Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Darlington ’ s Disas trous Fire. DESTROYED. GREATEST CONFLAGRATION THAT HAS ETSR VISIT- ED DARLINGTON. Over One-Hundred Thousand Dollars’ Worth of Property Swept Away in a Few Hours—A Detailed Description of the Flames' Wild Havoc—A Di agram Showing the Burnt District. cant store of Mrs. A. N. Hug- gin just in the rear was added to theburningbuildings. Across Orange Street the fire was play ing havoc with Mr.C. R. Woods’ cotton office and Messrs Woods & Woods’ store. In a very short time all the buildings men tioned above were in ashes. For a short time the brick store of Dr. W. J. Garner’s, ad joining McCown’s, arrested the progress of the fire in a south ern direction, but the FLYING EMBERS AND SPARKS carried the fire in a southwest erly direction to' Mr. A. Wein berg’s store, on Pearl Street, and soon a scene was presented on that street as apalling as the one on the Square. The wind was high and the flames had spread so rapidly that the fire had gotten by this time beyond all human control. Sparks and embers flew swiftly through the air and, falling thick and fast, 1 both the property of Mr. Hy they spread the fire to places j the Marco & Lewenthal b brick store of Dr. W. J. Garner could not long withstand the fire and it was totally destroyed. But little of the wall remains standing. Dr. J. A. Boyd’s drug store was in the lower floor of this building and Di. A. T. Baird offices were in the up per floor. THE CAROLINA HOTEL. Adjoining Dr. Garner’s was a large two story frame building, the Carolina Hotel, owned by Mr. H. Hymes. The business of the hotel was conducted by Mr. Henry Parrott. This build ing was also burned. The fire continued its course along the western side of the Square until it reached Mr. J.M.James’build ing which is of brick. The following buildings between the Carolina Hotel and Mr. James’ saloon were burned: R. M. Nixon’s barber shop and Mr. W. T. Sanford’s jewelry store, mes; , uild- where the flames had not yet ‘ ing occupied and owned by that reached. The whole southwest-1 firm ; the store used by P. B. ern section of the town was | Allen & Co. as a grocery and sa- are more or less badly damaged. Mr. James’ brick building on the Square received great dam age and Mr. M. Marco’s build ing on the corner of the Square and Pearl Street was also dam aged. This building was occu pied by Mr. H. Lewenthal. Im mediately behind this, on Pearl Street, is the frame building of Mr M. Marco, which was occu pied by Block & Hyman, “The New York Cheap Store.” This store is so badly damaged that it is rendered useless. Adjoin ing are Mr. M. Marco’s brick building, occupied by Mr. S. Manne, and Mr. H. Hennig’s brick store, both of which were badly damaged. Mr. J.O. Muldrow’sdrugstore, Mr. J. G. McCall’s and Mrs. M. A. Huggins’ residences, the lat ter occupied by Miss Mary Spain, were only saved by what seem ed to be superhuman efforts on the part of faithful workers. THE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN did noble work. They fought the flames like Trojans. The conflagration was undoubtedly ing that the fire spent itself and was gotten under control. It will probably never be known how the fire originated. The flames were first seen shooting up from the roof at the rear end of Mr Early’s store, directly above the office. It could not have caught from the stove in the office because no fire had been in it for several weeks. The day’s business was just over and the store had not been closed five minutes when the fire was discovered. The fire spread so rapidly that it is impossible tostatethe exact order in which the different buildings caught. There was so much confusion and excite ment that spectators state it differently. The order given above is as correct as could be obtained. LOSSES AND INSURANCE. Of course at this time it is im possible to give the exact loss incurred by the fire but the low est estimate will place the total loss at one hundred thousand dollars. As in almost every H. M. Smith, building destroyed, l hat are too small to mention, value $1,500, insurance, $000 ; temporary quarters. McCown Bros, stock slightly Twenty-one stores swept away injured, no insurance , . j n a f ew i 10Ur8 caused as many ^ 1*. l ,^ 1 1*.w.’ a „ a< J 1 merchants to be without places Qn of business. There are but few vacant stores in town and conse- $5,000, insurance $4,000, and office furniture, books etc, part ly saved, insurance will proba bly cover loss; E. A. Smith, photographer’s instruments to tal loss but covered by insur ance ; J. A. Boyd, stock loss probably covered by insurance; H. Hymes, three buildings de stroyed, combined value $3,600, insurance $1,000; Henry Par rott, W. T. Sanford and R. M. Nixon light losses covered by insurance ; Marco & Lewenthal. building destroyed, value *2,000. insurance $1,500 and stock badly damaged by fire and removal, value $7,000, insurance $0,000 ; P. B. Allen & Co, stock, a por tion saved, loss probably cover- by insurance ; Mrs. M. J. Byrd, building destroyed, value $1,250, insurance $1,000, and stock loss very nearly covered by insur ance ; J. M. Jameti, building badly damaged, value $3,000, The cry of “Fire!” ringing out in the dark hours of night, the cry so full of dreadful mean ing, striking terror to the heart and awakening in the breast the gravest apprehension that the fearful cry portends de struction and disaster, never fails to make the bravest man shudder. As the cry is repeat ed, in the otherwise continued stillness of the night, louder and faster, more fierce and more earnest, passing from thioat to throat and INCREASING IN VOLUME at every minute until the whole community is aroused, the re alization of the awful danger impending is forced upon every one. The people of Darlington have had a number of experi ences of this kind. They have many times been aroused from their beds or summoned from their homes to find the flames, in their mad fury, devouring everything in reach and threat ening the destruction of the whole town. THE CRY OF “FIRE !” was raised on Saturday night and a mass of ruins, with its bare chimneys, crumbling walls and huge mounds of ashes, sil ently, but impressively, tells the tale. But seven buildings remain in an area where before the fire had done its work were thirty-one large buildings and a countless number of small out houses. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. It vras shortly before nine o’clock when the fire was dis covered by parties on the Square. The flames were shooting up from the roof at the rear end of Mr. John H. Early’s store. t was a large frame building on the north side of the Square and the business of J. Frank Early was conducted in it. The fire spread with such marvellous rapidity that befoie the bell was sounded a mass of seething, hissing flames had covered the rear end of the roof, shooting tongues of fire heaven ward and, at the same time, lapping over the adjoining buildings devour ing them and carrying destruc tion fiercely onward. THE FLAMES’ COURSE. Mr. Early's store was quickly destroyed and Mr. Geo. E Mc Call’s building on the west and Miss Eva McCall’s building on the east soon followed. The former was occupied by Mr. J. C. White as a tin and stove store and the latter was occu pied on the lower floor by Mr. G. O. Mertz, the fruiterer, and on the upper floor by Messrs Forman as a residence. In the rear of these buildings was the frame building belonging to Miss M. J. Gandy, formerly the postoffice but used at the time of the fire by Mr. Williams as a blacksmith shop, and this was burned The fire was prevented from spreading eastward by the thick brick wall of the Hewitt block, but it seemed at one time as if the block and everything in it, including The NEWgoffice, were doomed to be destroyed. The massive wall, however, proved too much for the flames and the heat, for they could not pene trate it. SOUTH WEST WARD IT WENT. A high wind was blowing in a southwesterly direction and the fire was carried that way. The store on the opposite side of the street, belonging to Mrs. A. D. Gibson and formerly occu pied by J. Frank Early,caught, as also did Miss M. J. Gandy’s building which was occupied by Mr. M. Marco. By this time the flames had become wilder and madder in their terrible on- slought and immediately Mr. H. M. Smith’s store adjoining Miss Gandy's and in which Messrs McCown Bros, did busi ness, fell a victim and the va- DIAGRAM OF THE BURNT DISTRICT. H ORANGE STREET. f) F- u ui a. P (0 z < Z X p tc o z B* E" H £ H n * o o -4 m PUBLIC SQUARE. bl ui OE £ X Id > DD W Id X < D O’ (0 o 13 m D 0. quently all who were burnt out have had to occupy whatever stands they could get. They are of course in an unsettled condition, but some have secur ed temporary quarters as fol lows : Woods & Woods, grocery department at Woods & Mill ing’s, dry goods at Willcox & Co’s; G. O. Mertz, in his un finished store on Pearl Street; M. Marco in P. C. Beck & Bro’s store; McCown Bros in F. E. Norment’s building; J. A. Boyd in Haynsworth’s furniture store; Western Union Telegraph Co over Blackwell Bros; R. M. Nixon at hotel barber shop; Marco & Lewenthal in the Marco building corner Pearl Street and the Square; Sanders & Brown (proprietors of the market) in the rear of C. Alex ander's store; A. Weinberg in C. Alexander’s; J. Bulcken in J. Goldman’s store on Pearl Street; Dr. A. T. Baird in his former office over Edwards, Norment & Co’s, K. Hoffman in a building near the corner of Pearl and Sycamore Streets P. B. Allen & Co. in Mertz new store, on Pearl Street; J. H. Early in C. W. Hewitt’s office. INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE. Twent.Aseven bales of cotton were burned. Seventeen of them belonged, to Mr. C R. Woods, nine to Mr. Gainey and one to Mrs. W. E. McCall. The sparks and embers from the fire were driven by the wind such a distance that a tree in the Presbyterian Churchyard caught fire, but the flames were extinguished. Leaves on thefroof of Mr. Hewitt’s res idence, on west Pearl Street, also caught and this incipient fire was soon extinguished. While fighting the fire Mr. J. D. Haynsworth had the mis fortune to break his arm. Mr. C. M. Ward had his hand very painfully burned. The families of Messrs E. R. James and K. Hoffman are re siding temoorarily in Mrs. Earle’s house on Orange Street. Their residences were burned during the fire. When the special train was returning to Darlington from Florence'^ to carry the fire men home, it met with an accident and it was, in consequence, about five o’clock Sunday morning before the Florentines could leave Darling ton. N CU i AA W OB PEARL STREET. EXPLAlSTuATIOlSr OF 3DXAGIRA.3VL: Buildinpn n presented by solid lines were totally destroyed (except In the case of the Hewitt Block and the Court House, which were not even damaged but are placed in the diagram for the bettor guidance of the reader.) Buildings represented by dotted lines were damaged. » In the list given below the names of the owners of the buildings are given and when said buildingswe. e occupied by other parties the names of such parties follow in parenthises. In the centre of the block to terribly derailed by the tire were a number of small frame out houses and fences, which adding fuel to the dames, did much towards spreading the conflagration. A—Miss Eva McUall (G. O. Mertr.) B—J. II. Early (where tire commenced) 0—0. E. McCall (J. C. White) D—Miss M. J. Gandy (blacksmith) E— Mrs A. I). Gibson (vacant) F— Miss M. J. Gandy (M. Marco) G—Mrs A. N. Huggins (vacant) II—Woods & Woods I—C. K. Woo<is office .1—II. M. Smith (McCown Bros) K—W. J. Garner (J. A. Boyd) L—H. Hymes (Carolina Hotel) M—II. Hymes (R. M. Nixon) N—H. Hymes (W. T. Sanford) O—Marco & Lewenthal P—J. H. Early (P. B. Allen A Co) O—Mrs M J. Byrd H—.1 M. J allies’ 8—Marco (H. Lewenthal) T—M Marco (N. Y. Cheap Store) U—M. Marco (8. Manne) V—H. Hennig W—il. Hennig (Portner Bottling Wks) X—H. Hennig (Sanders A Brown Block A Hyman) Y—A. Weinlierg Z—J. Bulcken AA—J. Bulcken (K. Hoffman) BB—.1. Lunney (Taylor Sanders) CC—J. Lunney (J. 0. Muldrow) DI)—.1. Lunney (E. K. James) EE—J. G. MCcall, residence FF—Mrs A. N. Huggins residence (Miss Mary Spain) threatened. The fiery missives, loon, which was the property of messengers of destruction, were Mr. J. H. Early, and Mrs. M. J. as large as a man's hand and Byrd’s store in which she con- the spectacle oresented was fearful and awe inspiring. It seemed as if the very heavens were pouring showers of lire upon the stricken town. Some one aptly described it as a ‘red snow storm”, and the sparks as they fell were almost blind ing. THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION continued. The flames were communicated from Mr. Wein berg’s building to the other _ frame buildings on the north Fearl and Broad streets and side of Pearl Street and soon * m'g ht h a y e extended further, the following in addition to Mr. | R was a narrow escape for Weinberg's were destroyed: that section of the town for Mr. The old Welsh stand (the pro- dames’ building was only saved pertv of Mr. H. Hennig) which by the thick wall and hard work was occupied by Me-isrs Block , the part of citizens. Realiz- and Hyman, merchants, and * n g that this building was the Sanders and Brown, colored, key to the situation the volun- proprietors of the market; the ! teer firemen put a lot of gun frame building in the rear of j Mr. Hennig’s which was used ducted a millinery business. THE KEY TO THE SITUATION. The thick brick wall of Mr. James’ building bold the fire in check. Had this not been the case the flames would have swept across Pearl Street to Mr. S. Lewenthal’s building and it is terrible to contemplate what might have happened in that event. The fire would have, in all probability, destroyed the property in a large area between Pi * “ as the bottling works of the Portner Bottling Company, Mr. S. Kalmus agent; the building occupied by Mr. John Bulcken. the fruiterer, which was owned by himself; the combined resi dence and store occupied by Mr. K. Hoffman and also owned by Mr. Bulcken; the small bar ber shop adjoining, and the re sidence belonging to Dr. John Lunney and occupied by Mr. Eugene James. ON THE SQUARE AGAIN. While all this property was being burned on Pearl Street the fire on the Square abated its fury not at all, but, in fact, it raged fiercer than ever. The owder in the adjoining store of ~rs. Byrd and an attempt was made to . BLOW IT UP but, although a heavy explosion followed, only a small portion of the store was destroyed. The remainder of it burned to the ground. Another fortunate feature of the fire was that the southwest erly course of tho flames were stopped at Mr. J. O. Muldrow’s drug store, on thecorner of Pearl and Mclver Streets. This un doubtedly saved the residence portion of the town lying to wards the southwest. DAMAGED BUILDINGS. Eight buildings remain in the burnt district but all of them the largest that has ever visited Darlington and the high wind blew the sparks so far that even those who owned property a con siderable distance from the scene of the fire could not con sider themselves safe. Nothing daunted by the immensity of the conflagration or the constant danger the men of Darlington struggled bravely and earnestly, saving much of the stock in the stores and arresting the progress of the greedy fire as it advanced eager and anxious to devour the greater part of the town. FLORENCE TO THE RESCUE. While the fire was raging a telegram was sent to Florence asking for assistance. The al arm bell in our sister city was sounded and the good people of Florence responded.with alac rity. It is said that almost every man in Florence wanted to hasten to our assistance. In a little over an hour after the alarm was sounded, Chief Stackley and his gallant Flor ence firemen were in Darling ton, with their engine pouring a steady stream on the fire. As the Florence boys came up the street they were greeted with cheer after cheer from the Dar- lingtonians. This is the second time quite recently that Florence has res ponded nobly to Darlington’s call for help, and the people of this town will ever remenber with deepest gratitude the ready, willing and valuable assistance rendered by the Florentines. THE ORIGIN A MISTERY. It was not until about half past one o’clock Sunday morn- case some stock was saved the loss cannot be accurately stated until inventories are taken and a complete adjustment made. This will require several weeks work on the part of the repre sentatives of the insurance com panies. The following is an estimate of the property destroyed or damaged together with the in surance thereon : Miss Eva McCall, building destroyed, value $1,800; insur ance $1,200 ; G. O. Mertz, stock partly burned and damaged, value $2,000, insurance will cov er loss ; J. H. Early, two stores destroyed combined value$2,800, combined insurance $1,350; J. F. Early stock, almost total loss, value$15,000, insurance $14,000 ; G. E. McCall, building destroy ed, value $3,500, insurance $3,000 J. C. White, stock, total loss, value $1,500, insurance $1,250; MissM. J. Gandy, two build ings both destroyed, value$2,000, insurance $1,000; Mrs. A. D. Gibson, building destroyed, val ue $2,000, insurance $1,500 ;C. R. Woods office destroyed, val ue $f>00, no insurance ; Woods & Woods, building destroyed, val ue $4,000, insurance $3,500 and stock almost entirely lost by fire and damage, value $14,000, in surance $8,400 ; M. Marco, stock almost total loss, value $8,000 ; insurance $4,000, two buildings slightly damaged, loss covered by insurance and one building so badly damaged as to be ren dered useless, value $500, insur ance $400 ; Mrs. A. N. Huggins, building destroyed, value $200, no insurance and residence dam aged loss covered by insurance; MESSRS WOODS & WOODS. Ready to Receive Friends and Patrons in Their Temporary Quarters. To our Friends and Patrons Although fire destroyed our store we will continue our busi ness without interruption. Un til we can provide for ourselves a suitable stand, we shall be glad to receive our old friends and customers at our temporary quarters. We have telegraphed for a new and complete line of groceries, scales and farming implements, which we shall have probably received by the time this letter appears in print. We succeeded in saving some of our shoes, dry goods etc and we expect to replenish this line of our stock as speedily as pos sible. Until further notice our gro cery business will be conducted in Wood & Milling’s store and our dry goods department will be in Willcox & Co’s drug store. Desiring a continuance of the liberal patronage of our friends and patrons, we remain, Respectfully, . Woods & Woods. Darlington S. 8., Feb 29,1892. insurance $2,000, stock also bad ly damaged, value $3,000, insur ance $2,000 ; H. Lewenthal, stock slightly damaged loss covered by insurance ; Block & Hyman, stock in two stores burned and j damaged by removal, value $5,- 500, insurance $4,500 ; H. Hen-j nig, building damaged loss cov-! ered by insurance, building des- j troyed, value $300, insurance | $200, damage to stock covered by insurance ; 8. Manne, dam aged to stock covered by insur ance ; Portner Bottling Works, stock and implements destroyed, value $500, insurance $200; columns to return my sincere Sanders & Brown, loss $200, no i thanks to the people of Darling- insurance ; A. Weinberg, build- ton for the valuable assistance A CARD. Dr. J. A. Boyd Returns JThanks for Valuable Assistance Rendered Him. Editor Darlington News: Please allow me space in your ing destroyed, value $2,500, in surance $2,000, stock almost en tirely lost, value $10,000, insur ance $5,000; J. Bulcken, two stores destroyed, combined value $2,500, insurance $2,000, stock almost entirely lost, value $1,(K)0, rendered me during the fire on Saturday night. To those who came so nobly to my aid I am greatly indebted, for it was through them that I was able t save a good portion of my stock. I shall ever be grateful to them insurance $750 ; K stock and furniture, but little saved, value $3,000, insurance $1,000; J. Lunney, residence destroyed, value $2,500, insur ance $2,000, store damaged but insurance will cover loss ; E. R. James, furniture total loss, val ue $1,500, insurance $1,000 ; J. O. Muldrow, stock damaged by removal, loss covered by insur ance ; J. G. McCall, house and furniture slightly damaged, loss covered by insurance; Miss Mary 8oain, furniture damaged by removal, loss covered by in surance. In many cases the goods were damaged as much by removal as by fire. The loses given above are the principal ones and there are countless others Hoffman, an( l m y thanks and best wishes ’ are extended to each and every one. J. A. Boyd. Darlington 8. C., Feb 29, 1892, OBITUARY. Mrs. Caroline Smith died from paralysis on Sunday last, Feb ruary 28, 1892, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. Her remains were interred at Pleasant Grove cemetery on the day following her death, in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends. The deceased was a member of Philadelphia Church for about forty years and she | was a consistent member. She leaves six children to mourn her loss. Her husband preceded her to the grave about two years ago. * * * A Column of News, Personal and Oth erwise, of Interest to Our Many Readers. W. W. Hursey, Esq., of the Florence bar, attended Court on Monday. Several Darlingtonians attend ed the “Leap Year reception” in Florence Monday night. A double case gold watch is advertised as lost in another column; also a fine buggy robe. Mr. B. Selig, who several years ago clerked in the Racket store, paid Darlington a visit last week. Mr. J. 8. Burch went to New York on Tuesday to buy the spring and summer stock for McCall & Burch. Guy Brothers minstrels gave performance at the Opera House last evening. The enter tainment was very good. The Charleston, Sumter and Northern Railroad has placed through tickets on sale at Dar lington to principal cities North. A protracted meeting is now in progress at the factory. It is onducted by Rev. E. M. Mer ritt, assisted by Rev J. A. Rice. The “Lenten season” of the Protestant Episcopal and Ro man Catholic Churches began yesterday, “Ash Wednesday.” Maj. Gen. J R. Carnahan, of the Uniform Rank, K. of P., will visit South Carolina and will probably reach Darlington on 11 inst. Mr. M. Marco will begin im mediately to build a brick store on his vacant lot on the Square, between Mr. J. M. James and Mr. H. Lewenthal’s stores. Mr. J. E. Norment left for New York on Monday to secure the spring and summer goods for Messrs Edwards^ Norment & Co’s store. Dr. W. L. Galloway will short ly occupy one of the offices in the rear of Mr. J. O. Muldrow’s drugstore. The other office is now occupied by Dr. John Lun ney. A small show was exhibi ted in a tent erected on the va cant lot adjoining Mr. J. M. James’ saloon. It seemed to attract a largo number of colored people. We call the attention of our readers to the advertisement of Mr. F. M. Rogers, Jr., which ap pears in another column. It concerns the “Snow Tobacco Stick,” for which he is agent. The regular communication of St. David’s Lodge, A. F. M., will be held on Wednesday evening next, the 9 inst., at 8.30 o’clock. All affiliated Masons are cordially invited to attend. Col. J. H. Averill, general manager of the Charleston, Sumter and Northern Railroad, was in Darlington this week, accompanied by his daughter and Miss Annie Morris of Col umbia. The Clerk of the Court has received copies of the Acts of the last session of the General Assembly and parties who are entitled to them can obtain the same by calling at the Clerk’s office. Messrs J. J. Ward and A. Nachman are making arrange ments for the immediate erec tion of a brick building on their lot on the Square, adjoining Messrs P. C. Beck & Bros building. Mr. J. E. Miller, president of the Hartsville Democratic Club, requests us to state that a meet ing of the club will be held on Saturday next, the 5th inst, at 3 P. M., at the usual place, for the purpose of electing a mem ber of the County Executive Committee. Just after dark on Saturday night fire was discovered in a trash box in the office of the Southern Express Company. It was speedily extinguished. But-for the timely discovery it may have caused as serious a conflagration as the one that visited Darlington an hour or so afterwards. • The body of Mr. Charles Weatherly, who was drowned last week in Lynche's River, was found on Saturday at a int about one hundred and ty yards below Stokes Bridge, where the accident occurred. Trial Justice Josey held an in- uest and the verdict was that the deceased died* from strang ulation. We mentioned in our last issue that Mr. G. W. Ward, a North Carolina farmer, had been robbed of about seventy- five dollars while staying dne night of last week in Mr. G. F. Rogers’ house. Since then Mr. Rogers and his young son, John, have been arre itedon the charge of having committed the theft and the grand jury has found true bills against both. {Other Locals on Fourth Page.) a-*; £Wv> .•/. • , ''._e • • ■' '■! ,f. *.t V -flWjfc iXz, ■ jfofeglaif