Working its way with unbelievable
rapidity to Willow and Market streets,
the two principal business streets OF
the city, the fire burned in both direc-
tionS. ProprietorS of scores OF places
and homes in the neighborhood, seeing
that the fire was spreading, grabbed
/ up books and other valuable papers
and raced with them to the outlying
sections. where they placed them in
other hands for satekeeping.
linen the proprietors hurried back
and began the removal of their stocks
as they could carry. 1t was impOssi-
! Bile to get wagons close to their
| places of business because of the
lines of hoses laid by the fire depart
ment. and what was saved was carried
away.
Most of the buildings were Of frame
construction and the high southerly
wind, blowing toward the river and
with the better part of the town be-
| fore it. carried the fire from building
to building. In some places it leaped
distances by embers.
Guests in the Parker House and the
Landing House made preparations to
leave when it was seen that the fire
was moving in the direction of these
TWO obstetrics. Most of the guests
saved their effects before the two ho-
tells caught fire. At , O'Clock the Land
ing House was totally destroyed and
he Parker House seemed doomed to a
like fate.
Thousands of persons in all of the
surrounding counties were en- route
! to POcomoke City by automobile to
see the biggest fire which has visited
the Eastern Shore in its history. Some
| Travelled by automobile. some by
horse and wagon, while others walked
Some living along the Pocomoke riv-
e. came down in boats.
] NNoplNC INC lCSI lIdl llS IEe was
threatening the entire city and every
/ body else seemed on saving their
! homes or their contents, the telephone
girls STAYED at the exchange and help
ed the town officials in their work OF
summoning assistance from the other
! towns on the Shore. Most of these
places have motor fire-fighting appa-
ratu of late design and within short
time after the first call was sent out
these machines started to arrive.
Good roads helpod the motor appa.
ratus to get to the scene and immedi.
ately on arrival the men jumped int
the fight and threw the weight OF
their forces against the ia ging flames
The water supply was in excall"'
shape. and while the firemen worked
/ diligently they were unable to stem
the forward progress OF ;hc cnntia%rr.
/ ton.
-zI