Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-08-04
From the Grecn1ilie Mountatnneer, 3OM ut
FIRE IN GREENVILLE.

From the Grscn1iue Mountainneer, 30M ult.
FIRE IN GREENVILLE.
We regret having to record The des-
truclion OF the dwelling, kitchen aud
smoke-house Of Col. David Hoke, Sheriff
Of this District, by fire. about ii o'clock
on Saturday uisht, the 24lh inst. The
furniture and articles in the house were
mostly saved. but The contents of the
smoke-house were all consumed. Col.
Hoke had the additional misfortune TO lose
abou, two thousand dollars in Bank Bills,
and some six hundred dollars in notes.
The bills and notes were in small trunk,
and in il was also about $500 in silver
and gold. Mrs.. Hoke, on leaving the
house with her little children, took the
trunk and some valuable papers out with
her; the trunk containing the money was
taken out of her hands by het daughter, a
child 8 org years old. In making her
way across the stree, 10 neighbor's house
the child was suddenly missing-she was
Immediately sent after, and found in the
crowd at the house, but the trunk was
gone. On Sunday evening about S56O
iu gold and silver coin, and small por.
ton Of the trunk unconsumed were found
amongst the embers in the cellar of the
dwelling. How il came back in the lire,
remains mystery, every othor moyea5le
piece of furniture having been saved. The
entire loss of Col. Hoke is estimated al a
) thousand dollars-uo insurance.
Messrs. Haslie s. Nicol, who occupied
the Store. house near Col. tloke's dwelling
with a large and yaluble stock Of Goods,
were also serious sufferers. The Store.
house caught on fire seyera! times, and
The Goods were all removed. Many
things were broken and damaged in the
muddy street. and some perhaps stolen.
1t is said $4,000 will mol repair their loss.
Mr.. Nicol was insured for S250O
The fire was providenlially prevented
from creating a widespread ruin in our
Town by the occurrence Of a heavy ram
and The stiffness Of the night whilst Co!.
Hoke's house was burniLg.-These cir
.cumslances, and the intermediate Trees,
enabled The cillzens to save the Store
house occupied by Hastie q Nlcol, and
other buildings on Col. Hoke's Lot, aud
prevented The iira from icing communIca-
TO The roofs of more distant buildings.
The brands fell in showers at hepdIstance
ofhundreds of yards. but The rain rendered
them harmless. The Fire Company
rendered all The assistance IN their power,
and contributed essentially to save the
Store house, but the supply of walter was
very deficient, aud in the confusion they
failed in forming line Of citizens TO the
River. which might have been done, Col.
Hoke's house being situated on the corner
of The Public Square nearest the River.
Ii is also believed that the house itself
might have been saved, If there had been
any recognized authority and organization
of The efforts of The citizens, particularly
by pulling down and levelling 10 the earth
The Kitchen when FIRST discovered 10 be
on fire. The Town Council have Provl-
ded Fire Hooks for this purpose, and The
building was small one, and the hire was
first communicated to shed in the rear
of it, farlhest from the dwelling. The
circumstances attending the fire afford a
serious warning 10 The citizens of the
Town TO provide more perfect system
OF organization, that will render more
available the services Of all the hands that
may te present on any similar future
occurrence.
The fire is supposed to have originated
by accident. A small servant girl, it is
understood, left lighted candle on shelf
in The kitchen, which sci fire TO some COM
busible material near il.