Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-04-18
SO BUILDINGS
DESTROYED BY
POCOMOKE FIRE
CONTINUED From First Psge)

cold enterprlsing property holders
and business men are planning how
quickly the rubbish can be removed
and building operations begun.
The business section Is a mass Of
charred and smouldering ruins. into
which fremen from many towns In
Maryland and Delaware continue TO
pour water. Outside telephone and
telegraph communication was re-
established at o'clock las. night
after the town had been cut OF from
the rest Of the world for four hours
But already plans for rehabilita-
ton are under way. Mayor Tull an
nounced that he has called a meet
ing OF the City Council TO take what
ever steps may be necessary for
the rebuilding OF the city. An at
torney for a department store that
was destroyed. engaged over the
long-dlstance telephone. a Baltimore
architect to draw plans for It's re-
building.
Company L. First Regiment.
Maryland National Guard, reached
Pocomoke shortly after o'clock.
Mayor Tull. over long-distance tele-
phone. asked Governor Richie for
troops for guard duty. Assurances
were given that they would be fur
nlshed. Word that Company l.. at
Salisbury. would be ordered out.
reached that place before the Of
fcial order came. through Col. ID.
Frank Marley.
Consequently when the official or
der was received Is Of the company
already were aboard a train at Sails
bury. which was held up for haf an
hour pending the official word TO 60.
These men were commanded by First
Lieutenant Ralph Dulaney. the COM
pany commander. Captain James S.
Russell already being here. A second
detail arrived a half-hour later with
Second Lieutenant Dewey H. Morris.
These came by automobiles. The
troops carried field equipment and
several hundred rounds OF ammuni-
tion.
The Are started shortly after noon
in a barn belonging 10 Francis NJ.
Wilson. president OF tho Pocomoke
City National Bank. It's origin is un-
determined. but there were reports
that sparks from rubbish being
burned just outside the general store
OF l. ]. Davis were carried into the
barn by a strong southeast wind
There was no live stock in the
barn. which in a few minutes was a
roaring furnace. The barn was on
Maple street near Second. Thence
the flames spread 20 the dwelling at
Second and Maple streets owned by
Mrs. George r. Bevans 10 the office
OF DR.. II. Walter and then jumped
back 20 the Davis store.
Alarmed al the swift spread OF tbs
flames. calls were sent for FIRE ap
paratus 20 salisbury. Snow XIII. Girls
field. Princess Anne and Belmar
Nd. and Seaford and Laurel, Del
The responses were prompt
But for TIE first two hours the fire
ragged unchecked. From the Davis
store II swept into the King block
/ consisting for the most part OF law
Offices. and then along Market street
/ Il licked the big frame structure OF
the Parker House. but fremen sue
ceeded in saving the hotel Then one
by one the banks and other business
structures were consumed.
Two incidents illustrate the rapid
/ lty with which TIE fire spread. +. W
I McMaster. superintendent of schools
OF Worcester county and a director
Of the Pocomoke City National
Bank. was IN the building when he
heard the first fire whistle blow
Looking out OF the door he saw the
barn ablaze. He instructed Francis
ID. Young TO place all OF the banks
records In the vault at once. Thi
scarcely had been done before th'
flames were licking the front OF tn,
institution.
Leaving the bank. Mr.. McMastei
drove his horse and buggy 20 q
stable two blocks distant lie started
to unhitch the animal. but cominl
TO the door to take another look a
the progress OF the fire. he fount
that Il was necessary 70 drive 10 Z
more distant haven. as the fiame
were swiftly eating their way 10 nj
stopping place.
The telephone exchange. built o
brick and with a slate roof, was no
destroyed officials OF the compan
declared their operators had prove
themselves real heroines. Despit
he tremendous heat. the immediat
danger that flames at any minut
might sweep through the building
the operators disregarded orders {
leave their posts. and although or
dered out OF the building. rushe
back and resumed their stations a
the switchboard.
Those on duty were Mrs. Matti
/ Henderson. chief operator, and Mrs
Emma Picken, Miss Nadis Pratel
Miss Jessie Slocomb and Miss Fanni
Slocomb.
Spreading both east and west from
the business district TO the residen
tial sections. about so residence
were burned.
Most OF the records In the mum
cipal building were destroyed, It wa
said. The mail in the postofiice
however, was saved by the postmas
ter. Wilfred Ross.
Two Negroes were injured in &C
cidents resulting from the fires
Walter r. Byrd. % years old. a bon
salesman for Poe and Davies, bank
ers. OF Baltimore, suffered concus
sion OF the brain, a probably frac
tured rib and dislocated toe. whel
ne fell from the second-story bal
cony Of the Parker House, from
which he was assisting in removin