Milford chronicle., 1922-04-21
CITY, MARYLAND,
SWEPT BY DISASTROUS FIRE
LARGE PORTION OF BUSINESS DISTRICT OF THIS OLD EASTERN SHORE TOWN
WIPED OUT; ABOUT FORTY BUILDINGS DESTR0YED-FRE STARTED
in STABLE AND SPREAD RAPIDLY.
FIRE COMPANIES FROM OTHER TOWNS GIVE AID
SNOW HILL BERLIN CRSFELD SALISBURY PRINCESS ANNE CAMBRIDGE
SEAFORD AND LAUREL FIRE FIGHTERS RUSH TO BURNING TOWN
AND HELP SUBDUE FLAMES

! About ten blocks of Pocomoke City,
including virtually the entire business
district, and fifty residences, were de-
stroyed on Monday by the biggest fire
that has visited the Eastern shore of
Maryland in many years.
Starting in a private stable of
Frank Wilson, on Maple street, about
noon, the blaze, famed by a high
wind, swept everything before it, de-
flying efforts of local fremen and cit
liens volunteers, as well as fire COM
panies summoned from points as far
as Seaford. Not until 8 o'clock in the
afternoon was the blaze checked, and
then only after it laid in ruins an
area which extended from Second
street to the PocOmOke River front
and from Maple street to GoOde.
The wind which was blowing from
the direction of Second street to the
river sent the flames leaping from
building to building, and the blaze
was not brought under control until
it had wrecked the buildings on the
river bank.
The loss is estimated at about $780,
900.
Among the outside companies which
helped fight the flames were those
from Snow Hill, Crisfeld, Salisbury,
Princess Anne, Cambridge, Seaford
and Laurel.
Company I, of the Maryland Ma
tional Guard, was called from Sails
bury to protect property and preserve
order.
Along Willon and Maple streets Wis
iting fire departments were stationed,
and it was through their efforts that
the Parker House, one of the prOmi-
nent hotels, was saved. The Ford
House, another large hotel, also was
saved. In a southerly direction along
Market street the fire was stopped at
Second street, the last building to
burn being the handsome residence OF
Frank M. Wilson.
Several of the residents and some
of the firemen were injured, but none
seriously.
With every physicians office and
both drug stores burned, the town
was without medical supplies. The
electric light plant was not destroy
ed, but so many of the poles were
UuluEu
fore the town will have lights.
It is not known just what caused
the fire. When discovered it was burn
ing in the Wilson stable. That was IN
the section of the town in the rear OF
the department store of Milton yeas
ey, known as the Hargis store, one OF
the biggest department stores on the
peninsula.
Some residents say a passer-by
threw a lighted cigar near the door
of the stable, and it was blown by the
high wind along the floor until it
reached a pile of hay. Others say
small pile of rubbish was burning on
the street and was blown into the
stable.
Three of the biggest blocks in the
heart of the town were completely
wiped out. In that section was located
the Pocomoke City National and Cit1-
zens' Banks, the postofice, the Harg1s
store, the drug stores OF
Lloyd & Blaine and William H. Clarke
& Co., and other business firms.
Brick Building HaltS Flames
In the eastern section, bordering on
The river along Front street, the fire
burned itself out, not a house being
left. The Peninsula Produce Exchange,
a three-story brick building, prevent
I'd the spread of the fire in that sec
ion, the Salisbury Fire Department
loing most effective work at this
point.
officials of the Telephone Company
declared the operators had proved
heroines. Despite the tre- ,
nendous heat and the imminent dang
# that flames |at any minute would
weep through the building, the oper-
tors disregarded orders to leave I
heir posts and, although ordered out S
# the building, rushed back and re- I
umed their stations at the switch
oard. 8