Smyrna times., 1929-08-14
LUMBER YARD, TWO BARNS
TRUCK BURN At WELLINGTON
SMYRNA AND CLAYTON FIRE
COMPANIES JOIN OTHERS
Portion of the Town of MiIlington
Threatened Before the Fire Was
Gotten Under Control, Sunday

Portion of the Town of MiIIingtoD
Threatened Before the Fire Was
Gotten Under Control, Sunday
Smyrna and Clayton fire com
panies were called to Millington
Sunday night to assist in quelling
a IRE that for a time threatened
the business and residence portion
Of the town. A fire believed to
have been of incendiary origin,
broke out in the large lumber
yard of John p. Ahern, shortly af-
ter p. m, and for a short time,
the entire plant as well as the bus
mess and residential section of a
portion of the town was threaten
ed with serious conflagration The
Millington Fire Company was call
ed out, but the fire was under con-
troll before the firemen arrived.
No serious damage was done in
the lumber yard. Later in the ev-
ening about 9 o'clock, another fire,
also believed to have been the
work of fire-bug, was discovered
in an old stable, adjoining the
property of Fred G. Numbers, ana
occupied by Benjamin c. Hart. A
call was sent to Smyrna and the
fire siren was sounded. Clayton
also got word and sounded their
alarm. Both companies responded
quickly and offered their services
but neither one got hooked before
Millington and Sudlersville COM
panies had the fire under control.
The efforts of the Millington Fire
Company saved the Hart building
from destruction, but the stable
and truck, owned by George Tib-
bett, were burned, the damage
amounting to 500. When the blaze
had spread to the large barn of
Fred Numbers, the family moved
their effects from their dwelling
nearby. His barn was burned to
the ground. The flames were pre-
vented from spreading to the bust
ness section, which had been twice
totally destroyed. The combined
efforts of Smyrna, Clayton, Sud-
lersville, Church Hill, Centrevilie
and Chestertown fire companies
made six companies on the ground
to put UP a fight. They put out
scattered fires in the vicinity of
the negro settlement. A nearby
nillrace and the Chester River
were used as sources of supply for
pumping engines. The severe
drought contributed to the spread
of the blaze, since the lumber as
well as all frame buildings in the
vicinity were dry as tinder. This
was the third fire Millington has
had in its history and the citizens
of the town were worked up to an
exciting pitch. Some residents
started moving their household
goods out but thanks to the brave
boys of the Miliington Fire Com
pany, but recently organized and
the assistance they had from
neighboring fire companies. A
serious confiagration was averted.
Suspicious Of fire bug" is had
and Millington authorities are in
vestigating.
Two Brothers in Chestertown Jail
George and Charles Tibbitt,
brothers of Millington, are being
held in the Chestertown Jail for
questioning in Connection with two
fires at Millington Sunday evening
within two hours of each other
According to Detective Joseph A.
Dougherty, Charles Tibbitt, after
a severe grilling, confessed that he
had started the fires Sunday. He
assigned no motive for his act 9TH
er than that he was drunk, the de-
tective said. The other brother
will be released. Detective Joseph
A. Dougherty, of State Fire Mar
shal's Office, Baltimore, and States
Attorney Stephen r. Collins, of
Chestertown, went to Millington
and after investigating circum-
stances connected with the fire
held the two brothers in Jail pend
ing further investigation. While
the Tibbetts are not under arrest |
they are being detained by the
States Attorney on circumstantial
evidence. Evidence points to the
two men as being guilty. George |
Tibbibt is the owner of a motor /
truck that was burned in garage
which he had rented and which
was destroyed by the flames.
Charles Tibbitt is a member of the
Fire Company and is
said to have been under the infiu-
ence of liquor Sunday. The affair
has very much worked up Milling
ton and vicinity.