Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Cjtf Maitlmmii at?* j?ad;m J j - 0 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1907. " Entered at the Postoffice at Sumter, S. C., as Second Class Matter. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. A. C. Thompson-Dog: Lost. The Bank of Sumter-A Check Presented. O'Donnell & Co.-Getting Ready for Warm Weather. PERSONAL. Mr. Neill O'Donnell has returned from Florida. Mr. W. Liles, of Rosemary, spent Sunday in Sumter. . Mr. Robert Cooper, Jr., is spending a few days in the city. Mr J. E. Du Pre, of Pisgah, was in the city yesterday. Mrs. j, W. Branson bas gone tc Florida on a short visit. Mr. W. D. Rhodes, of Mayesville, spent Friday in the city. Hon. B. Frank Kelly, of Bishop ville, spent Friday in town. Miss Rosa Cooper, of Wisacky, is visiting Mrs. Geo. W. Dick. Mr. W. J. Ardis, of Manches? ter, was in the city Thursday. Zur. Lucian I. Strauss, of Mayes? ville, spart Sunday in the city. Mrs. R. A. Brand, of Wilmington, is visiting Mrs. S. A. Brand. Misses Mamie and Lon Hodge, of .Concord, were in the city Thursday. Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Haynsworth have returned to the city from their bridal trip. Mrs. W. L. Brower, of Henderson ' ville, 3ST. C., is spending a few days in the city. Mr. Kcepke, oi Loraine, O., is in the cit j to erect s steam shovel for the Sumter Brick Works. Miss Marguerite Cromer went to Newberry Friday morning to spend a few days wish friends. Mr. J. V. Murray, of Rock Hill, stopped over in the city Thursday night en route to Florence. Miss Ellen Harrell, who has been visiting relatives in Darlington, re? turned to the city Saturday night. Mr. J. H. Chandler, of The D. J. Chandler Clothing Co., has returned i rda a business trip to New York. - Mrs. R. H. Jennings and son, Rc - ?ert, are ic the city on a visit to Mr. j ?cd Mrs. Perry Moses on Washing? ton street. ? Xiss Pena Sorentrne returned Thurs? day night to Orangeburg, after spend? ing two weeks in the city with Mrs. C. B. Yeadon. Messrs. Neill O'Donnell, S. R. Chandler and W. A. Mcilwaine left Sunday night for New York to buy s^7"ing goods for O'Donnell & Co. Hiss Ethel Leon, of Columbia, who has been in the city for the past t*o %?eeks cc a visit to Misses Alice and ^Minnie Moses? has returned home. Dr. D. E. Connor, cf Bo\ nan, has moveo to Sumter to take up be prac fcioejof his profession here. Vt pres Snt he is located at the Hotal Sum" ter. Mr. Andrew JU. Jackson, the new proprietor of the Sumter Hotel, has gone to bis home in Statesville for a short stay, previous to assuming man? agement of the bouse on March 1st. Mrs. Ella Tuomey, who has been on an extended trip, visiting Mexico and other countries, has returned home. Mr. J. D. Welch, of Charleston, spent the day in the city on business* The Choral Society on account of the bad weather has postponed the meeting for tonight to one night next week. Date will be mentioned later. The Commissioners of Public Works will take up the sewerage proposition at an early day, and it is hoped that th i work of construction will begin in the near future. j One lesson that the fire Thursday night taught with impressive force is the need of a building permit ordi? nance and a system of thorough, sys? tematic and rigid inspection of all buildings by a competent inspector. i Attention is invited to the new ad? vertisement of O'Donnell & Co. The buyers for the firm are now on the orthern markets and the spring and summer goods will soon begin to come in. The County Pension Board held a regular meting at the auditor's office at the Court House on Monday. Be? sides a considerable amount of rou ine work, twenty-five applications were passed upon and placed in line for pensions. On account of the excessive wet weather Supervisor Seale has moved the chaingang from the country to the suburbs of the city, and is now improving the road from Liberty Street to the country and will later improve Oakland Avenue. The commissioners of election, Messrs. J. E. DuPre, F. ?">. Knight and R. E. McElveen, met Tue-' y to tabu? late the returns and .-?are the re? sult of the special election held on February 19th for Probate Judge. Thos. E. Richardson received 391 votes and B. P. Cut tino received 1S = votes. Mr. Richardson was accord? ingly declared duly elected. The closing of the dispensary has had the effect on the mail order whiskey business that was anticipat? ed. Folks who drink liquor, as a beverage or use it strictly as a medi? cine, wilt have it no matter how far they have to send, and the whiskey houses in other States are reaping a big harvest. The advertisement of j. D. Mills today shows how the mail order whiskey houses and distilleries are reaching out for business. MARRIED. Mr. Charley Mims and Miss Kate Owens were married at 4.30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at Bartlette Street Baptist Church hy Rev. F. M. Satter white. DEATH. j The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. j George E. Wilson, of Charlotte, N. C., will he saddened to learn that their eldest son, Hamilton Witherspoon, died of acute rheumatism at Hot Springs, Ark., on Sunday morning-, on his 31st birthday. He was Teller in the Merchants' and Farmers' National Bank of Charlotte. Deservedly pop? ular, he will be greatly missed in the business and social circles of his city. He was a grandson of the late Hamil? ton G. Witherspoon, of this county. Missionary Conference. The missionary conference of Sum? ter District, M. E. Church, South, convened Thursday at ll o'clock with Presiding Elder H. W. Bays in the chair. The usual routine business was transacted and addresses on mis ions and missionary work were de? livered by several members. Those present were Rev. H. W. Bays, Rev. H. B. Browne, presiding elder of Columbia District, Revs. J. W. Daniel, S. D. Bailey, E. P. Hutson, H. S. Booth, E. S. Jones, D. A. Phil? lips, C. B. Smith, C. C. Herbert, S. O. Cantey, D. A. Lewis, David Hucks, T. W. Munnerlyn, O. A. Jeffcoat, J. H. Nolan, C. S. Felder, L. L. Inabnit, L. L. Bedenbaugh. Mr. H. L. Tisdale, formerly occu? pying a store room in the Beck Block, has rented the store room at 22 West Liberty Street, and is re? painting and generally improving the building previous to moving into it. He will conduct a bicycle sales and re? pairing business. It seems not to be generally known among sportsmen-and others that, by an act of the legislature of last year, the entry upon the land of another without permission obtained, for the purpose of shooting, hunting or fish? ing, is made a misdemeanor, punish? able by fine or imprisonment. No no? tice by posting, advertisement or oth? erwise- is required, the mere entry constituting the midemeanor. Ignor? ance of the law or lack of information about the locality is no excuse or pal? liation of the offence. John Alford, a negro who attempt? ed to .mortgage land not belonging to him to Mr. J. F. Bland, Jr., of Mayes v?le?. to secure the payment of a debt, and who was sent to the chain gang as a result, completed his sen? tence Friday and was turned over by Sheriff Epperson to Mr. W. B. Rey? nolds, magistrate's constable of La? mar. Alfred is wanted by the Dar? lington county authorities on a charge of obtaining money under false pre? tense. It appears that he obtained $43.75 of Mr. Elias Wright, of Lamar, and gave as security chattel mortgage of two oxen which were the property of someone else. Mr. Reynolds with his prisoner left for Lamar on the G.50 train Friday evening. LOTS OF BOOZE. The Closing of the Dispensary Stimu? lates Jug Trade. Every day since the dispensary was closed Monday the receipts of liquor by express has increased and the jug trade bids fair to be a big source of revenue for the Express Company. This morning the total receipts ag? gregated more than 100 gallons and the office was besieged with callers who were looking for packages of booze that "never came." THE HOTEL SUMTER. A Change in Management on March 1st. The Sumter Hotel, which has been under the management of Capt. Geo. W. Loring for the past year, will change hands on March 1st. Mr. An? drew L. Jackson, who has been con? nected with the Jackson for the past four or five months, will be the new manager. Mr. Jackson, who is a native of Statesyille, N. C., is a hotel graduate from long experience and is conver? sant with the business in detail. He has been connected with some of the best known hostelries of the country, including the Kenilworth Inn, of Asheville, and thc Hotel Colonnade, of Spray, N. C. The furnishings and appointments of the Sumter are to be overhauled and rearranged. And with the intro? duction of modern methods in the conduct of the house proposed by the new management, the Sumter will be second to no commercial hotel in the State. They scowled and look sour from -till night. r would aproo; > re healthy, happy and 9 take Rocky Mountain at night.-China's Drug WELL S. GRAHAM DEAD. After Lingering More Than Twenty Four Hours He Succumbs to In? juries Received at the Beck Block Fire. Mr. Will S. Graham, acting chief of the fire department, who was so fear? fully injured at the Beck Block fire Friday morning, breathed his last at S.15 o'clock Saturday morning wftSfeut having regained consciousness. It was a strange co-incidence, and was commented upon by the little group gathered around his bedside that the end came just as the first stroke of the fire alarm bell, calling out the department, sounded. He was then in the throes of death, but as the bell sounded he roused himself in oed, gasped and was at rest Mr. Graham has been one of the most active and enthusiastic firemen from the day of ihe organization of the present volunteer department twelve or thirteen years ago. He was then scarcely more than a lad, but he was elected Captain of Delgar Reel Squad, Xo 3, soon after its organiza? tion, when its equipment consisted of a hand hose reel and a few hundred feet of hose only. Under his admin? istration and largely as a result of his enthusiasm and energy, Delgar Xo. 3 has become one of the best equipped and best known volunteer of firemen's organizations in the South. Delgar's hose wagon racing squad won prize after prize in firemen's tournaments in this State and Xorth Carolin, and in one race broke the world's record. In all these races Will Graham was the leader. But this was apart from the stern reality and duty of a fire? man's life, mere recreation so to speak, but as he played with enthu? siasm and whole-souled energy, so when duty called at the sounding of the fire alarm, he threw himself into the battle with the flames with his whole might. He was always one of the first to respond and the last to leave. That he was the man for the place is proven by his long service as Captain of Delgar, Xo. 3, and as Act ing Chief of the Fire Department. He met death while in the discharge of duty, a public duty for which he vol? unteered his service without price or hope of reward, except the reward that comes from the consciousness of a duty done and the well done of his friends and neigh? bors. In the years he has been a fire? men he has hazarded his life hun? dreds of times, time and again taking greater risks than on the morning that he was struck down, but he knew the dangers he faced and never once hesitated or held back on that account He is dead, but what better way to die than in the discharge of duty, in the voluntary service of the public ? His death has cast a gloom over the city, and his friends will long mourn his untimely taking-ff. Will Graham was a son of the late Col. Jas. D. Graham, and was in the thirty-fourth year of his age. He is survived by his mother, four sisters and two younger brothers. The funeral services will be con? ducted at the First Baptist Church at 1 o'clock tomorrow. WILL GRAHAM'S FUNERAL. The First Baptist Church Was Filled to Overflowing by Throng of Sor? rowing Friends. The attendance at the funeral of Mr. W. S. Graham, which was held in the First Baptist Church Sunday at 1 o'clock was a striking testimonial to the poularity of the deceased, for despite the downpour of rain and the freezing temperature the church was crowded to the doors and many could not gain admission. The services, which were conducted by Rev. C. C. Brown, were simple but impressive. The pallbearers were the following members of Delgar Reel Squad Xo. 3: E. A. Bultman, Douglas China. E. S. Miller, Elisha Carson and G. E. Haynsworth. The casket was con? veyed from the church to the ceme? tery in the Delgar hose wagon, which was draped with . black, the casket resting on a his k-draped platform and surrounded Tth 'oral offerings, which wert- vcr;. ??? lerous and beau? tiful. The hose .\..... on was driven by E. A. Bultman, foreman of Delgar Squad, and the otner pallbearers stood on the sideboards. Following the funeral car came Monaghan Hose Co. Xo 2. then Game Cock Lodge Xo. 17. IC of P., and a long line of car? riages, filled with friends. EIKE ESCAPES NEEDED. The fire Thursday night has given risc to considerable discussion as to the need of fire escapes on public buildings. It is a fact that few, if any, buildings in the city are equip? ped with fm: escapes, especially is tin's true of the hotels, where so many lives, strangers to the premises, are exposed to the frequently occurring fires, with practically no means of escape. Some have suggested that lhere should be passed a city ordi? nance requiring the property owners to construct fire escapes to all build? ings in the city where lives arc thus exposed. DISASTROUS AXD FATAL FIRE. The Burning of the Beck Block on South Karvin Street Attended by Serious Casualties-Mr. Will S. Graham Fatally Injured and Rob? ert M. Warren Loses One Leg . Other Minor Accidents-Heavy Fi? nancial Loss. The alarm at two-forty-five Friday morning aroused the sleeping city to witness one of the most frightful and serious fires in the history of Sum? ter. Xot in the sense of property loss, but in casualties. The bodies of brave young men, who risked their lives in heroic effort to save property and life, were dragged from piles of stone and mortar of the crumbled walls, mangled, bruised and bleding. Many people were rescued from the raging flames, when barred by the scorching fire and stifling smoke from all egress, at a peril sickening to ?ee, and it all ended in a catastrophe long to be remembered with horror. The fire was first discovered near the kitchen of Manheim's Cafe, which occupied the first floor of the south end of the large artificial stone block, on South Harvin street, owned by Messrs. Beck Bros. But even then the fire must have already spread over a large portion of the building and before much assistance could be rendered, the building was complete? ly enveloped in flames. The second floor of the building was used as sleeping apartments-an annex to the cafe on the first floor. While the fire was rapidly burning its way from the ground floor to the sec? ond the occupants of the sleeping apartments slumbered on unconscious of their peril. One by one they were aroused, some bursting through win? dows, jumping to the ground below, others were rescued by hurriedly im? provised fire escapes and that all of the inmates were saved is nothing short of miraculous. ' Mr. Adolphus Manheim, one of the proprietors of the cafe, who had jumped from his window upon dis? covering that the building was on fire, recovered from the shock thus sustained and rescued two of his guests. In his night robe he scaled the wall of the burning building with assistance of an awning, and burst through the windows into the rooms occupied by these gentlemen, whose names arc Messrs. Elmore Wright, of Richmond, and W. M. Gordon, of Cin? cinnati, both traveling salesmen. D. A. McPhail, also connected with the cafe, and Eugene Stansill, who were occupying the same room af the extreme north end of the build? ing, were rescued in a remarkable manner. A pile of empty boxes near? by was utilized as means of escape. They were quickly converted into a stairway leading to the second floor, and but for this, Mr. McPhail, who is a crippled man, would have either sustained painful injuries or perished in the flames. The fire department and many cit? izens responded promptly to the alarm. They were doing laudible work in checking the flames, when a crash came and the walls of the front fell forward and in an instant Jay in piles of debris extending half way across the street. Four men were caught beneath the falling wreck of stone and mortar. Mr. Will S. Graham, chief of the fire department and president of Del gar Hose Co. Xo 3, was ascending a ladder on the side of the building when the walls collapsed. He was hurled violently to the pavement and completely buried in the debris. That he was not instantly killed is mar? velous. He was carried to the Mood Osteen infirmary in an unconscious Condition, where he lingered until next morning. His injuries were several scalp wounds with symptoms of injury to the brain, a compound fracture of one arm, a compound fracture of the leg at the knee and just above the ankle, two broken fingers, the bones of upper jaw are broken, and severely bruised about the face. In an effort to save some of the goods in the burning building Mr. T. P. Lynam, also a member of the fire department, was approaching the door of the building when the wall fell. He was pinioned by the debris and had to call for assistance. How? ever. Mr. Lynam, who is suffering from a severely sprained ankle, was not seriously injured, but is confined to his home. Mr. Robert M. Warren, a member of Dellar Xo. 3, was also caught be? neath the wreck. He was removed and carried to thc Sumter Hospital, where examination revealed the fact that his foot was so badly crushed that amputation was necessary. The leg below the knee was amputated successfully and Mr. Warren is rest? ing easily. Tlie foi: rt h viet i m. Mr. L^o Miller, escaped practically uninjured in a most remarkable manner. Mr. Mil? ler stood in a position which centered the falling wall, but fortunately his ho ly shuttled a window that had been broken out in thc rescue of the inmates of the building. Badly frightened he escaped with only a few scratches about the face. The building, which was complete? ly destroyed, was valued at $10,000, and was occupied by Messrs. Beck Bros., wholesale dry goods and no? tions, and Mr. H. L. Tisdale, grocer and bicycle dealer, in addition to the cafe and sleeping apartments. The building and all contents were com? pletely destroyed. The losses and insurances are as follows: Beck Bros., building and stock val? ued at $32,000 with $13,000 insur? ance. I H. L. Tisdale's stock valued at $1, 000 with $425 insurance, j Manheim's Cafe, and sleeping apart? ments, furniture and fixtures, valued at $3,500, with insurance of $2,100. The total amount of the loss is $36,500, with $15,525 insurance. AFTER THE FIRE. The Ruins of the Beck Block Being Removed - Condition of the Wounded. From the Daily Item, Feb. 23. Nothing in the past decade has so sadly affected Sumter as the fatal fire which razed to heaps of ruin the large artificial stone block of Messrs. Beck Bros. on South Harvin Street. It is true that the block aws an im? posing structure, adding considerably to the appearance of that portion of the city in which it was located and it is also true that the losses to the property owners and others conduct? ing business in the building were heavy and comes as a hard blow to those thus affected, but these are overshad? owed by the deep sorrow brought to many homes in the city as a result of the attending tragic incident. Barely had the smoke of the destructive .fire cleared away when the sad news of the awful catastrophe spread over Sumter, casting a - deep gloom over t the entire city, which has continued to grow deeper as the actual extent of the casualties became more thor? oughly known. The sad and seemingly untimely end of the chief Of the fire depart? ment, Mr. Will S. G'rraham, who was disinterred from the debris of the fallen wall, crushed and mangled, and taken to the Mood-Osteen Infirmary, where Jae lingered until this morning, has overshadowed the city with grief. Mr. Robert M. Warren, whose leg was so badly crushed by the falling debris that amputation was necessary, is still lying at the Sumter Hospital. His sad plight throughout life needs no comment. Mr. Thos. P. Lynam, who suffers from a sprained ankle, and Mr* Leo Miller, a few bruises and cuts, were not seriously injured and will soon recover from their wounds. The work of clearing away the debris of the burned building has be? gun. Some of the goods of Beck Bros?. Co., are being taken from the ruins in a badly damaged condition, but can be U3ed. From this source a small portion of their loss will be re? covered. Their safe was in perfect condition when opened. The safe of Mr. H. L. Tisdale was also intact, but unfortunately he had forgotten to put his books in it the night before. All of the accounts of both his grocery and bicycle business were destroyed, which means an additional loss to Mr. Tisdale. The actual loss, as given by those concerned, is the same as reported in the Item of Friday,' but Messrs. Beck Bros Co. have discovered that they have $2,000 more insurance on their stock than was known yesterday be? fore their safe was opened. Their loss stands now at $32,000, with $15, 000 insurance. j It is understood that the building will be replaced as early as practica? ble, j THE ATLANTIC COAST LINE STA? TION A COMPLETE WRECK."" The Fire Started in the Baggage Room, and a Large Number of Trunks and Drummers' Sample Cases Were Destroyed-United States Mail Burned. At 2.30 o'clcok Sunday afternoon fire was discovered in the baggage room of the Atlantic Coast Line de? pot and the alarm was rung in just as the two companies of the fire de? partment were returning from the cemetery, whither they had gone to pay a last tribute of respect to their late chief, Will S. Graham, whose sad demise was the result of his fearless work in fighting the flames which de? stroyed the Beck Block on last Fri? day morning:. The department promptly responded to the call and despite thc raw, rainy weather, battled with the flames prac? tically the entire afternoon. The shell of the building as it now stands is palpable evidence of thc efficient work of the volunteer department. While the interior walls of the sub? stantially constructed brick building are blackened and arc of some value in tlie reconstruction of the depot, the fire was extinguished hoi*?TC these were completely destroyed. The building was comparatively a new one, having been constructed about six years ago at a cost of about $14,000. It was fully covered by in? surance, according to the best infor m a t i o n o b tain a b 1 e. In the baggage room, where the fire in an unknown way broke out^ were many pieces of baggage, a great? er portion of which was completely* destroyed, and that which was remov? ed from the room was badly damag? ed. This feature of the fire will prob? ably result in the greatest loss and in? convenience. A number of traveling men had made this point for Sunday and their sample cases were left in the> baggage room. Many of these were destroyed, while the contents of those that were removed are so badly dam? aged that they are unfit for use. Some of the salesmen will be delayed for 3fr days or more at a loss to the busi-~ ness of the firms represented and. heavy expenses otherwise. The knights of the grip, under almost ail cojnditions- are a genial, happy people? ISut many of them are to be seen at the hotels this morning wearing per? plexed and downcast countenances. Some eight or ten pouches of Uni? ted States mail lying in transfer here were completely destoyed. Just what class of mail or how much is not yet known as there is no record kept at this point and no means of checking up the lost mail. All of the tickets and cash in the ticket office were saved, in fact, thia part of the building was not dam? aged to a great extent. Mr. Jas. A. Parish, the night ticket agent of the Atlantic Coas .' Line, occu? pied a bed room on the second floor of the building. The room was fur? nished with hand carved mahogany, pieces over two hundred years old? the property of Capt Geo. W. Loring. This furniture was destroyed and ia an irreparable loss to Capt. Loring, as it was a family heirloom. The report that Fireman Eugene Stansill was seriously hurt is errone? ous. Save the discomfort of wet clothing, the extreme cold weather, and ruining of many Sunday suits, the firemen came out of the incident un? scathed. The railway people have already placed a squad of hands clearing the premises and carpenters are at work reconstructing the depot, using the same foundation and walls. It is un? derstood that in rebuilding many additional conveniences will be add? ed. However, in the main, the new building will be a fae simile of the old.. Recorder's Court. At the Recorder's m? -nee Sa turd: only one actor appears before t";. foot-lights, but he wa.3 star. As a smart juggler Charles John? son appeared before his honor, and with the tremor of voice of one suffer? ing from stage fright said he was g ?iii ty of the charge. ! At tho Atlantic Coast Line depot EU?? morning Charles had given air : exhibition of his, wonderful skill ia., ?rf \ the art, tossing rocks with a velocity that would make the average base? ball pitcher take to the tall timber? and at the same time he handled a. jack knife with the ease of a skilled legerdemanist. Severol of his audi? ence, who had felt the force of toss? ing strength, came before the court j and offered additional testimony te the youthful juggler's skill. Charlea had no license for giving perform? ance with rocks on the streets of the city, but the judg? gave him the priv? ilege of practicing the art with a. shovel upon the highways of the county under the tutorship of Super? visor Seale or pay a fine of $10. The following cases were disposed of in the Recorder's c^urt yesterday: David Newman was up for driving a wagon on the sidewalks and un? loading its contents into a yard? blocking the pavement. David paid a fine of $2 for breaking the ordinance prohibiting che driving of wagons on the sidewalks. Matthew Mickens was charged with carrying concealed weapons. Mat? thew was caught with a razor and a pistol on his person. The weapons were forfeited to the city and the sense of of court was that Mickens pay a fine of $15 or go to the gang for 30 days. Advice to mothers. Don't let your children waste away. They can be strong, healthy and rigorous with Hollister's Rocky Mountain Tea. It's a swift winged messenger of health. 35 cents, Tea or Tablets. China's Drug Store. Card of Thanks. I hereby acknowledge with pride and gratitude the obligations I am under to thc good people of Sumter county for the honors they conferred, upon me at the recent election; and desire to say that it will be my con? stant effort to discharge the duties of the Probate office without fear or fa? vor, and to the best of my ability. Thos. E. Richardson. Sumter, S. C.. Feb. 26, 1907. That's all. 'Nul said, when you say that Hollister's Rocky Mountain Tea is the greatest family remedy on earth. It does you good going and coming. 35 cents. Tea or Tablets. China's Drug Store. LOST-One medium .-ize black Shep? herd Dog. Answers to name "Xig.'* Reward if returned to A. C. Thompson, Sumter, S. C., R. F. D. 4. 2-27-2t