Smyrna times., 1932-05-04

LouSe IN neat speech by Rev.
Mr.. Umsted. The exercises we
should have stated were opened
with an anthem by the M. E. Choir
and an appropriate prayer by Rev.
Mr.. Martindale. In addition to
other music by the choir, Misses
Mary Cosden and Fannie Hill sang
a duett, Fly Tender Birding" and
Miss May Primrose read with clear
enu1ciation a poem entitled, "a
Tribute to Odd-Fellowship." Viii
liam B. Collins was chairman of
the meeting. It was a quarter af-
ter ten o'clock when the large aud
fence dispersed.
SERIOUS FIRE IN MIDDLE
TOWN.-Twelve Buildings burned.
Middletown was yesterday threat
ened with one of those terrible dis
pensatioDs that have visited 50
many towns lately by the fire
fiend," but by dint of hard labor
it was gotten under control after
the destruction of some twelve
buildings, covering about an acre
of ground. The first difficulty ex-
perienced was a want of buckets
to convey water. When IL was
found the fire was gaining on them
Wilmington was telegraphed to for
help and at IL o'clock, two hours
and half after the fire originated,
two companies arrived, but by this
time it was under control. but the
engines rendered assistance in ex-
tinguishing the burning piles. The
flre originated in ]. M. Cox &
Brothers carriage shops, from a
spark lodged in the roof. This
stands on Broad Street directly OBJ
posite the bank and Transcript Of
fee, both of which were severely |
blistered, and saved only by fire.
quent applications of water on
their fronts. Brother Way of the
Transcript mounted the upper deck
of his mansard building and with |
Whitened face and perspiring body
stood his ground bucket in hand
with the persistence of a veteran
fireman. The rest of the printers
were in the midst of the greater
excitement elsewhere, not even the /
Devil remaining with him. The
furniture store and dwelling Of.
George Wilson, brother of Alex.
Wilson of this town, stood within
twenty feet of the carriage fac
tory, and though on fire several
times, was saved The same was
the case with the residence of A. G.
Cox on Green Street. The furni-
ture of both these buildings were
very much damaged. A number of
families on the South side of Main
Street moved out their furniture
their houses to burn.
The losses computed are as fol-
lows: Episcopal Church, $4,000;
Insurance, $4,000; Cox & Brothers
Carriage factory, $4,000; insurance
$1,000; w. X. Johnson's hardware
store, loss trif1ing and fully insur-
ed; two buildings owned by Martha
E. Clayton, S2,50O; insurance, 81
800; insurance, $4,000; Barr &
Company's agricultural machine
store, $1,000; partly insured; dwell
ing owned by Jesse Lakes estate,
81 200; partially insured; McKee's
store, $1,000; partially in
sured; DR.. Kennedy's office, 5000
and Ceilings carpenter shop, 5000,
both insured. The damage to furn-
Iture, etc. by removal and fire will .
make $4,000 additional. The most ,
serious and deeply regretted loss I
was that of the Episcopal Church )
This stood nearly hundred yards
rom the other property burned, |
With dwellings and stables and
1aylofts between but a flake of
ire was waited by the wind and
odged on the lower corner of the
'oof at the rear of the building.
It had scarcely ignited when dis
covered by the rector, Rev. w. G.
". Lewis. The building had been
considered almost fire prooof-
itone walls and slate covered roof y
but a vulnerable point was I
ouched and the tarred paper that !
rnderlied the slate, once ignited, ]
an, Mr.. Lewis said, almost with
he rapidity of lightning. In two '
minutes the flames were bursting :
rom every crevice the whole !
ength of the roof. They had bare =
y time to save the chancel furni 4
ure and part of the aisle carpet
ng, when they were driven out by a
he falling fire. The altar cloth
presented to the original congrega-
ion by Queen Anne, was saved but q
he baptisma1 font was lost. The 2
,ell weighing 600 pounds, fell from !
is position in the tower with the U
burning timbers and debris, and it 6
5 feared is injured. The Chapel, a c
rame building and shingle roof L
tanding within twenty feet of the 4
.hurch, fortunately was not burn Y
ID. The church, built of green i
.,,1. o,a Of fba ottro ptiOnc q