The Washington times., 1922-05-18
BUSINESS.
SECTION IS.
WIPED OUT.
200 Made Homeless by
FIames-ReIief Work Gets
Under Way.

PoCoMoKE CITY. Md. April
1S.-State troops patrolled the
streets here today following the
devastating fire that destroyed the
heart of the business section and
caused damage estimated at be-
tween $1,000,000 and $4,000, 900.
Between 40 and so dwellings
were destroyed and 200 persons
were made homeless. All of
these, however, were cared for
by residents whose homes escaped
the flames. Not one homeless
person was forced to spend the
night in a hotel, Mayor James
Tull declared.
Ruins Still Shoulder.
The business section Is a mass
OF charred and smoldering ruins
into which firemen from many
towns in Maryland and Delaware
continue to pour water. Outside
telephone and telegraph communi-
cation was re-established at
o'clock last night, after this place
had been cut off from the rest Of
the world for four hours.
But already plans for rehabilita:
NOtl way AN"JOt eNA
announced that he has called
meeting of the city council for to-
day to take whatever steps may be
necessary for the rebuilding OF the
city. An attorney for a department
store that was destroyed engaged
over the long-distanle telephone a
Baltimore architect to draw plans
for its rebuilding.
Company I, First regiment, Mary
land National Guard. reached here
shortly after 9 o'clock last night.
Mayor Tull. over long-distance
telephone, asked Governor Ritchie
for troops for guard duty. Assur.
ances were given that they would
be furnished. Word that Company
L, at Salisbury, would be ordered
out reached that place before the
official order came through Col. d.
Frank Markey.
Troops Sent From Salisbury.
Consequently when the official
order was received, twenty-five OF
the company already were aboard a
train at Salisbury, which was held
official word to go. These men
were commanded by First Lieut..
Ralph Dulany. the company com.
mander, Capt. James 8. Russell
already being here. A second detail
arrived a half-hour later with
Second Lieut.. Dewey H. Morris.
These came by automobiles. The
troops carried field equipment and
several hundred rounds of ammuni-
ton.
The fire started shortly after
noon in a barn belonging to Francis
M. Wilson, president OF the POGO
moke City National Bank. Its
origin is undetermined. but there
are reports that sparks from rub
bish being burned just outside the
general store Of I. J. Davis were
carried into the barn hg a strong
southeast wind.
Fire Starts In Barn.
There was no live stock in the
barn, which in a few minutes was
a roaring furnace. The barn Is on
Maple street near Second. Thence
the flames spread to the dwelling
at Second and Maple street, owned
office of DR., H. Walter, and then
Jumped back to the Davis store.
Alarmed at the swift spread of
the flames, calls were sent for fire
apparatus to Salisbury, Snow Hill,
Crisfield. Princess Anne, and Bel
mar, Nd, and to Seaford and
Laurel, Del. The responses were
prompt.
But for the first two hours the
fire ragged unchecked. From the
Davis store 1t swept into the King
block, consisting for the most part
of law offices, and then along
Market street. It licked the big
frame structure Of the Parker
House, but flremen succeeded In
saving the hotel. Then one by one
the banks and other business struc-
lures were consumed.
Two incidents illustrate the rapid
fly with which the fire spread. Z.
w. McMaster. superintendent Of
schools Of Worcester county and a
director OF the Pocomoke City Ma