Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-15
COL. J. {. N M'COMB'S
DWELLING At ELAN
BURNED EARLY TODAY
Store Also Destroyed, But VAL
liable Hounds, Kept There,
Were Saved.
FIREBUGS ARE SUSPECTED

Another fire was added to the long
list of sensational barn burnings in
Delaware county, Pa, early today
when fine dwelling. general store
and outblsldings. owned by Colonel
James G. McComb. OF Claymont. locat-
cd at Elan. just across the line separ-
ating Delaware from Pennsylvania,
were destroyed in a mysterious N an
ner. The loss is estimated at 10000.
The property was tenanted by Mr..
and Mrs william Burroughs. who
conduct a large general store. Mr..
Wilahan. caretaker of fox hounds and
hunters kept at the place by Colonel
McCOmb. also makes his home there.
The Burroughs were awake until
about o'clock this morning. They
fell asleep about that time and az ?
o'clock were awakened by the smell
Of smoke and the cracking OF flames
Grasping some clothing the three
occupants OF the dwelling made a hur-
ried escape from the burning build
ing. In a shOst time a group OF neigh
bOrs had gathered around the place.
but II was too late TO save any OF the
furniture or stock, as the occupants
in safety and secure enough clothing
to protect them from the weather
while on their way.
Fire companies We're summoned
from West Chestr and Media. Pa.
and from this city. but by the time
they arrived nothing could be done 10
stop the progress Of the flames. In a
short time the fine dwelling and store.
which were under one roof. and the
various ou,bWldings on the property
were a mass OF ruins The loss in
/ Guided the furniture IN the house and
/ the CCntcDjs OF the store. which was
well stocked with holiday merChan-
disc. The fire companies were handI-
capped by the lack OF a suitable water
supply
Il Is understood that all Of Colonel
McCOmh's dogs were saved and that
no live stock was destroyed
while ii was impossible 10 say just
+ how the fire originated. u Is generally
/ believed that il was the work of the
/ nrcbugS who have destroyed much
/ property an Delaware and Chester
counties IN the past few weeks. The
| family occupying the house could
ascribe the fire 20 no reasonable cause
such as defective heater. etc. as
everything had been IN ORDER when
they retired.
The house and store wee practical
/ ly new. having been erected a few
/ years ago 90 replace a similar build
.ng which had hecn burned. Al that
/ time the property was occupied by
/ Thomas Ellsworth. a cousin of Police
man Charles Bullock OF this city.
While the trend OF the firebugs
work seems 20 be southwark last
nights fee being just across the bor-
der. state Detective John Moore eN-
. pressed ;he opinion today thai Deia-
ware people need feel no anNhty on
+ this score. There have been no fires
+ that could Ice ascrlhed 90 incendlary
origin in Jhls State. he said. the fires
of last week having been proved "a
he of cr.dental origin. However. he
i,r;!ve Moore says ne IS on the look
out f0r mischief makers of the barr
burners type. During the cold
weather barns and outbgildings pro-
vide a welcome harbor for tramp.
and there is always dangr of hr,
being started. either accidentally oi
otherwise. by these INDECENT charac.
ters